^: 



I 



HISTORY 



WARREN COUNTY 

PENNSYLVANIA 



WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 
OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS 



EDITED BY 

J. S. SCH ENC K 

ASSISTED BY 

W. S . R A N N 



SYRACUSE. N. V. 

D. MASON & CO., PUBLISHERS 

1887 






PRESS OF D. MASON & CO. 

63 WEST WATER ST., 

SYRACUSE, N. Y. 



NH 



l-/^n(^ 



PREFACE. 



WHILE it may seem to the uninitiated a task involving but little difficulty 
to prepare for publication a work no more comprehensive in character 
than this volume and containing the history merely of a single county, still it 
is not out of place here to assure all such readers that the work is one demand- 
ing a vast amount of labor and research, watchful care, untiring patience, and 
great discrimination. This need not be said to any person who has had ex- 
perience in similar work. In attempting the production of a creditable history 
of Warren County, the publishers and the editor did not underestimate the 
difficulties of their task, and came to it fully imbued with a clear idea of its 
magnitude, and a determination to execute it in such a manner that it should 
receive the commendation of all into whose hands it should fall. It is believed 
that this purpose has been substantially carried out, and that, while a perfect 
historical work has never yet been published, this one will be found to contain 
so few imperfections that the most critical reader will be satisfied. 

It has been a part of the plans of the publishers in the production of this 
history to secure, as far as possible, assistance from parties resident in the 
county, either as writers, or in the revision of all manuscripts ; the consequence 
being that the work bears a local character which could not otherwise be 
secured, and, moreover, comes from the press far more complete and perfect 
than could possibly be the case were it intrusted wholly to the efforts of com- 
parative strangers to the locality in hand. In carrying out this plan, the editor 
has been tendered such generous co-operation and assistance of various kinds, 
that to merely mention all who have thus aided is impossible ; the satisfaction 



2 Preface. 

of having assisted in the production of a commendable public enterprise must 

be their present reward. 

Those who have aided and encouraged in this work have been almost 
" legion " ; and to all such the writer extends his grateful thanks, and hopes 
his efforts to present a truthful history will not prove fruitless, but that it may 
be a mile-stone of events reared upon our county's century course, and read 
by our youth and posterity with such profit that they, by their true patriotism, 
industry and frugality, may be enabled to add as worthy a record of their day 
and generation as the fathers of the county have here transcribed. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

OUR SUBJECT SOMEWHAT EXPLAINED. 

The Beginning of Warren County's History — Date of Organization — Its Boundaries — 
Its Area and Streams — Origin of its Name — Tlie System to be Pursued in Succeed- 
ing Chapters 13 

CHAPTER n. 

NATURAL FEATURES, ETC. 

Topography — Character of Forests — Tlie Soil — Its Products — Minerals' — The Animal 
Kingdom — The Eries — The Kahquahs, or Neuter Nation — The Hm'ons — The 
Iroquois — Earlier Occupants — Inferences 15 

CHAPTER HI. 

EUROPEAN DISCOVERIES, ETC., 1534-1655. 

The French in New France — The Puritans in New England — The Dutch in New Nether- 
lands — Activity of the French — Dutch Progress — The Jesuits — The Company of a 
Hundred Partners — Capture and Restoration of New France — Great Extent of the 
Province of Massachusetts Bay — Breboeuf and Chaumonot — Destruction of the 
Kahquahs and Eries — Seneca Tradition — French Account — Indian Hatchets 21 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE IROQUOIS. 

Their Name as Apjihed liy Themselves — System of Clans — Its Importance — Its Probable 
Origin — The Grand Council — Sachems and War-chiefs — Line of Descent — Choice 
of Sachems — Religious Belief — Natural Attributes — Family Relations, etc 28 

CHAPTER V. 

FROM 1G55 TO rl680. 

The Iroquois Triumphant — Obliteration of Dutch Power — French Progress — La Salle 
Visits the Senecas — Greenhalgh's Estimates — La Salle on the Niagara — Building of 
the Qriffin — Its First and Last Voyage — La Salle's Subsequent Career 34 



Contents. 



CHAPTER VI. 
THE PROVINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
Europeans Struggle for Supremacy Along the Atlantic Coast — Quakers Settle in New 
Jersey — William Penn Appointed a Trustee — His Labors in Their Behalf — An 
Early Description of the New Country — Admiral Penn — A Province Granted to 
His Son — It is Named Pennsylvania — Its Extent — A Miscalculation — Penn Pur- 
chases the Lower Counties — Outlines His Policy — Sends Governor Markham to Take 
Possession — Names Commissioners — Their Duties — An Address to the Indians — 
The Site for a New City Selected 38 

CHAPTER VII. 

PENN IN PENNSYLVANIA. 
WiUiam Penn Sails for America — His Advice to His Family — The Voyage — Warmly 
Received at New Castle — The" First Assembly — Penn Visits New York and Mary- 
land — Unsatisfactory Conference with Lord Baltimore — The Great Treaty with the 
Indians — The Walking Purchase — Great Influx of Colonists — Counties Formed — 
Meeting of the First General Assembly — Sitting of the First Grand Jury — First 
Conviction ^ — Another Fruitless Interview with Lord Baltimore — Baltimore's Demand 

— Penn's Anxiety — His Liberal Offer — Baltimore's Adherents Invade the Lower 
Counties — Penn Determines to Return to England — His Farewell to His Colonists.. 49 

CHAPTER VIII. 

FRENCH DOMINION. 
A Slight Ascendency — De NonviUe Attacks the Senecas — Origin of Fort Niagara — 
Count Frontenac in the Field — Treaty of Ryswick — Queen Anne's War — The 
Iroquois Neutral — The Tuscaroras — Joncaire — Fort Niagara Rebuilt — French 
Power Increasing — Conflicting Claims — Secret Instructions — De' Celeron Takes 
Possession of the Allegheny Valley — Buries a Lead Plate at Mouth of the Cone- 
wango — The Six Nations Alarmed — French Establish a Line of Forts — The Ohio 
Company — Virginia's Claim — Washington as an Envoy — French Build Fort Du 
Quesne — Washington and his Virginians Captured — Braddock's Disastrous Campaign 

— The Final Struggle — French Defeated all Along the Line — Their Surrender of 
Power in the New World 56 

CHAPTER IX. 

ENGLISH DOMINION. 
Pontiac's Conspiracy — The Devil's Hole — A Fight at Black Rock — Bradstreet's Expedi- 
tion — Sulky Senecas — The Troops Composing Bradstreet's Command — Israel Put- 
nam — The Revolution — Four Iroquois Tribes Hostile — The Treaty at Oswego — A 
Price for American Scalps — Brant, the Mohawk — Principal Seneca Chiefs — Wyom- 
ing — Cornplanter Conspicuous — His Many Names, etc. — Cherry Valley — Ameri- 
cans Retaliate — Brodhead's Expedition — Sullivan's Indian Campaign — Results — 
Close of the War, and of English Rule 72 

CHAPTER X. 
FROM 1783 TO 1790. 
Forlorn Condition of the Senecas at the Clo.se of the Revolutionary War — Willing to Cede 
the Remainder of their Lands in Pennsylvania — Commissioners Appointed to Treat 



Contents. 5 

with Them — A Sum Appropriated to Piircliase Indian Goods — Quantity and Kind 
of Goods with whicli Purchase was Made — Treaty of Fort Stanwix — Boundaries 
of the Tract Acquired by Pennsylvania — Cornplanter the Friend of the Whites — 
Subsequent Indignation of His Tribe — General Irvine Explores the New Purchase 
— Extracts from His Report — Running the Boundary Line Between New York and 
Pennsylvania — Interesting Details — Early Names of Warren County Streams — In- 
dian Villages — Pertinent Suggestions — A Tract of Land Granted to Cornplanter- — 
Survey of Lands of the Mouth of the Conewango — An Account of the First Official 
Exploration of the Head Waters of the Allegheny 83 

CHAPTER XI. 

CORNPLANTER AND OTHER INDIANS— 1790-91. 

The Seneca Chieftain Invited to Visit Philadelphia — Letter from Thomas Mifflin — Ensign 
Jeffers's Letter — The Journey — Arrival in the Quaker City — Subsequent Proceed- 
ings — Cornplanter's Speech to the Supreme Executive Council — President Mifflin's 
Reply — Cornplanter J Meets President Washington — Returns to His Forest Home 
with Gifts and Various Supplies — Attempts on the Part of Pittsburgh Tliieves to 
Steal the Same — Colonel Brodhead's Opinion of Early Pittsburgh Residents — Corn- 
planter Makes Choice of the Lands Granted Him — Their Location, etc. — Sketch of 
His Life 96 

CHAPTER XII. 

FROM 1791 TO 1800. 

Troublous Times on the Border — Baneful British Influence — Uneasy Iroquois — Colonel 
Proctor Visits Them — Interesting Details Gathered From His Journal — His Mission 
a Failure — St. CJair Defeated — The Iroquois Become Insolent — Their Arrogant 
Demands — Cornplanter Joins the Malcontents — Extracts from Letters Written by 
Andrew Ellicott, Brant the Mohawk, and John Adlum — Wayne's Victory — Salutary 
Effects — Iroquois Ardor Cooled — The Treaty at Canandaigua — The. British Retire 
from American Territory — Cornplanter's Speech at Franklin — The Holland Land 
Company — Town of Warren Laid Out by State Commissioners — Survey of Lands 
West of the Allegheny River — Advent of the Fir.st Settlers — A Block-house at 
Warren — Navigable Waters — Origin of the Reserve Tracts and Academy Lands.. . . 110 

CHAPTER XIII. 

THE ERA OF FORMATION, EARLY SETTLEMENTS, ETC., FROM 1800 TO 1819. 

Formation of Warren County — Its Original Boundaries — Temporarily Attached to Craw- 
ford County — Crawford County Organized — Erection of Brokenstraw Township — 
It Becomes the First Election District of Crawford — Warren County Annexed to 
Venango in 1805 — Brokenstraw Still Continues as the Sole Township of Warren 
County — Its Taxable Inhabitants in 1806 — Who were the First Settlers — A Mooted 
Question — An Order to Erect New Townships — Early Inn-Keepers — Division of 
the County into Two Townships — Their Names and Boundaries — Their Taxable In- 
habitants in 1808 — Visited by Western Indians — A Want of Confidence — Council 
Held with Cornplanter — Veterans of the War of 1812-15 — A Transfer of Lands by 
the Holland Land Company — Cornplanter as He Appeared in 1816 — The Taxables 
of the County During the Same Year — Subsequent Rapid Increase in Population .... 125 



Contents. 



CHAPTER XIV. 
FROM THE OEGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY UNTIL 1830. 
Onerous Duties Imposed Upon Early Inhabitants — Passage of the Act of Organization — 
Its Provisions — Initial Proceedings of County Commissioners — The First Term of 
Court — Its Officers — Jurors — Attorneys — Early Inn-keepers — Reminiscences Con- 
cerning the First Term of Court — Population of the County in 1820 — New Town- 
ships formed in 1821 — The Attempts to Collect Taxes from Cornplanter — The Old 
Chief Victorious — The Hook Murder Trial — Incidents Connected Therewith — Re- 
sults — Other Early Events 141 

CHAPTER XV. 

FROM 1830 TO 1861. 
The First Steamboat on the Upper Waters of the Allegheny — An Account of the Trip — 
Cornplanter a Passenger — Merchants and Inn-keepers in 1830 — National Character 
of Early Settlers — The Scotch-Irish at First m the Ascendency — Origin of the Term 
Scotch-Irish — Those of English Descent in Final Control — Early Routes of Travel 
. — A Remarkable Journey — Barefooted in Midwinter — An Influx of Alsatians — 
Death of Cornplanter — Incorporators of Various Associations — Lumbering — River 
Navigation — Store Goods — Prices — Routes Pursued in Transit — Part of McKean 
County Annexed to Warren — The Whigs and Democrats — The First Telegraph Line 

— Merchants of the County in 18.50 — The Whigs Disband — Organization of the 
American Party — Temporary Success— Causes Leading to the Formation of the 
Republican Party — An Incident in the Career of Jeff. Davis — Republicans Gain Con- 
trol of the County in 185(3 — New County Sclieme — Petroleum Discoveries — Tilus- 
ville to the Front — Warren Men Also — Railroad Completed from Erie to Warren — 
Tidioute Oil Field — Election in ISGO 149 

CHAPTER XVI. 

DURING AND SINCE THE LATE WAR. 

Mutterings of the Coming Storm — The Outbreak — Call for Troops — Citizens of Warren 

in Council — Their Proceedings — The First Two Companies of Volunteers — Others 

in Readiness — Leaving Home for the Front — Brief Allusion to Other Organizations 

— Number of Warren County Men in the Field to November 1, 1862 — Events of 
18G3 — Tribulations of the Stay-at-IIomes in 1864 — Relieved by Rebel Recruits — 
The Draft of 1865 — Probable Total Number of Troops Furnished — Victorious Re- 
joicings — Ladies' Aid Society — Dedication of Cornplanter's Monument — An Influx 
of Scandinavians — Another New County Project Defeated — Gradual Development 

of Oil Interest.^ — Conclusion of Continuous History 161 

CHAPTER XVII. 

THIRTY-NINTH RKGIMENT — TENTH RESERVE. 
Where Recruited — The Warren Guards — Regimental Rendezvous — Organization of the 
Regiment — It Proceeds to Harri,<burg — Thence to Washington — Brigade Assign- 
ment — General Ord in Command — The Flgiit at Dranesville — A Weary March to 
Fredericksburg — Transferred to the Peninsula — In Fitz-John Porter's Command — 
Battle of Mechanicsville — Gaines's Mill — Gallant Behavior of the Tenth Reserve 

— It Sustains Heavy Loss — White Oak Swamp — Men Completely Exhausted — 
Close of the "Seven Days' Fight" — The Re.serves at Second Bull Run — South 



Contents. 



Mountain — Antietam — Fredericksburg — Gettysburg — Winter Quarters 1863-64 — 
In the Wilderness — On Hand at Spottsylvania Court-House — Bethesda Church the 
Tenth Reserve's Last Battle-Field — Muster Out — Roster of its Members from Warren 
County 169 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

FORTY-SECOND REaiMENT — BUCKTAIL RIFLES. 

Manner of Recruiting Its First Companies — The Unique Material of Which It Was Com- 
posed — Woodsmen to the Front — Floating Down the Susquehanna — Captain Stone's 
Raftmen — ■ The First Company to Leave Warren — To Pittsburgh in Boats of Their 
Own Make — By Rail to Harrisburg — Regimental Organization — Captain Stone 
Promoted — The First March — On the Upper Potomac — The Bucktails Join the 
Pennsylvania Reserves — Gallant Conduct at Dranesville — Captain McNeil of Warren 
Chosen as Colonel — A Temporary Division of the Regiment — Major Stone's Battalion 
in the "Seven Days' Fight" — Winning Imperishable Honors — But at Great Loss 
of Life — Wonderful Bridge Building Feat — The Rifles of the Bucktails Again in Use 
at Second Bull Run — Services Rendered by Lieutenant-Colonel Kane's Battalion in 
the Shenandoah — The Regiment Again United — Its Services at South Mountain — ' 
Antietam — Death of Colonel McNeil — An Incident in His Military Career — Freder- 
icksburg — Gettysburg — Death of Colonel Taylor, McNeil's Successor — In the Wilder- 
ne.ss — At Spottsylvania — Bethesda Church — Expiration of Term of Service — Roster 
of the Warren County Men 179 

CHAPTER XIX. 

FIFTY-EIGHTH AND EIGHTY-THIRD REGIMENTS. 

Colonel Curtis, of Warren, Authorized to Raise a Regiment — Is but Partially Successful — 
Its Consolidation with Another Fractional Command — The Field Officers --Regiment 
Proceeds to Fortress Monroe — Its Services in that Department — Ordered to Beau- 
fort, N. C. — Transferred to the Army of the James — Charging Fort Harrison — 
Subsequent Services — Muster Out — Eighty-Third Regiment — Where Recruited — 
Becomes Part of the Fifth Corps — Hotly Engaged During the Peninsula Campaign 

— Its Losses — Second Bull Run — Fredericksburg — Holding Little Round Top at 
Gettysburg — Worthless Substitutes and Drafted Men — Final Movements 192 

CHAPTER XX. 
ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVENTH REGIMENT. 

In What Counties Recruited — Its Warren County Companies — Regimental Rendezvous ' 

— Original Field Officers — Equipped at Harrisburg — Proceeds to Baltimore — 
Thence to Harper's Ferry — Assigned to Banks's Second Corps — In Action at Cedar 
Mountain — Heroic Daring Displayed at Antietam — Assigned to the Twelfth Corps 

— Winter Quarters 1862-63 — At Chancellorsville — Gettysburg — Transferred to the 
Army of the Cumberland — Attacked at Midnight in the Wauhatchie Valley — Rebels 
Defeated — Lookout Mountain — Re-enlisting for a Second Term — Bleventli and 
Twelfth Corps Consolidated as the Twentieth — The Atlanta Campaign — Hard 
Marching and Fighting of Daily Occurrence — Before .Atlanta — Death of Colonel 
Cobham — Atlanta Occupied — The March Through Georgia — Savannah Falls — 
Sweeping Northward Through the Carolinas — The Round-up at Washington, D. C. — 
Final Duties — Muster Out — Names and Record of Its Warren County Members. . . . 196 



Contents. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEENTH AND ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIFTH 

REGIMENTS. 

The One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment of the Line or Twelfth Cavalry — Organized 
Near Philadelphia — Joins Pope in Virginia — Subsequent Services in the Shenandoah 
Valley — The First Command to Discover Lee's Northward Movement in 1863 — 
Nearly Surrounded at Winchester — Cutting its Way Out — On the Upper Potomac 

— In Pursuit of Early — Its Last Battle — Muster Out — Roster of Company K — One 
Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment — Company F Recruited at Tidioute — The Regi- 
ment is Ordered to the Front Without Adequate Equipments — In Line at Antietam 

— Assigned to the Second Corps — Its Desperate Struggle at Fredericl<sburg — Great 
Losses — Chancellorsville — With Hancock at Gettysburg — In the Wilderness with 
Grant — Chareing the Enemy's Works at Spottsylvania — Cold Harbor — Petersburg 

— Part of the Regiment Captured — Other Movements and Battles — Names, Etc., 

of Its Warren County Members 214 

CHAPTER XXH. 

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIRST AND ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-NINTH 

REGIMENTS. 

One Hundred and Fifty-first Regiment — Company F Recruited in Warren County — 
Regimental Organization — Colonel Harrison Allen, of Warren, in Command — Joins 
the Army of the Potomac — Assigned to the First Corps — The Chancellorsville Cam- 
paign — The Weary March to Gettysburg — The Battle — Heroic Conduct During the 
First Day's Fight — Frightful Losses — Retiring through the Town to a New Position 

— Continuance of the Battle — Victory, Tliough at a Fearful Cost — The Regiment 
Higlily Complimented by General Doubleday — Its Warren County Men — One Hun- 
dred and Fifty-ninth Regiment, Otherwise Fourteenth Cavalry — Names of Its War- 
ren County Members — Regiment Organized at Pittsburg — Its Field Officers — Ordered 
to Harper's Ferry — Campaigning in the Shenandoah Valley — Attached to General 
Averell's Command — A Series of Raids and Battles — BriUiant Success Attending 
the Raid on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad — Great Destruction of Rebel Prop- 
erty — A March over the AUeghenies in Midwinter — Swimming Icy Torrents and 
Swollen Rivers — Co-operating with General Crook — Hunter's Lynchburg Campaign 

— Another Terrible March Accomplishe.l — Details of Other Feats Performed and 
Battles Fought — Clo.se of the War — Transferred to Fort Leavenworth — Muster Out 227 

CHAPTER XXni. 

ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SECOND REGIMENT AND OTHER COMMANDS. 

One Hundred and Eighty-second of the Line, Otherwise the Twenty-first Cavalry — Its 
Warren County Contingent — Serves a Si.\ Months' Term — Reorganized to Serve 
for Tliree Years — For Four Montlis Renders Gallant Service as an Infantry Regiment 
of the Fifth Corps — Its Battles — Remounted and Assigned to Gregg's Division — 
Subsequent Marches and Engagements — ^ Names, Etc., of the Warren County Men — 
One Hundred and Ninety-third Regiment — Part of Company I Recruited in Warren 
County — Regiment Serves One Hundred Days — Two Hundred and Eleventh Regi- 
ment — Term One Year — Contains a Full Warren County Company — In Virginia — 
Makes a Brilliant Record — Roster of Company G — ^ Captain James's Independent 
Company — An Account of Its Services — Names of Members — Captain Baldwin's 
Company of Militia of 18G2 — List of members 238 



Contents. 9 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
COUNTY BUILDINGS, ETC. 

Utilizing the Rooms of Private Dwellings for Public Purposes — The First Jail — The 
Village School-House Used as a Court-Room — Reminiscences Concerning Jail Breakers 

— The First Court-House — The Second Jail — Stone Office Building — Destruction of 
Same by Fire — Another Erected of Brick — The Third or Present Jail — The New 
Court-House ^ County Farm 253 

CHAPTER XXV. 
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATIONS. 

Brokenstraw the Original Township of the County — Conewango Organized in 1808 — 
Spring Creek, Sugar Grove, Pine Grove, Kinzua, and Deerfield in 1821 —Columbus 
in 1825 — Limestone in 1829 — Elk in 1830 — Sheffield and Freehold in 1833 — 
Pleasant in 1834 — Southwest in 1838 — Eldred in 1843 — Glade in 1844 — Corydon 
in 184G — Mead, Cherry Grove, and Pittsfleld in 1847 — Farmington in 1853 — Triumph 
in 1878 — Watson in 1880 — Borough Incorporations 259 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 

The First " Agricultural Show " — Organization of the Warren County Agricultural Society 

— Its Officers — First Annual Fair — Names of Those to Wliom were Awarded Pre- 
miums — Extract from Judge Wetmore's Address — Subsequent Fairs, Officers, etc. — 
Organization of the Union Agricultural Society — Sugar Grove its Headquarters — 
The Warren County Agricultural Fair Association Organized — Its Officers — Annual 
Exhibitions — Remarks 269 

CHAPTER XXVII. 
THE PRESS. 

A Description of Warren's First Printer and Publisher — The Conewango Emigrant^ Its 
First Editor — Interesting Details — The Warren Gazette — Its Editors, Publishers, 
etc. — Voice of the People — The Union — Warren Bulletin — Democratic Advocate — 
Warren Standard — Warren Ledger — People's Monitor — Warren Mail — Youngsville 
Expre.ss — Tidioute Publications — Warren Mirror — Clarendon Record — Evening 
Paragraph — Sugar Grove News — Bear Lake Record 276 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

PETROLEUM. 

The " Fontaine de Bitume " — The Earliest French Missionaries Aware of its Existence — 
Also the English — Early References to the Same — Washington and Jefferson Speak of 
"Bituminous Oil" in Virginia — Evidences that the French Gathered the Oil at Titus- 
ville — It is Known to Early Inhabitants as " Seneca Oil " — An Account of the First 
Producer and Refiner of Petroleum in Pennsylvania — He Terms it " Carbon Oil " — 
Colonel Drake's Discovery — Descriptions by Correspondents — Great Excitement at 
Titusville — Warren Men as Pioneer Operators — Subsequent Developments of Oil Pro- 
ducing Territory — Handsome Profits — Tidioute Field Opened — Squatters — Early Man- 
ner of Shipments — Annual Production of Pennsylvania and New York Fields Since 
1859 285 



lo Contents. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 
CIVIL LIST. 
Members of the United States House of Kepresentatives — Judge United States Court of 
Claims — United States Consul — Lieulenan t-Governor — Auditor-General — Member 
of State Constitutional Convention — -State Senators — Members of Assembly — Presi- 
dent Judges — Sheriffs — County Commissioners — Prothonotaries — County Treas- 
urers — Registers and Recorders — County Commissioners' Clerks — Jury Commission- 
ers — Coroners — Justices of the Peace 294 

CHAPTER XXX. 

RIVER NAVIGATION, ETC., WAGON ROADS, RAILROADS. 

Source of the Conewango — Navigable Waters of the County — Askmg Aid for Their Im- 
provement — Survey of the Allegheny by U. S. Engineers — Its Length and Fall from 
Olean to Pittsburgh — Early Manner of Transporting Freight and Passengers — Keel- 
boats — Their Great Usefulne.ss — Shipping- Lumber to New Orleans — Names of Steam- 
boats Engaged in the Warren and Pittsburgh Trade — An Immense Raft — Description 
of Rafting — Nathan Brown's Ventures — Wagon Roads Laid Out by the Pioneers- 
Present Condition of Highway? — Railroads — Celebrating the Opening of Railway 
Coniinunication with Erie — Date of Completing Other Railroads 302 

CHAPTER XXXI. 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 

Interesting Memoirs of the President Judges now Decea.sed — Full Mention of Those Who 
Survive — The Bar — A Complete Roll of Attorneys Admitted Since the Organization of 
the County — Remarks Concerning Some of the Earliest Resident Attorneys — Notes 
Relating to Present Attorneys in .-Vetive Practice 311 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

HISTORY OF THE BOROUGH OF WARREN 324 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

HISTORY OF CONEWANGO TOWNSH IP 394 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

HISTORY OF BROKEXSTHAW TOWNSHIP 401 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

HISTORY OF SUGAR GROVK TOWNSHIP 420 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 

HI.^ToRY <iK I'lXK (;i;oVK TOWNSHIP 443 

CHAPTICR XXXVII. 

HISTORY I IF DlsKRKIKI.n TOWXSIIII' 453 

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

HISTORY iiK SI'IMXO ciiKKK TdWXSIIII' 4C7 

chapti:r .\xxix 

HISTORY OF KIX/UA TOWXSHIP 475 



Contents. i i 

CHAPTER XL. 

HISTORY OF COLUMBUS TOWNSHIP 483 

CHAPTER XLI. 

HISTORY OF LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP 493 

CHAPTER XLH. 

HISTORY OF ELK TOWNSHIP 498 

CHAPTER XLHI. 

HISTORY OF SHEFFIELD TOWNSHIP 511 

CHAPTER XLIV. 

HISTORY OF FREEHOLD TOWNSPIIP 523 

CHAPTER XLV. 

HISTORY OF PLEASANT TOWNSHIP 532 

CHAPTER XLVI. 

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TOWNSHIP .537 

CHAPTER XLVH. 

HISTORY OF ELDRED TOWNSHIP 545 

CHAPTER XLVni. 

HISTORY OF GLADE TOWNSHIP 550 

CHAPTER XLIX. 

HISTORY OF CORYDON TOWNSHIP 559 

CHAPTER L. 

HISTORY OF PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP 566 

CHAPTER LI. 

HISTORY OF MEAD TOW^NSHIP 576 

CHAPTER LH. 

HISTORY OF CHERRY GROVE TOWNSHIP 583 

CHAPTER LHI. 

HISTORY OF FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP 586 

CHAPTER LIV. 

HISTORY OF TRIUMPH TOWNSHIP 593 

CHAPTER LV. 

HISTORY OF WATSON TOWNSHIP 597 

CHAPTER LVI. 
BIOGRAPHICAL 599 

BRIEF PERSONALS 691 



Contents. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Allen, Orren C, lacing 

Barnes, Erastus, facing 

Beaty, David facing 

Benedict, W. B facing 

Blorlget, A. C, M.D facing 

Brown, Judge Rasselas facing 

Currie, Joshua T facing 

Curwen, John, M.D facing 

Davis, Alpheus J facing 

Dunham, M. B facing 

Eldred, N. B facing 

Graham, Samuel M facing 

Gray, Robert M facing 

Grandin, Samuel facing 

Grossenburg, Samuel facing 

Hall, Orris facing 

Hall, Chapin, facing 

Harmon, Hosea facing 

Hertzel, Andrew, facing 

Hunter, O. H facing 

Irvine, William A., M.D., facing 

Jackson, William M facing 

Jamieson, H. A facing 

Johnson, S. P facing 



354 
512 
554 
538 
414 
312 
410 
604 
628 
644 
638 
684 
420 
462 
576 
338 
660 
430 
334 
362 
402 
468 
346 
316 



McKinney, Peter facing 572 

McGraw, Michael, facing 594 

Marsh, William S., facing 586 

Miles, Robert facing 324 

Merritt, C. C facing 542 

Nesmith, Benjamin facing 358 

Rogers, Alson facing 632 

Roy, James, facing 504 

Rouse, Hon. Henry R., facing 256 

Sanford, J. G facing 546 

Scofield, Glenni W., facing 616 

Sechrlest, J. C facing 688 

Shortt, W. H., facing 406 

Stone, C. W., facing ^94 

Struthers, Thomas facing 310 

Tanner, .Archibald facing 148 

Thompson, Robert facing 416 

Watson, Lewis Findlay facing 290 

Walton, John, facing 674 

Wetmore, C. C facing 658 

Wetmore, Hon. Lansing, facing 146 

Wetmore, Hon. L. D facing 610 

White, Jay facing 564 

Whitman, John facing 668 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



Allen, Orren C., 683 

Barnes. Erastus 635 

Beaty, David 609 

Benedict, Willis B 629 

Blodget, A. C., M.D 634 

Brown, Judge Rasselas 647 

Currie, Joshua T. 627 

Curwen, John. M.D 605 

D.ivis, Alpheus J 628 

Dinsmoor, Charles, 650 

Dunham. M. H 644 

Eldred. N. B 639 

Graham, Samuel M 685 

Gray, Robert M 664 

Grandin, Samuel 638 

Grossenburg, Samuel, 663 

Hall, Orris 649 

Hall, Chapin 659 

Harmon, Hosea 666 

Hertzel, Andrew 652 

Hunter, O. H., 646 

Irvine. Doctor William A 671 

Jackson, William M 672 

Jamieson, Hugh A 660 

Johnson, S. P 686 



McKinney, Peter 626 

McGraw, Michael 643 

Marsh, William S., 632 

Miles, Robert 636 

Merritt, Hon. Charles C 624 

Nesmith, Benjamin 681 

Orr, Richard S : 678 

Rogers, Alson 633 

Roy, James, 637 

Rou.se, Hon. Henr)' R 679 

Sanford, Joel G.. . 676 

Scofield, Glenni W., 616 

Sechriest, John C 688 

Shortt, W. H., 690 

Stone, Charles W., 613 

.Struthers, Thomas, 599 

Tanner, Archibald 621 

Thompson, Robert 689 

Watson, Lew is Findlay, 606 

Walton, John 673 

Wetmore, C. C 658 

Wetmore, Hon. Lansing 656 

Wetmore, Hon. L. D 610 

White, Jay 655 

Whitman. John 669 



HISTORY 



OF 



WARREN COUNTY 



CHAPTER I. 

OUR SUBJECT SOMEWHAT EXPLAINED. 

The Beginning of Warren County's History — Date of Organization — Its Boundaries — Its 
Area and Streams — Origin of its Name — The System to be Pursued in Succeeding Chapters. 

ON that eventful mid-summer's day in 1749 when Captain Bienville de 
Celeron, " Knight of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis," in com- 
mand of two hundred and fifteen French soldiers and fifty-five Indians, 
appeared on the south bank of the Allegheny River, opposite the mouth of 
Conewango Creek, there buried an engraved leaden plate, and, with the dis- 
play of much pomp and ceremony, formally assumed possession of this and 
adjoining regions vast in extent, in the name of the reigning king of France, a 
stand-point was reached ; a beginning, as it were, was made in the real, well- 
authenticated history of Warren county, Pennsylvania. But, in the endeavor 
to explain the long and interesting chain of events which led up to this occu- 
pation by the French, to describe the conflicting claims of the English and 
their various operations, civil as well as military, in the effort to obtain posses- 
sion of the same territory, and to briefly outline the history of the primordial 
inhabitants of " these cantons," it is found necessary to go delving back in the 
past, two centuries or more before the advent of Celeron upon these shores, to 
gather up the threads of an historic narrative which, upon perusal, it is believed 
will not prove uninteresting to the reader. 

Warren county was not organized as a separate shire until the year 18 19. 
Hence, as foreshadowed in the preceding paragraph, a large — and by far the 



14 History of Warren County. 



most interesting — part of its history had at that time already taken place. It 
is deemed necessary, therefore, to point out that the subject of this work is the 
territory comprised within the present boundaries of the county of Warren, 
together with its inhabitants, no matter whether the events recorded occurred 
before or after the beginning of the independent existence of the county. 

The county of Warren, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is bounded 
on the north by the State of New York, or, in other words, by the line of the 
forty-second degree of north latitude ; on the east by McKean county, on the 
south by Forest and Venango counties, and on the west by the counties of 
Crawford and Erie. In extent it is about thirty-two miles in length from east 
to west, by twenty-six miles in width, and contains fully eight hundred square 
miles of territory, or five hundred and twelve thousand acres of land. Its 
most important stream, the historic Allegheny, entering near the northeast 
corner and flowing southwesterly, divides its territory into two distinct parts, 
leaving about three-eighths of it on the southeast side. The tributaries of the 
Allegheny, of sufficient size to be useful for propelling machinery or floating 
rafts, are Willow Creek, Sugar Run, and Kinzua Creek, entering from the east, 
and Cornplanter and Hemlock Runs, and Conewango, Brokenstraw, Tidioute, 
and West Hickory Creeks, entering from the west ; the Kinzua, Conewango, 
and Brokenstraw being navigable from ten to twenty miles, for rafts of timber 
and manufactured lumber. 

The county seat, and subsequently the county, were named after Joseph 
Warren, the distinguished American patriot who fell at the battle of Bunker 
Hill in 1775, and who was but eight years of age at the time Celeron made 
his appearance at the mouth of the Conewango. 

We have been thus particular in designating the location and the limits of 
the county in the beginning in order to place the subject of this history clearly 
before the reader. Whatever has existed or occurred within those limits, or 
has been done by the residents of the territory in question, comes within the 
scope of this work and, if considered of sufficient consequence, will be duly 
noticed. It will be necessary, also, to frequently refer to outside matters, in 
order to make plain the early annals of the county and to show the succession 
of events. Such extraneous references, however, will be very brief and will be 
confined chiefly to a few of the earlier chapters. Further, when "Warren 
county " is spoken of previous to the naming of that county, it will be under- 
stood that the words are used to avoid indirect expression, and mean the terri- 
tory now included within its boundaries. So, too, for convenience, the lands 
now comprised in a township or village will sometimes be mentioned by its 
present name, before any such township, etc.. was in existence. 



Natural Features, Etc. 15 



CHAPTER II. 

NATURAL FEATURES, ETC. 

Topography — Character of Forests — The Soil — Its Products — Minerals — The Animal 
Kingdom — The Eries — The Kahquahs, or Neuter Nation — The Hurons — The Iroquois — 
Earlier Occupants — Inferences. 

IT is deemed fitting, before beginning the record of events, to give a brief 
description of the natural features of Warren county, together with its occu- 
pants, its neighbors, and its relations with the rest of the world, as these existed 
when the first European came into this vicinity. 

The configuration of the surface of the country is the same now as then, 
and may be described in the present tense. Generally speaking, it is a region 
of rough and broken superficies. At one time in the world's history, without 
a doubt, it was a comparatively smooth table-land, sloping somewhat sharply 
from the east to west-southwest ; but time's erosions, and the action of the ele- 
ments during a period beyond the record of man, have so changed its exterior 
that it is now, and for many centuries has been, a land varied with hills, plains, 
and narrow bottoms. The Kinzua hills, the highest elevations in the county, 
attain an altitude of nearly two thousand two hundred feet above tide- water. 
From thence as we proceed westward the hills decrease in height until the 
western border of the county is reached, where the highest points are only a 
little more than three-fourths as high as the hills or mountains towering above 
the valley formed by the waters of Kinzua Creek. 

As already indicated, the county is well watered and drained by numerous 
streams which have played no unimportant part in its settlement and subse- 
quent development. These, together with the minor runs and rivulets, have 
cut the surface into the irregularly shaped hills and valleys seen to-day, and 
have fashioned the bold, precipitous bluffs and hillsides so noticeable along the 
chief water-courses, more especially in the eastern part. West of the Allegheny 
and Conewango, however, at some distance back from those streams, the sur- 
face assumes a less rugged appearance, and contains a greater number of ara- 
ble acres per square mile. The county is singularly free from swamps of any 
extent, and, besides its limpid, swift-flowing streams, springs of pure, soft 
water generally abound, and frequently are to be found on the highest lands. 

Thus far the natural characteristics of Warren county are the same now 
that they were two centuries ago and had been for unknown ages before, save 
that less water flows along the streams in summer than when their banks were 
shaded by the primeval forests. Some new names have been applied by the 
white man, but in many cases even the names remain unchanged. 



i6 History of Warren County. 

The outward dress, however, of these hills and valleys is widely different 
from what it was during the French occupation. The land originally — except- 
ing, perhaps, the crests and precipitous sides of the highest hills and the few 
acres of bottom land devoted to the culture of corn, etc., by the Indians — was 
heavily timbered with pine, hemlock, cherry, whitewood, oak, chestnut, hick- 
ory, maple, beech, ash, butternut, and all other varieties indigenous to this por- 
tion of America. As fine forests of pine, without a doubt, as ever grew on 
this continent then occupied the lands along the Brokenstraw, the Conewango, 
the Tionesta, and the Kinzua. Large bodies of the same species of timber 
were also to be seen in many other localities ; but in the vicinity of the four 
streams named was centered the bulk of Warren's timber of commerce. The 
beech woods of Farmington and the hard-wood uplands of Sugar Grove were 
also noted as early landmarks. 

The soil of the county was — and is — of mold, clay, and loam, variously 
intermixed, and, as time has proven, is easily cultivated and well adapted to 
the culture of wheat, corn, oats, barley, buckwheat, rye, etc. Vegetables and 
the hardier varieties of fruits also do well. In speaking further of the original 
forest growth and the soil's fitness for the production of farm products, we will 
for convenience of description divide the lands of the county into three classes: 
First, oak and chestnut mainly comprised the timber of the hilly parts, the soil 
of which has been found well adapted to the growth of the cereals. Second, 
on the more level lands and those bordering the streams grew a mixture of 
timber, such as whitewood, cucumber, maple, cherry, beech, butternut, hick- 
ory, and occasionally oak and chestnut. This class has proved suitable for 
the cultivation of the coarser grains, corn, etc., and produces grass in abun- 
dance. Third, the pine and hemlock lands, once considered valuable only for 
their timber; but time and experience have shown that, when cleared and 
intelligently cultivated, valuable farm lands are the results. 

Iron ore and bituminous coal are found in various localities, and quarries 
of sandstone abound in most parts of the county. These stones are of a supe- 
rior quality for building purposes, making nearly as good an appearance as 
granite and other varieties brought from a distance. 

In the long ago the animal kingdom was amply represented. The deer 
strayed in great numbers through the forest. In the thickest retreats the gray 
wolf made his lair. The huge black bear often rolled his unwieldy form 
beneath the nut- bearing trees, and frequently the wild scream of the panther, 
the fiercest of American beasts, startled the Indian hunter into even more than 
usual vigilance. The porcupine and the raccoon were common, as well as the 
wildcat and the Canada lyn.x, and squirrels of various kinds leaped gayly from 
tree to tree. Here the wild turkey and the partridge often furnished food for the 
family of the red hunter, pigeons in enormous quantities yearly made their sum- 
mer home, numerous smaller birds fluttered among the trees ; the eagle, hawk, 



Natural Features, Etc. 17 



and crow occasionally swept through space just above the tree tops ; the streams 
of pure, sparkling water teemed with America's choicest fish — the speckled 
brook-trout; and, besides some varieties of harmless reptiles, thousands of 
deadly rattlesnakes hissed and writhed among the rocks, on the hillsides, and 
in the valleys of every portion of the county. 

Of all these there is no question. Indeed, of all the living things enumer- 
ated in the foregoing paragraph, all yet exist here, with the exception, per- 
haps, of the gray wolf the wild turkey, and the panther. But whether or not 
the buffalo ever honored the upper Allegheny valley with his lordly presence 
has been a matter of considerable speculation and debate. We think that he 
did. It is well authenticated that when the French first appeared on the 
stream, flowing but a few miles westward from the western boundary of War- 
ren county — by the Indians known as the " Wenango," by the French as the 
" River Le Boeuf," and by the English and Americans as French Creek — 
great numbers of buffalo were found there. For that reason the river was 
named Le Boeuf, or Beef River, by the exploring French missionaries, and 
many years subsequently the fort built on or near the site of Waterford by the 
French was given the same appellation — Le Bceuf The buffalo is an animal 
of great endurance, ever on the move by day and frequently at night, and 
capable of traversing many miles in each twenty-four hours. There was none 
to molest or make him afraid other than small parties of Indian hunters. He 
was free to roam in any and all directions. Hence we infer and conclude that, 
at a time when these animals frequented French Creek valley in such large 
numbers, they also at intervals visited the Allegheny and disported in its cool, 
clear waters. 

At the time of which we are now speaking, the date of the coming of the 
first French missionaries and traders to these regions, the country bordering 
the southern shores of Lake Erie, and for a great but unknown distance to the 
south of it, was in the possession of two strong tribes or nations, known as the 
Errieronons or Erie or Cat nation, and the Andestiquerons or Kahquah nation. 
As Fries and Kahquahs they were generally known, and these are the names 
we have adopted in speaking of them. 

The French also called the Kahquahs (who occupied territory to the east- 
ward of the Fries) the Neuter nation, because they lived at peace with the 
fierce tribes which dwelt on either side of them. They were reported by their 
first European visitors to number twelve thousand souls. This, however, was 
doubtless a very great exaggeration, as that number was greater than was to 
be found among all the Six Nations of the Iroquois in the day of their greatest 
glory. It is a universal habit to exaggerate the number of barbarians, who 
cover much ground and make a large show in comparison with their real 
strength. They were undoubtedly, however, a large and powerful nation, as 
size and power were estimated among Indian tribes. Their chief village was 



i8 History of Warren County. 

located on or near the site of the city of Buffalo, N. Y., though others were 
found throughout the wide territory occupied by them. 

The greater part of the shore of Lake Erie, however, was occupied by the 
tribe from which the lake derives its name, the Eries. This name is always 
mentioned by the early French writers as meaning "cat." On Sanson's map, 
published in 1 65 1, Lake Erie is called "Lac du Chat," Lake of the Cat. 
There were certainly no domestic cats among the Indians until introduced by 
the whites, and the name must be attributed to the wildcat or panther. It 
may have been assumed by this tribe because its warriors thought themselves 
as ferocious as these animals, or may have been assigned to them by their 
neighbors because of the abundance of wildcats and panthers in the territory 
inhabited by the Eries. 

To the northwest of the Neuter nation dwelt the Algonquins, or Hurons, 
reaching to the shores of the great lake which perpetuates their name, while 
to the eastward of the former was the home of those powerful confederates 
whose fame has extended throughout the world, whose civil polity has been 
the wonder of sages, whose warlike achievements have compelled the admira- 
tion of soldiers, whose eloquence has thrilled the hearts of the most cultivated 
hearers — the brave, the sagacious and far-dreaded Iroquois ! They then con- 
sisted of but five nations, and their " Long House," as they termed their con- 
federacy, extended from east to west through all the rich central portion of 
the State of New York. The Mohawks were in the fertile valley of the Mo- 
hawk River ; the Oneidas, the most peaceful of the confederates, were beside 
the lake, the name of which still keeps their memory green; then, as now, the 
territory of the Onondagas was the gathering-place of leaders, though State 
and other conventions have taken the place of the council fires which once 
blazed near the site of Syracuse ; the Cayugas kept guard over the beautiful 
lake which now bears their name, while westward from Seneca Lake ranged 
the fierce, untamable "men of the hills," better known as the Senecas, the 
warriors par excellence of the confederacy. Their villages reached westward 
to within thirty or forty miles of the Niagara, or to the vicinity of the present 
village of Batavia, N. Y. 

For many years deadly war prevailed between the Iroquois and the Hurons, 
and the hostility between the former and the Eries was scarcely less fervent. 
Betwixt these contending foemen the peaceful Kahquahs long maintained their 
neutrality, and the warriors of the East, of the Northwest, and of the South- 
west suppressed their hatred for the time, as they met by the council fires of 
these aboriginal peace-makers. 

Like other Indian tribes, the Kahquahs guarded against surprise by plac- 
ing their villages a short distance back from any navigable water — in this case 
from the Niagara River and Lake Erie. One of those villages was named 
Onguiaahra, after the mighty torrent which they designated by that name — ^a 



Natural Features, Etc. 19 



name which has since been shortened and transformed into Niagara. In dress, 
food, and customs the Kahquahs do not appear to have differed much from 
the other savages around them : wearing the same scanty covering of skins, 
living chiefly on meat killed in the chase, but raising patches of Indian corn, 
beans, and gourds. 

Such were the inhabitants of a region which was then crossed by no imag- 
inary lines of latitude and longitude, State, county, or township, and such their 
surroundings, when first visited by the French. 

Of the still earlier occupants of this territory but little will be said, for there 
is really very little from which one can draw a reasonable inference. The Iro- 
quois and the Hurons had been in New York and Canada for many genera- 
tions before the advent of the white man. Their earliest European visitors 
heard no story of their having recently migrated from other lands, and they 
certainly would have heard it had any such assertion been made. True, there 
were some vague traditions among the Iroquois tending to show that they 
originally came from Canada, but at a period long before their discovery by 
the whites. The Eries and Kahquahs must also have been for a goodly time 
in the localities occupied by them, to have acquired the strength in numbers, 
and the power necessarily required to maintain their positions — the first, as 
the deadly enemies of the Iroquois ; the second, as a great neutral nation 
standing between these opponents. 

Says Crisfield Johnson, in his interesting " History of Erie County, N. Y." 
— whose views on this topic coincide with our own — " All or any of these 
tribes might have been on the ground they occupied in 1620 any time from a 
hundred to a thousand years, for all that can be learned from any reliable 
source. Much has been written of mounds, fortifications, bones, relics, etc., 
usually supposed to have belonged to some half-civilized people of gigantic 
size, who lived here before the Indians, but there is very little evidence to jus- 
tify the supposition. 

" It is true that numerous earthworks, evidently intended for fortifications, 
have been found in this county, as in other parts of Western New York, 
inclosing from two to ten acres each and covered with forest trees, the concen- 
tric circles of which indicate an age of from two hundred to five hundred years, 
with other evidences of a still earlier growth. These prove with reasonable 
certainty that there were human inhabitants here several hundred years ago, 
and that they found it necessary thus to defend themselves against their ene- 
mies, but not that those inhabitants were of an essentially different race from 
the Indians who were discovered here by the earliest Europeans. 

" It has been suggested that the Indians never built breastworks, and that 
these fortifications were beyond their patience and skill. But they certainly 
did build palisades, frequently requiring much labor and ingenuity. When 
the French first came to Montreal they discovered an Indian town of fifty huts, 



History of Warren County. 



which was encompassed by three lines of palisades some thirty feet high, with 
one well-secured entrance. On the inside was a rampart of timber, ascended 
by ladders and supplied with heaps of stones ready to be cast at an enemy. 
When Samuel de Champlain, the founder of Canada, at the head of a large 
body of Hurons and accompanied by ten Frenchmen, attacked the principal 
village of the Onondagas, near Onondaga Lake, in October, 1615, he found it 
defended by four rows of interlaced palisades, so strong that, notwithstanding 
the number of his followers, the firearms of his Frenchmen, and his own gal- 
lant leadership, he was unable to overcome the resistance of the Onondagas, 
and was compelled to retreat across Lake Ontario. 

" Certainly those who had the necessary patience, skill, and industry to build 
such works as those were quite capable of building intrenchments of earth. 
In fact, one of the largest fortresses of Western New York, known as Fort 
Hill, in the town of Le Roy, Genesee county, contained, when first discovered, 
great piles of round stones, evidently intended for use against assailants, and 
showing about the same progress in the art of war as was evinced by the pali- 
sade builders. 

" True, the Iroquois when first discovered did not build forts of earth ; but 
it is much more likely that they had adandoned them, in the course of improve- 
ment, for the more convenient palisades, than that a whole race of half-civilized 
men had disappeared from the country, leaving no other trace than these earth- 
works. Considering the light weapons then in vogue, the palisade was an 
improvement on the earth-work, offering equal resistance to missiles and much 
greater resistance to escalades. 

" Men are apt to display a superfluity of wisdom in dealing with such prob- 
lems, and to reject simple explanations merely because they are simple. The 
Indians were here when the country was discovered, and so were the earth- 
works ; and what evidence there is, goes to show that the former constructed 
the latter. 

" It has been claimed that human bones of gigantic size have been discov- 
ered ; but when the evidence is sifted and the constant tendency to exaggerate 
is taken into account, there will be found no reason to believe that they were 
relics of any other race than the American Indians. 

" The numerous small axes or hatchets which have been found throughout 
Western New York were unquestionably of French origin, and so, too, doubt- 
less, were the few other utensils of metal which have been discovered in this 
vicinity. 

" On the whole, we may safely conclude that, while it is by no means impos- 
sible that some race altogether different from the Indians existed here before 
them, there is no good evidence that such was the case, and the strong proba- 
bilities are that if there was any such race it was inferior, rather than superior, 
to the people discovered here by the Europeans." 



European Discoveries, Etc., 1534-1655. 



CHAPTER III. 

EUROPEAN DISCOVERIES, ETC., 1534-1655. 

The French in New France — The Puritans in New England — The Dutch in New Nether- 
lands — ^Activity of the French — Dutch Progress — The Jesuits — The Company of a Hundred 
Partners — Capture and Restoration of New France — Great Extent of the Province of Massa- 
chusetts Bay — Breboeuf and Chaumonot — Destruction of the Kahquahs and Eries — Seneca 
Tradition — French Account — Indian Hatchets. 

IN 1534, only forty-two years after the discovery of America by Columbus, 
Jacques Cartier, a skilled French navigator, discovered the broad, beauti- 
ful river connecting Lake Ontario with the ocean. He sailed up that river to 
the future site of Montreal and formally took possession of all the country 
round about, on behalf of Francis I, the reigning sovereign of France. He 
named the newly-discovered region New France. The following year he 
made a second voyage, with the object in view of finding a direct route to 
India, and on reaching the mouth of that magnificent stream named it the St. 
Lawrence, in honor of the day of its discovery. He passed up the river a con- 
siderable distance, finding many Indian villages, but, not knowing the climate 
or heeding the flight of time, the rigors of a northern winter were upon him 
ere he realized their terrors ; and amid untold sufferings his hardy but unpre- 
pared seamen were compelled to remain on the St. Lawrence, their ship being 
ice-bound, until spring opened, when the survivors returned to France. Six 
years later Cartier made another voyage across the Atlantic, for the purpose 
of founding a permanent colony of French on the St. Lawrence ; but in 1543 
all was abandoned, and for more than a half century the disturbed condition 
of France prevented further progress in America. 

On the 3d of July, 1603, Samuel de Champlain planted the white flag of 
France on the site of Quebec, and three years later on that of Montreal. From 
this time forward for many years the devoted missionaries and fearless explor- 
ers of France were unremitting in their efforts to spread the Catholic faith and 
extend the French dominions throughout the vast region bordering upon the 
St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes. 

In 1606 James I, king of England, granted to an association of English- 
men, called the Plymouth Company, the territory of New England ; but no 
permanent settlement was made until the 9th day of November, 1620, when 
from the historic Mayflower the Pilgrim Fathers landed on Plymouth Rock. 
The English settlements were expected to stretch westward, between north 
latitude 48° and 34°, from the Atlantic Ocean to the " South Sea," or Pacific 
Ocean, and patents were granted to accommodate this liberal expansion. 

In 1609 the English navigator Henry Hudson, while in the employ of the 



History of Warren County. 



Dutch East India Company, discovered the river which still bears his name, 
and soon after the Hollanders established fortified trading posts at its mouth 
and at Fort Orange, now Albany, and opened a commerce in furs, etc. They, 
too, made an indefinite claim of territory to the westward. 

All European nations at that time recognized the right of discovery as 
constituting a valid claim to lands occupied only by scattered bands of sav- 
ages ; but there were numerous disputes as to application, and especially as to 
the amount of surrounding country which each discoverer could claim on 
behalf of his sovereign. 

Thus during the first quarter of the seventeenth century three distinct 
streams of emigration, with three attendant claims of sovereignty, were con- 
verging toward the region of the Great Lakes. For the time being, however, 
the French had the best opportunity and the Dutch ne.xt, while the English, 
apparently, were third in the race. 

The F"rench were the first white men to make explorations in the vicinity 
of Lake Erie. As early as 1611-12 Champlain ascended the chain of lakes as 
far as Lake Huron, and from that time forward the Indians were visited by 
numerous French priests, on the double mission of spreading the gospel and 
promoting the interests of their king and nation. 

In 1623 permanent Dutch emigration, as distinguished from mere fur-trad- 
ing expeditions, first began upon the Hudson. The colony was named New 
Netherlands, and the first governor was sent thither by the Batavian Republic. 

Two years later a few Jesuits arrived on the banks of the St. Lawrence, 
the advance guard of a host of representatives of that remarkable order, which 
was in time to crowd out almost all other Catholic missionaries from Canada 
and the whole lake region, and substantially monopolize the ground them- 
selves. In 1626 Father de la Roche Daillon, a Recollet missionary, visited 
the Kahquahs, or Neuter nation, and passed the winter preaching the gospel 
among them. This active, keen-sighted missionary also found time during 
his winter's sojourn in the wilderness to visit and describe the oil springs in 
New York and Western Pennsylvania. 

In 1627 Cardinal Richelieu organized the company of New France, other- 
wise known as the Company of a Hundred Partners. The three chief objects 
of this association were to extend the fur trade, to convert the Indians to 
Christianity, and to discover a new route to China by way of the Great Lakes 
of North America. The company succeeded in extending the fur trade, but 
not in going to China by way of Lake Erie, and not to any great extent in 
converting the Indians. By the terms of their charter they were to transport 
six thousand emigrants to New France and to furnish them with an ample 
supply of both priests and artisans. Champlain was made governor. His 
first two years' experience was bitter in the extreme. The British men-of- 
war captured his supplies at sea, the Iroquois warriors, whose enmity he had 



European Discoveries, Etc., i 534-1655. 23 

incurred, tomahawked his hunters on land, and in 1629 an EngHsh fleet sailed 
up the St. Lawrence and captured Quebec. Soon afterward, however, peace 
was concluded. New France was restored to King Louis, and Champlain 
resumed his gubernatorial duties. 

In 1628 Charles I of England granted a charter for the government of 
Massachusetts Bay. It included the territory between latitude 40° 2' and 44° 
15' north, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific, making a province two 
hundred and fifty-four miles wide and about four thousand miles long. The 
present county of Warren was included within its limits, as well as the greater 
part of the State of Pennsylvania. 

Meanwhile the Jesuit missionaries, fired with unbounded zeal and unsur- 
passed courage, traversed the wilderness, holding up the cross before the bewil- 
dered savages. They naturally had much better success with the Hurons, 
afterward known as the VVyandots, than with the Iroquois, whom Champlain 
had wantonly and foolishly attacked in order to please the Hurons (and to 
show the effectiveness of his firearms), and who afterward remained, with the 
exception of the Senecas, the almost unvarying enemies of the French. 

Flourishing stations were soon afterward established by the Jesuits as far 
west as Lake Huron. One of these was Ste. Marie, near the eastern extremity 
of that lake, and it was from this station that Fathers Breboeuf and Chaumonot 
set forth in November, 1640, to visit the Neuter nation. They returned the 
next spring, having visited eighteen Kahquah villages, but having met with 
very little encouragement among them. They reported the Neuter Indians to 
be stronger and finer-looking than any other savages with whom they were 
acquainted. 

In 1641 Father I'Allemant wrote to the Jesuit provincial in France, describ- 
ing the expedition of Breboeuf and Chaumonot, and one of his expressions 
goes far to settle the question whether or not the buffalo ever inhabited the 
country bordering upon and to the southward of Lake Erie. He says of the 
Neuter nation, repeating the information just obtained from the two mission- 
aries : "They are much employed in hunting deer, buffalo, ^ wild-cats, wolves, 
beaver, and other animals." 

Down to this time the Kahquahs had succeeded in maintaining their neu- 
trality between the fierce belligerents on either side, though the Jesuit mission- 
aries reported them as being more friendly to the Iroquois than to the Hurons. 
What caused the quarrel between the Iroquois and the tribes immediately to 
the westward of them on the south shore of Lake Erie is not known ; but 
some time during the next fifteen years the Iroquois fell upon both the Kah- 
quahs and the Fries, and exterminated them as nations from the face of the 
earth. The precise years in which these events occurred are uncertain, nor is 

1 A French memoir, written in 1714, says : "Buffalo are found on tlie south shore of Lake Erie, 
but not on the north shore." 



24 History of Warren County. 

it known whether the Kahquahs or the Eries first felt the deadly anger of the 
Five Nations. French accounts favor the view that the Neuter nation were 
first destroyed, while according to Seneca tradition the Kahquahs still dwelt 
at the foot of Lake Erie, and southward to the head waters of the Allegheny, 
when the Eries were annihilated by the Iroquois. This tradition has been 
repeated about as follows : 

The Eries had been jealous of the Iroquois from the time the latter formed 
their confederacy. About the time under consideration the Eries challenged 
their rivals to a grand game of ball, a hundred men on a side, for a heavy 
stake of furs and wampum. For two successive years the challenge was 
declined ; but when it was again repeated it was accepted by the confederates, 
and their chosen hundred met their opponents near the head of the Niagara 
River. 

They defeated the Eries in ball-playing, and then the latter proposed a 
foot-race between ten of the fleetest young men on each side. Again the ath- 
letic Iroquois were victorious. Then the Kahquahs, who had a large village 
near by, invited the contestants to their home. While there the chief of the 
Eries proposed a wrestling match between the champions on each side, the 
victor in each match to have the pleasing privilege of knocking out his adver- 
sary's brains with his tomahawk. This challenge too was accepted, though, 
as the veracious Iroquois historians assert, with no intention of claiming the 
forfeit if successful. 

In the first bout the Iroquois wrestler threw his antagonist, but declined to 
play the part of executioner. The chief of the Eries, infuriated by his cham- 
pion's defeat, himself struck the vanquished wrestler dead, as he lay supine 
where the victor had thrown him. Another and another of the Eries was in 
the same way conquered by the Iroquois, and in the same way dispatched by 
the wrathful chief By this time the Eries were in a terrific state of excite- 
ment, and the leader of the victorious confederates, fearing an outbreak, ordered 
his followers to take up their march toward home, which they did, with no 
further collision. 

But the jealousy and hatred of the Eries was still more inflamed by defeat, 
and they soon laid a plan to surprise and, if possible, destroy the Iroquois. A 
Seneca woman, who had married among the Eries but was then a widow, fled 
to her own people and gave notice of the attack. Runners were at once sent 
out, and all the Iroquois were assembled and led forth to meet the invaders. 
The two bodies met near Honeoye Lake, about half way between Canandaigua 
and the Genesee, in New York. After a terrible conflict the Eries were totally 
defeated, the flying remnants pursued to their homes by the victorious confed- 
erates, and the whole nation almost completely destroyed. It was five months 
before the Iroquois warriors returned from the deadly pursuit. 

Subsequently a large force composed of the descendants of the Eries came 



European Discoveries, Etc., 1534-1655. 25 

from the Far West to attack the Iroquois, but were utterly routed and slain 
to a man, near the site of the great city now seen at the foot of Lake Erie, 
their bodies burned, and the ashes buried in a mound lately visible, near the 
old Indian church on the Buffalo Creek Reservation. Such is the tradition. 
It is a very nice story — for the Iroquois; since, according to their account, 
their opponents were the aggressors throughout, that the young men of the 
Five Nations were invariably victorious in the athletic games, and nothing but 
self-preservation induced them to destroy their enemies. 

On the other hand, scattered French accounts go to show that the Kah- 
quahs were destroyed first. They had been visited by French Catholic mis- 
sionaries as early as 1626. They were found to be living on terms of amity 
with the surrounding warlike tribes, and were governed by a queen, termed in 
their own language Yagowania, and in the Seneca tongue Gegosasa, who was 
regarded as the " mother of nations," and whose office was that of "Keeper of 
the house of peace." The chief warrior of the tribe or nation was Ragnotha, 
whose residence was at Teosahwa, or " Place of Basswood," the site of the city 
of Buffalo of to-day. About 1645 a bloody dissension broke out between the 
several branches of the Iroquois family. During its progress two Seneca war- 
riors appeared at Gegosasa's lodge and were hospitably received. They were 
preparing to smoke the pipe of peace when a deputation of Massassaugas (a 
tribe which occupied the region immediately to the westward of the Eries, or 
at the western extremity of Lake Erie) was announced, who demanded venge- 
ance, for the murder of their chief's son, at the hands of the Seneca tribe. 
This the queen, in her mediatorial capacity, was prompt to grant. She even 
set out with a large body of warriors to enforce her decree, and dispatched 
messengers to Ragnotha to command his assistance. The visiting Senecas 
hastened back to their friends to notify them of the queen's course, and a body 
of fighting men was hastily gathered in ambush on the broad trail over which 
her army was passing. The Kahquahs had no anticipation of trouble at that 
point, and the first they knew of the presence of the Senecas was when they 
heard their dreadful war-whoop. The contest that ensued was one of desper- 
ation. At first the Kahquahs gained the advantage ; but the Senecas rallied 
and finally compelled their enemy to flee, leaving six hundred dead upon the 
field of battle. This success was followed up and the defeated Kahquahs pur- 
sued and hunted relentlessly, until they were as a nation exterminated. 

The war of extermination between the Eries and the Iroquois occurred 
about 1650—55, and was one of the most cruel in aboriginal history. From 
the beginning it was understood by both sides to mean the utter ruin of one 
tribe or the other. The Eries organized a powerful body of warriors and 
sought to surprise their enemies in their own country. Their plans were 
thwarted, however, by a faithless woman, who secretly gave the Iroquois 
warning. The latter at once raised a force and marched out to meet the 



26 History of Warren County. 

invaders. The engagement resulted in a complete victory for the Iroquois. 
Seven times the Eries crossed the stream dividing the hostile lines, and they 
were as often driven back with terrible loss. On another occasion several 
hundred Iroquois attacked nearly three times their number of Eries, encamped 
on the Allegheny River ^ not far from the southern boundary of Warren 
county, dispersed them, killed a great many, and compelled the balance to fly 
to remote regions. In another battle, fought near the site of the Cattaraugus 
Indian mission house, on the upper waters of the Allegheny, the loss of the 
Eries was enormous. Finally a pestilence broke out among the Eries, 
"which," says an early writer, "swept away greater numbers even than the 
club and arrow." ^ The Iroquois then took advantage of their opportunity to 
end all fear of future trouble from the ill-fated Eries. Those who had been 
taken captive were, with rare exceptions, tortured and remorselessly butchered, 
and their wives and children were distributed among the Iroquois villages, 
never again to be restored to their relatives and friends. The few survivors 
fled to distant regions in the West and South, and were followed by the undy- 
ing hatred of the Iroquois. 

Amid these conflicting statements it is only certain that between 1640 and 
1655 the fierce confederates of Central New York "put out the fires" of the 
Kahquahs and the Eries. Traces of these tribes, however, were occasionally 
found by the French missionaries during their labors in the Far West. An 
early French writer, in describing the Christian village of La Prairie, says a 
portion of the settlement was made up of fugitive Eries. A number were also 
found living as slaves among the Onondagas, in Central New York, and 
appealed to the missionaries to aid them in securing their freedom, but aban- 
doned all hope on finding that these zealous priests were powerless to help 
them. 

Taking a retrospective view, it is possible, as some have claimed, " that the 
numerous iron hatchets which have been picked up in Western New York and 
the northwestern counties of Pennsylvania belonged at one time to the unfort- 
unate Eries and Kahquahs. They are undoubtedly of French manufacture, 
and similar ones are used in Normandy to this day. They are all made after 
substantially the same pattern, the blade being three or four inches wide on 
the edge, running back and narrowing slightly for about six inches, when the 
eye is formed, by beating the metal out thin, rolling it over, and welding it. 

' It is probable that this fight took place at the point mentioned by General Irvine in 17S5 as the 
"Burying Ground," which was about fourteen miles below the mouth of the Brokenstraw. 

2 It is our opinion that the bows and arrows in the hands of the confederates were considered by 
them of but secondary importance during the wars of extermination referred to. The Iroquois for 
nearly forty years had maintained peaceful relations with the Dutch upon the Hudson River, and, in 
exchange for valuable furs, had obtained fire. arms and learned how to use them. Thus armed they 
were more than a match for any of their savage adversaries, who depended upon Indian weapons alone ; 
and here we think is explained the secret of their successes and easy victories over the Eries, the Kah- 
quahs, and other nations. 



European Discoveries, Etc., i 534-1655. 27 

Each is marked with the same device, namely, three small circles something- 
less than an inch in diameter, each divided into compartments, like a wheel 
with four spokes. These hatchets would be convenient articles to trade for 
furs, and were doubtless used for that purpose. It is extremely improbable 
that any Indian would have thrown away such valuable instruments in the 
numbers which have since been found, except from compulsion ; and the dis- 
aster which befell the Kahquahs and Eries at the hands of the Iroquois readily 
accounts for the abandonment of these weapons." 

Thus reasons a recent writer, who but re-echoes the opinions of earlier 
annalists. Yet when we turn to another period in the history of French occu- 
pation — a hundred years later, too (1747) — we find that the French were then 
deeply intent on securing firm possession of the Mississippi valley and the 
entire basin, even to the summits of the Alleghenies in Pennsylvania, and were 
busy establishing trading-posts along the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers. They 
employed the most artful means to win the simple natives to their interests, 
giving showy presents and laboring to convince them of their great value. 
Pennsylvania, as compared with other provinces, had then won a reputation 
among the Indians of making presents of substantial worth. The natives, not 
knowing the difference between steel and iron, the French distributed immense 
numbers of worthless iron hatchets, which the savages supposed were the equal 
of the best English steel axes. The Indians, however, soon came to distin- 
guish between the good and the valueless ; and, understanding the Pennsyl- 
vania methods of securing peace and friendship, they became very artful in 
drawing out vast quantities of presents. 

The provincial government at this time was alive to the dangers which 
threatened from the insinuating methods of the French. A trusty messenger, 
Conrad Weiser, was sent among the Indians in the western part of the prov- 
ince to observe the plans of the French and to ascertain the temper of the 
natives ; and especially to magnify the power of the English, and the disposi- 
tion of Pennsylvania to give great presents. This latter policy had the desired 
effect, and worthless and wandering bands, which had no right to speak for 
the tribe, came teeming in, desirous of scouring the chain of friendship, inti- 
mating that the French were making great offers, in order to induce the gov- 
ernment to large liberality, until this " brightening the chain " became an intol- 
erable nuisance. Indeed, at a single council held at Albany, N. Y., in that 
year (1747) Pennsylvania distributed goods to the Indians *to the value of 
;^i,000, and of such a character as would be most serviceable and valuable to 
the recipients ; not worthless gew-gaws, but steel hatchets, blankets, and the 
many articles which would contribute to their lasting comfort and well-being, 
a protection to the person against the bitter frosts of winter, and sustenance 
that would minister to the continued wants of the body and alleviation of pain 
in time of sickness. Can it not be presumed, therefore, that the many iron 



28 History of Warren County. 

hatchets found in the localities mentioned were not the last tokens or relics of 
the exterminated Eries and Kahquahs, but, rather, that they were the worth- 
less implements of French manufacture, thrown away as valueless by the Sen- 
ecas and other Indians, after obtaining possession of the steel hatchets so lib- 
erally and widely distributed by the English colonists ? 

For many years after the signal defeat and extermination of the Kahquahs 
and Eries the territory bordering the southern shore of Lake Erie, and for 
many miles to the eastward and southward of the same, was regarded as a 
kind of neutral ground between the eastern and western tribes of Indians. 
True, the victorious Iroquois claimed the country by right of conquest, and 
their claims were recognized and respected ; yet nomadic bands of Delawares, 
Munseys, and other tribes, who were vassals of, or at peace with, the Iroquois, 
frequented it from time to time in quest of the game and fish with which it 
teemed. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE IROQUOIS. 

Their Name as Applied by Themselves — Sy.stem of Clans — Its Importance — Its Probable 
Origin — The Grand Council — Sachems and War-chiefs — Line of Descent — Choice of Sachems 
— Religious Belief — Natural Attributes — Family Relations, etc. 

FROM the destruction of the unfortunate Eries and Kahquahs down to the 
last great sale of land by the Iroquois to Pennsylvania those confederates 
were the actual possessors of the territory of Warren county, and, a few years 
before making that sale, the strongest nation of the confederacy (the Senecas) 
had some of their important towns within the county. Within its borders, 
too, are still to be found a considerable number of their descendants. 

During all these one hundred and thirty years the Iroquois were closely 
identified with the history of Warren county, and this is deemed a proper place 
in which to introduce an account of the interior structure of that remarkable 
Indian confederacy, at which we have before taken but an outside glance. 
First, it should be said that the name " Iroquois " was never applied by the 
confederates to themselves. It was first used by the French, and was written 
and printed by them " Hiro Couis." The men of the Five Nations (afterward 
the Six Nations) called themselves " Hedonosaunee," which means literally, 
" They form a cabin," or a wigwam ; describing in this expressive manner tlie 
close union existing among them. The Indian name just quoted, however, is 
more commonly rendered " The People of the Long House," which is more 
fully descriptive of the confederacy, though not quite so accurate a translation. 



The Iroquois. 29 



The central and unique characteristic of the Iroquois league was not the 
mere fact of five separate tribes being confederated together ; for such unions 
have been frequent among civilized and half-civilized peoples, though little 
known among the savages of America. The feature that distinguished the 
people of the Long House from all other confederacies, and which at the same 
time bound together all of these ferocious warriors as with a living chain, was 
the system of clatis extending through all the different tribes. Although this 
clan- system has been treated of in many works, there are doubtless thousands 
of readers who have often heard of the warlike success and outward greatness 
of the Iroquois confederacy, but are unacquainted with the inner league which 
was its chief characteristic, and without which it would in all probability have 
met, at an early period, with the fate of numerous similar alliances. 

The word " clan " has been adopted as the most convenient one to desig- 
nate the peculiar artificial families about to be described ; but the Iroquois clan 
was widely different from the Scottish one, all the members of which owed 
undivided allegiance to a single chief, for whom they were ready to fight 
against other clans or all the world. Yet " clan " is deemed a much better 
word for our purpose than "tribe," which is sometimes used, since that is the 
term ordinarily applied to an entire Indian nation. 

The people of the Iroquois confederacy were divided into eight clans, the 
names of which were as follows : Wolf, Bear, Beaver, Turtle, Deer, Snipe, 
Heron, and Hawk. Early accounts and traditions differ, however ; some 
declaring that every clan extended through all the tribes, while others assert 
that only the Wolf, Bear, and Turtle clans did so, the rest being restricted to 
a lesser number of tribes. It is certain, nevertheless, that each tribe — the 
Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas — contained parts of the 
three clans last named and of several of the others. 

Each clan formed a large artificial family, modeled on the natural family. 
All the members of the clan, no matter how widely separated among the 
tribes, were considered as brothers and sisters to each other, and were forbid- 
den to intermarry. This prohibition, too, was strictly enforced by public opin- 
ion. All the clan being thus taught from earliest infancy that they belonged 
to the same family, a bond of the strongest kind was created and perpetuated 
throughout the confederacy. The Oneida of the Wolf clan would no sooner 
appear among the Cayugas, than those of the same clan would claim him as 
their special guest and admit him to the most confidential intimacy. The Sen- 
eca of the Bear clan might wander away eastward to the country of the Mo- 
hawks, at the farthest extremity of the Long House, and he had a claim upon 
his brother Bear of that tribe which the latter would not dream of repudiating. 

Thus the whole confederacy was linked together. If at any time there 
appeared a tendency toward conflict between the different tribes, it was 
instantly checked by the thought that, if persisted in, the hand of the Turtle 



30 History of Warren County. 

must be lifted against his brother Turtle ; the tomahawk of the Beaver might 
be buried in the brain of his kinsman Beaver. And so potent was the feeling 
that for at least two hundred years, and until the power of the league was 
broken by the overwhelming outside force of the whites, there was no serious 
dissension between the tribes of the Iroquois. 

Other Indian tribes had similar clans, having similar names, notably the 
Hurons, or Wyandots, as they have been termed during the last hundred 
years ; but these were confined each to its own nation, and had therefore very 
little political value. The Scotch, as has been said, had their clans, but, though 
all the members of each clan were supposed to be more or less related, yet, 
instead of marriage being forbidden within their own clannish limits, they rarely 
married outside of them. All the loyalty of the clansmen was concentrated on 
their chief, and instead of being a bond of union and strength, so far as the 
nation at large was concerned, the clans were nurseries of faction. 

Iroquois tradition ascribes the founding of the league to an Onondaga chief- 
tain named Tadodahoh. Such traditions, however, are of very little value, 
historically speaking. A chief of that name may or may not have founded 
the confederacy. It is extremely probable that the league began with the 
union of two or three tribes, being subsequently increased by the addition of 
others. That such additions might be made may be seen in the case of the 
Tuscaroras, whose union with the confederacy long after the advent of the 
Europeans changed the Five Nations into the Six Nations. 

Whether the Hedonosaunee were originally superior in valor and eloquence 
to their neighbors cannot now be ascertained. Probably they were not. But 
their talent for practical statesmanship gave them the advantage in war, and 
success made them self-confident and fearless. The business of the league was 
necessarily transacted in a grand council of sachems, and this fostered oratori- 
cal powers, until at length the Iroquois became famous among scores of rival 
nations for wisdom, courage, and eloquence, and were justly denominated by 
Volney, "The Romans of the New World." 

Aside from the clan-system just described, the Iroquois league had some 
resemblance to the great American Union which succeeded and overwhelmed 
it. The central authority was supreme on questions of peace and war, and on 
all others relating to the general welfare of the confederacy, while the tribes, 
like the States, reserved to themselves the management of their ordinary affairs. 

In peace all power was confined to "sachems"; in war, to "chiefs." The 
sachems of each tribe acted as its rulers in the few matters which required the 
exercise of civil authority. The same rulers also met in council to direct the 
affairs of the confederacy. There were fifty in all, of whom the Mohawks had 
nine, the Oneidas nine, the Onondagas fourteen, the Cayugas ten, and the 
Senecas eight. These numbers, however, did not give proportionate power in 
the councils of the league, for all the nations were equal there. There was in 



The Iroquois. 31 



each tribe, too, the same number of war-chiefs as sachems, and these had abso- 
lute authority in time of war. When a council assembled, each sachem had a 
war-chief near him to execute his orders. But in a war party the war-chief 
commanded, and the sachem took his place in the ranks. This was the system 
in its simplicity. 

Some time after the arrival of the Europeans they seem to have fallen into 
the habit of electing chiefs — not war-chiefs — as counsellors to the sachems, 
who in time acquired equality of power with them, and were considered as 
their equals by the whites in the making of treaties. 

It is difficult to learn the truth regarding a political and social system 
a description of which was not preserved by any written record. As near, 
however, as can be ascertained, the Onondagas had a certain pre-eminence in 
the councils of the league, at least to the extent of always furnishing a grand 
sachem, whose authority, nevertheless, was of a very shadowy description. It 
is not certain that he ever presided in the council of nations. That council, 
however, always met at the council-house of the Onondagas. This was the 
natural result of their central position, the Mohawks and Oneidas being to the 
east of them, the Cayugas and Senecas to the west. 

The Senecas unquestionably were the most powerful of all the tribes ; and 
as they were located at the western end 1 of the confederacy, they had to bear 
the brunt of war when it was assailed by its most formidable foes who dwelt in 
that quarter. It would naturally follow, therefore, that the principal war-chief 
of the league should be of the Seneca nation, and such is said to have been the 
case ; though over this, too, hangs a shade of doubt. 

The right of heirship, as among many other of the North American tribes 
of Indians, was in the female line. A man's heirs were his brother — that is to 
say, his mother's son and his sister's son — never his own son, nor his brother's 
son. The few articles which constituted an Indian's personal property — even 
his bow and tomahawk — never descended to the son of him who had wielded 
them. Titles, so far as they were hereditary at all, followed the same law of 
descent. The child also followed the clan and tribe of the mother. The object 
was evidently to secure greater certainty that the heir would be of the blood 
of his deceased kinsman. The result of the application of this rule to the Iro- 
quois system of clans was that if a particular sachemship or chieftaincy was 
once established in a certain clan of a certain tribe, in that clan and tribe it 
was expected to remain forever. Exactly how it was filled when it became 
vacant is a matter of some doubt; but, as near as can be learned, the new offi- 

1 When the Five Nations were first visited by Europeans the Senecas chiefly dwelt among the hills 
south of the Cayuga and Seneca Lakes in New York, and along the Genesee River, though at the same 
time they had villages on the upper waters of the Allegheny and the West Branch of the Susquehanna 
Rivers in Pennsylvania. Thus they guarded a line extending from Lake Ontario to the navigable 
waters of the Allegheny. They called themselves Nunduwawgauh, or the " Men of the Ilills," and 
had many traditions of the prowess and exploits of their ancestors. 



32 History of Warren County. 

cial was elected by the warriors of the clan, and was then inaugurated by the 
council of sachems. 

If, for instance, a sachemship belonging to the Wolf clan of the Seneca 
tribe became vacant, it could only be filled by some one of the Wolf clan of 
the Seneca tribe. A clan council was called and, as a general rule, the heir 
of the deceased was chosen to his place ; to wit, one of his brothers — reckon- 
ing only on the mother's side — or one of his sister's sons, or even some more 
distant male relative in the female line. But there was no positive law, and 
the warriors might discard all these and elect some one entirely unconnected 
with the deceased, though, as before stated, he must be of the same clan and 
tribe. While there was no unchangeable custom compelling the clan council 
to select one of the heirs of the deceased as his successor, yet the tendency 
was so strong in that direction that an infant was frequently chosen, a guardian 
being appointed to perform the functions of the office till the youth should 
reach the proper age to do so. All offices were held for life, unless the incum- 
bent was solemnly deposed by a council, an event which very seldom occurred. 

Notwithstanding the modified system of hereditary power in vogue, the 
constitution of every tribe was essentially republican. Warriors, old men, and 
women attended the various councils and made their influence felt. Neither 
in the government of the confederacy nor of the tribes was there any such 
thing as tyranny over the people, though there was a great deal of tyranny by 
the league over conquered nations. In fact, there was very little government 
of any kind, and very little need of any. There were substantially no property 
interests to guard, all land being in common and each man's personal property 
being limited to a bow, a tomahawk, and a few deer skins. Liquor had not 
yet lent its disturbing influence, and few quarrels were to be traced to the 
influence of women, for the American Indian is singularly free from the warmer 
passions. His principal vice is an easily aroused and unlimited hatred ; but 
the tribes were so small and enemies so convenient that there was no difficulty 
in gratifying this feeling (and attaining to the rank of a warrior) outside of his 
own nation. The consequence was that although the war-parties of the Iro- 
quois were continually shedding the blood of their foes, there was very little 
quarreling at home. 

Their religious creed was limited to a somewhat vague belief in the exist- 
ence of a Great Spirit and several inferior but very potent evil spirits. They 
had a few simple ceremonies, consisting largely of dances — one called the 
" green corn dance," performed at the time indicated by its name, and others 
at other seasons of the year. From a very early date their most important 
religious ceremony has been the "burning of the white dog," when an unfort- 
unate canine of the requisite color is sacrificed by one of the chiefs. To this 
day the pagans among them still perform this rite. 

In common with their fellow savages on this continent, the Iroquois have 



The Iroquois. 33 



been termed " fast friends and bitter enemies." Events have proved, however, 
that they were a great deal stronger enemies than friends. Revenge was the 
ruHng passion of their nature, and cruelty was their abiding characteristic. 
Revenge and cruelty are the worst attributes of human nature, and it is idle to 
talk of the goodness of men who roasted their captives at the stake. All Indi- 
ans were faithful to their own tribes, and the Iroquois were faithful to their 
confederacy ; but outside of these limits their friendship could not be counted 
on, and treachery was always to be apprehended in dealing with them. 

In their family relations they were not harsh to their children and not wan- 
tonly so to their wives ; but the men were invariably indolent, and all labor 
was contemptuously abandoned to their weaker sex. They were not an amor- 
ous race, but could hardly be called a moral one. They were in that respect 
merely apathetic. Their passions rarely led them into adultery, and mercenary 
prostitution was entirely unknown ; but they were not sensitive on the ques- 
tion of purity, and readily permitted their maidens to form the most fleeting 
alliances with those considered distinguished visitors. Polygamy, too, was 
practiced, though in what might be called moderation. Chiefs and eminent 
warriors usually had two or three wives — rarely more. They could be dis- 
carded at will by their husbands, but the latter seldom availed themselves of 
their privilege. These latter characteristics the Iroquois had in common with 
the other Indians of North America ; but their wonderful politico-social league 
and their extraordinary success in war were the especial attributes of the peo- 
ple of the Long House, a people so long the owners and occupants of Warren 
county. 

In the " Historical Collections of Pennsylvania " we find the following trib- 
ute to the prowess, etc., of the Iroquois nations : " The peculiar location of the 
Iroquois gave them an immense advantage. On the great channels of water 
communication to which their territories were contiguous, they were enabled 
in all directions to carry war and devastation to the neighboring or to the more 
distant nations. Nature had endowed them with height, strength, and sym- 
metry of person which distinguished them at a glance among the individuals 
of other tribes. They were brave as they were strong, but ferocious and cruel 
when excited in savage warfare ; crafty, treacherous, and overreaching when 
these qualities best suited their purposes. . The proceedings of their grand 
council were marked with great decorum and solemnity. In eloquence, in 
dignity, and profound policy their speakers might well bear comparison with 
the statesmen of civilized assemblies. By an early alliance with the Dutch on 
the Hudson they secured fire-arms, and were thus enabled not only to repel 
the encroachments of the French, but also to exterminate or reduce to a state 
of vassalage many Indian nations. From these they exacted an annual trib- 
ute or acknowledgment of fealty, permitting them, however, on that condition 
to occupy their former hunting-grounds. The humiliation of tributary nations 



34 History of Warren County. 

was, however, tempered with a paternal regard for their interests in all nego- 
tiations with the whites, and care was taken that no trespass should be com- 
mitted on their rights, and that they should be justly dealt with." 



CHAPTER V. 

FROM 1655 TO 1C80. 

The Iroquois Triumphant — Obliteration of Dutch Power — Frinch Progress — La Salle Visits 
the Senecas — Greenhalgh's Estimates — La Salle on the Niagara — Building of the Griffin — Its 
First and Last Voyage — La Salle's Subsequent Career. 

THE overthrow of the Kahquahs and Eries accomplished, the Iroquois, 
lords of all this vast region, went forth conquering and to conquer. This 
was probably the day of their greatest glory. Stimulated, but not yet crushed 
by contact with the white man, they stayed the progress of the French into 
their territories, they negotiated on equal terms with the Dutch and English, 
and, having supplied themselves with the terrible arms of the pale-faces, they 
smote with direst vengeance whomsoever of their own race were so unfortu- 
nate as to provoke their wrath. 

On the Susquehanna, on the Allegheny, on the Ohio, even to the Missis- 
sippi in the west and the Savannah in the south, the Iroquois bore their con- 
quering arms, filling with terror the dwellers alike on the prairies of Illinois 
and in the glades of the Carolinas. They strode over the bones of the slaugh- 
tered Eries to new conquests on the Great Lakes beyond, even to the foaming 
cascades of Michillimacinac and the shores of the mighty Superior. They 
inflicted such terrible defeat upon the Hurons, despite the alliance of the latter 
with the French, that many of the panic-stricken refugees sought safety for a 
time on the frozen borders of Hudson's Bay. In short, they triumphed on 
every side, save only where the white man came ; and even the latter was for 
years held at bay by these fierce confederates. 

Of the three distinct and rival bands of ICuropcan colonists already men- 
tioned, the French and Dutch opened a thriving fur-trade with the Indians, 
while the New I^nglanders devoted themselves principally to agriculture. In 
1664, however, the English seized New Amsterdam (now termed New York 
city), and in 1674 their conquest of New Netherlands was made permanent. 
Thus the Hollanders as a governing power in the New World were disposed 
of, and thenceforth the contest for supremacy was to be between the English 
and the French. 

Charles II, then king of England, granted the conquered Dutch province 



From 1655 to 1680. 35 



to his brother James, duke of York, from whom it was called New York. This 
grant comprised all the lands along the Hudson, with an indefinite amount 
westward, thus overlapping the previous grant of James I to the Plymouth 
Company, and the boundaries of Massachusetts under the charter of Charles I, 
and laying the foundation for a conflict of jurisdiction which was afterwards to 
have an important effect on the destinies of the country lying immediately to 
the northward of Warren county. 

The French, meanwhile, if poor farmers, were indefatigable fur-traders and 
missionaries ; but their priests and Indian traders mostly pursued a route west- 
ward, through the region now known as Canada. There were good reasons 
for taking such a route. The fierce Senecas guarded the southern shores of 
the Niagara, and they, like the rest of the Iroquois, were unfriendly, if not 
actively hostile, to the French. By 1665 trading-posts had been established 
at Michillimacinac, Green Bay, on the site of Chicago, and St. Joseph, Mich. 

But a new era was approaching. Louis XIV was now king of France, and 
his great minister, Colbert, was anxious to extend the power of his royal mas- 
ter over the unknown regions of North America. Under his instructions small 
exploring parties were sent forward into regions not visited heretofore by his 
countrymen. Accordingly, in 1669 La Salle, whose name was soon, and for- 
ever after, to be indissolubly connected with the history of America, visited 
the Senecas with only two companions, and found four of their principal vil- 
lages, from ten to twenty miles south from the present city of Rochester. In 
1673 the missionaries Marquette and Joliet pushed on beyond the farthest 
French posts, and erected the emblem of Christian salvation on the shore of 
the Father of Waters. And in 1676—77 Father Hennepin visited the Indian 
villages along the Allegheny, traveling as far south as the mouth of the Ve- 
nango River or French Creek. 

During the year last mentioned — 1677 — Wentworth Greenhalgh, an En- 
glishman, visited all of the Five Nations, finding the same four towns of the 
Senecas described by the companions of La Salle. Greenhalgh made very 
minute observations, counted the houses of the Indians, and reported the Mo- 
hawks as having three hundred warriors, the Oneidas two hundred, the Onon- 
dagas three hundred and fifty, the Cayugas three hundred, and the Senecas a 
thousand. It will thus be seen that the Senecas, the guardians of the western 
door of the Long House, numbered, according to Greenhalgh's computation, 
nearly as many as all the other tribes of the confederacy combined, and other 
accounts show that he was not far from correct. 

In the month of January, 1679, La Salle — his full name being Robert Cav- 
alier de la Salle, appeared at the mouth of the Niagara River. He was a 
Frenchman of good family, thirty years of age, and one of the most gallant, 
devoted, and adventurous of all the bold explorers who, under many different 
banners, opened the New World to the knowledge of the Old. Leaving his 



36 History of Warren County. 

native Rouen at the age of twenty-two, he had ever since been leading a life 
of adventure in America, having in 1669, as already mentioned, penetrated 
almost alone to the strongholds of the Senecas. In 1678 he had received from 
King Louis a commission to discover the western part of New France. He 
was authorized to build such forts and trading-posts as might be deemed nec- 
essary, but at his own expense, being granted certain privileges in return, the 
principal of which appears to have been the right to trade in buffalo skins. 
The same year he had made some preparations, and in the fall had sent the 
Sicur de la Motte and Father Hennepin (the priest and historian of his expe- 
dition) in advance to the mouth of the Niagara. La Motte, however, soon 
returned. 

When La Salle arrived he went two leagues above the falls, built a rude 
dock, and laid the keel of a vessel with which to navigate the upper lakes. 
Strangely enough, Hennepin does not state on which bank of the river this 
dock was situated ; but the question has been carefully investigated, especially 
by Francis Parkman, the historian of French power in Canada, and by other 
eminent writers on early history in Western New York, who have proved 
beyond a reasonable doubt that it was on the east side, at the mouth of Ca- 
yuga Creek, in Niagara county, N. Y.; and, in accordance with that view, the 
little village which has been laid out there has received the appellation of " La 
Salle." 

Hennepin distinctly mentions a small village of Senecas situated at the 
mouth of the Niagara ; and it is plain from his whole narrative that the Iro- 
quois were in possession of the entire country along the river, though few of 
them resided there, and watched the movements of the French with unceasing 
jealousy. 

The work of construction was carried on through the winter, two Indians 
of the Wolf clan of the Senecas being employed to hunt deer for the French 
party, and in the spring the vessel was launched, " after having," in the words 
of Father Hennepin, " been blessed according to the rites of our Church of 
Rome." The new ship was named Le Griffon (the Griffin), in compliment to 
the Count de Frontenac, minister of the French colonies, whose coat of arms 
was ornamented with representations of that mythical beast. It was a diminu- 
tive vessel compared with the leviathans of the deep which now navigate these 
inland seas, but was a marvel in view of the difficulties under which it had 
been built. It was of sixty tons burden, completely furnished with anchors 
and other equipments, and armed with seven small cannon, all of which had 
been transported by hand around the great cataract. 

The Griffin remained in the Niagara River below the rapids for several 
months. Meanwhile Father Hennepin returned to Fort Frontenac (now 
Kingston, Canada), where he obtained two priestly assistants, and La Salle 
superintended the removal of the stores and armament from below the falls. 



From 1655 to 1680. 37 



When all was ready the attempt was made, and several times repeated, to 
ascend the rapids above Black Rock, but without success. At length, on the 
7th of August, 1679, a favorable wind sprang up from the northeast, all the 
Griffin s sails were set, and again it approached the troublesome rapids. There 
were thirty-four men on board, all Frenchmen with the exception of Tonti, an 
Italian, who had been chosen by La Salle as second in command. 

As the little vessel approached the rapids a dozen stalwart sailors were 
sent on shore with a tow-line, and aided with all their strength the breeze 
which blew toward Lake Erie. Those efforts were soon successful. By the 
aid of sails and tow-line the Griffin surmounted the rapids, all the crew went 
on board, and the pioneer vessel of the Great Lakes swept out on the bosom 
of Lake Erie. As it did so the priests led in singing a joyous Te Deuni, all 
the cannon and arquebuses were fired in a grand salute, and even the stoical 
Iroquois, watching with suspicious eyes from the shore, gave evidence of their 
admiration by repeated cries of " Gannoron ! Gannoron!" Wonderful! Won- 
derful ! 

This was the beginning of the commerce of the upper lakes ; but, like many 
another first venture, it resulted only in disaster to its projectors, though it was 
the harbinger of unbounded success by others. The Griffin was navigated to 
Green Bay, where La Salle and Hennepin left it, started on its return with a 
cargo of furs, and was never heard of more. It is supposed that it sank in a 
storm and that all on board perished. 

La Salle was not afterward identified with the history of the lower lake 
region ; but his chivalric achievements and tragic fate have still such power to 
stir the pulse and enlist sympathetic feelings, that one can hardly refrain from 
a brief mention of his subsequent career: After the Griffin had sailed on her 
return voyage. La Salle and Hennepin proceeded in canoes to the head of Lake 
Michigan. Thence, after building a trading-post and waiting many weary 
months for the return of his vessel, he went with thirty followers to Lake Pe- 
oria, on the Illinois River, where he built a fort and gave it the expressive 
name of " Creve Coeur" — Broken Heart. But, notwithstanding this expres- 
sion of despair, his courage was far from being exhausted, and, after sending 
Hennepin to explore the Mississippi, he, with three comrades, performed the 
remarkable feat of returning to Fort Frontenac on foot, depending on their 
guns for support. 

From Fort Frontenac he returned to Creve Coeur, the garrison of which 
had in the mean time been driven away by the Indians. Again the indomit- 
able La Salle gathered his followers, and early in 1682 descended the Missis- 
sippi to the Gulf of Mexico, being the first European to explore any consider- 
able portion of that mighty stream. He took possession of the country, and 
of all lands drained by waters tributary to the Mississippi, in the name of King 
Louis XIV, and called it Louisiana. 



38 History of Warren County. 

Upon his return to France he astonished and gratified the court with the 
stories of his discoveries, and in 1684 was furnished with a fleet and several 
hundred men, to colonize the new domain. Then everything went wrong. 
The fleet, through the blunders of its naval commander, went to Matagorda 
Bay, in Texas. The principal store-ship was wrecked, the fleet returned, and 
La Salle failed to find the mouth of the Mississippi. His colony dwindled 
away, through desertion and death, to forty men ; and at length he started 
with sixteen of these, on foot, to return to Canada for assistance. Even in this 
little band there were those who hated him (he was undoubtedly a man of 
somewhat imperious nature), and ere he had reached the Sabine he was mur- 
dered by two of his followers, and his body left unburied upon the prairie. 

Thus ended the life of the man who was the first white navigator of the 
upper lakes and the first explorer of the Mississippi River; who added Louisi- 
ana and other vast regions to the French empire, and upon whose discoveries 
the latter power laid claim to territory extending from the Allegheny Mount- 
ains westward to the western limits of the Mississippi basin, including, of 
course, the present county of Warren. 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE PKOVINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

Europeans Struggle for Supremacy Along the Atlantic Coast — Quakers Settle in New Jer- 
sey — William Penn Appointed a Trustee — His Labors in Their Behalf — An Early Description 
of the New Country — Admiral Penn — A Province Granted to His Son — It is Named Pennsyl- 
vania — Its Extent — A Miscalculation — Penn Purchases the Lower Counties — Outlines His Pol- 
icy — Sends Governor ilarkham to Take Possession — Names Commissioners — Their Duties — An 
Address to the Indians — The Site for a New City Selected. 

WHn.-E events of so much importance and of such a startling character 
were taking place in the interior of the New World, others equally im- 
portant, in their bearing upon the future of America, were being enacted along 
the Atlantic sea-board. The English, in a manner characteristic of that nation, 
had claimed the entire coast-line, from the frozen regions of the North to the 
Gulf of Mexico, and westward to the "South Sea"; but, as we have shown, 
during the years of active colonization in America, in the early part of the sev- 
enteenth century, the French had managed to secure a firm foothold in Can- 
ada, the Dutch along the Hudson River, and still later was established a small 
though thriving colony of Swedes on the lower waters of the Delaware, while 
the English were rapidly gaining strength in New England, in Maryland, and 



The Province of Pennsylvania. 39 

in Virginia. All were eager, all were grasping for more territory, and all were 
ready to fight at a moment's notice in vindication of their claims. The Swedes 
were regarded as interlopers by the Dutch. Disputes arose, which resulted in 
the Swedes being overpowered by their more powerful neighbors. The Dutch 
were in turn conquered by the English, thus leaving the latter and the French 
alone to contend for supremacy in the temperate regions of North America. 
Subsequently the conquered Dutch province was granted to the Duke of York, 
New Jersey to a syndicate of English Quakers, and Maryland to Lord Bal- 
timore. 

At this time the hand of the English government bore heavily upon the 
denomination of Christians called Friends, or Quakers, and the earnest-minded, 
conscientious worshipers, uncompromising in their faith, were eager for homes 
in a land where they should be absolutely free to worship the Supreme Being 
in their own way. Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, to whom the 
Duke of York had granted New Jersey, were Friends, and the settlements made 
in their territory were largely of that faith. In 1675 Lord Berkeley sold his 
undivided half of the province to John Fenwicke, in trust for Edward Byllinge, 
also Quakers, and Fenwicke sailed in the Griffith with a company of Friends, 
who settled at Salem, in West Jersey. Byllinge, having become involved in 
debt, made an assignment of his interest for the benefit of his creditors, and 
William Penn was induced to become trustee jointly with Gowen Lawrie and 
Nicholas Lucas. 

William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, had felt the heavy hand of per- 
secution for religious opinion's sake. As a gentleman commoner at Oxford he 
had been fined, and finally expelled from that venerable seat of learning for 
non-conformity to the established form of worship. At home he was whipped 
and turned out of doors by a father who thought to reclaim the son to the 
more certain path of advancement at court. He was sent to prison by the 
mayor of Cork. For seven months he languished in the Tower of London, 
and finally, to complete his disgrace, he was cast into Newgate with common 
felons. Upon the accession of James II to the throne of England, over four- 
teen hundred persons of the Quaker faith were immured in prisons for a con- 
scientious adherence to their religious convictions. To escape this harassing 
persecution and find peace and quietude from this sore proscription was, as 
already stated, the moving cause which led these people to emigrate to 
America. 

Penn became zealous in promoting the welfare of the New Jersey colony. 
For its orderly government, and that settlers might have assurance of stability 
in the management of affairs, he drew up " Concessions and agreements of the 
proprietors, free holders and inhabitants of West New Jersey in America," in 
forty-four chapters. Foreseeing difficulty from divided authority, he had man- 
aged to secure a division of the province by " a line of partition from the east 



40 History of Warren County. 

side of Little Egg Harbor, straight North, through the country to the utmost 
branch of the Delaware River." Penn's half was termed New West Jersey, 
along the Delaware side, Carteret's, New East Jersey, along the ocean shore. 
Penn's purposes and disposition toward the settlers, as the founder of a state, 
are disclosed by a letter which he wrote at this time to Richard Hartshorn, a 
Friend, then in America: "We lay a foundation for after ages to understand 
their liberty, as men and Christians ; that they may not be brought into bond- 
age, but by their own consent ; for we put the power in the people. ... So 
every man is capable to choose or to be chosen ; no man to be arrested, con- 
demned, or molested, in his estate, or liberty, but by twelve men of the neigh- 
borhood ; no man to lie in prison for debt, but that his estate satisfy, as far as 
it will go, and he be set at liberty to work ; no man to be called in question, 
or molested for his conscience." Lest any should be induced to leave home 
and embark in the enterprise of emigration unadvisedly, Penn wrote and pub- 
lished in a letter of caution the following : " That in whomsoever a desire to be 
concerned in this intended plantation, such should weigh the thing before the 
Lord, and not headily, or rashly conclude on any such remove, and that they 
do not offer violence to the tender love of their near kindred and relations, but 
soberly, and conscientiously endeavor to obtain their good wills ; that whether 
they go or stay, it may be of good savor before the Lord and good people." 

As trustee, and finally as part owner of New Jersey, William Penn became 
much interested in the subject of colonization in America. Many of his peo- 
ple had gone thither, and he had given much study and meditation to the 
amelioration of their condition, by securing just laws for their government. 
His imagination pictured the fortunate condition of a country where those in 
authority should alone study the well-being of the people, and the people 
should be chiefly intent on rendering implicit obedience to just laws. From 
his experience in the management of the Jerseys he had doubtless discovered 
that if he would carry out his ideas of government successfully he must have a 
province where his voice would be potential and his will almost supreme. He 
accordingly began looking about him for the acquirement of such a land in the 
New World. 

He had doubtless been stimulated in his desires by the very roseate accounts 
of the beauty and excellence of the country, its salubrity of climate, its balmy 
atmosphere, the great fertility of its soil, and the abundance of native fruit, fish, 
flesh, and fowl. In 1680 one Mahlon Stacy wrote a letter which was exten- 
sively circulated in England, in which he said : " It is a country that produc- 
eth all things for the support and furtherance of man, in a plentiful manner. 
... I have seen orchards laden with fruit to admiration ; their very limbs 
torn to pieces with weight, most delicious to the taste and lovely to behold. I 
have seen an apple tree, from a pippin-kernel yield a barrel of curious cider ; 
and peaches in such plenty that some people took their carts a peach gather- 



The Province of Pennsylvania. 41 

ing; I could not but smile at the conceit of it; they are very delicious fruit, 
and hang almost like our onions, that are tied on ropes. I have seen and 
know, this summer, forty bushels of bold wheat of one bushel sown. From 
May till Michaelmas, great store of very good wild fruits as strawberries, cran- 
berries, and hurtleberries, which are like our billberries in England, only far 
sweeter ; the cranberries, much like cherries for color and bigness, which may 
be kept till fruit comes again ; an excellent sauce is made of them for venison, 
turkeys, and other great fowl, and they are better to make tarts of than either 
gooseberries or cherries ; we have them brought to our houses by the Indians 
in great plenty. My brother Robert had as many cherries this year as would 
have loaded several carts. As for venison and fowls, we have great plenty; 
we have brought home to our countries by the Indians seven or eight fat 
bucks in a day. We went into the river to catch herrings after the Indian 
fashion. . . . We could have filled a three-bushel sack of as good large her- 
rings as I ever saw. And as to beef and pork, there is great plenty of it, and 
good sheep. The common grass of this country feeds beef very fat. Indeed, 
the country, take it as a wilderness, is a brave country." 

Admiral Penn, the father of William, was one of the most distinguished 
officers in the British navy. In Cromwell's time he was sent with a consider- 
able naval and land force to the West Indies, where he gained possession of 
the island of Jamaica and placed it under English rule. At the restoration of 
a monarchical government, he promptly gave in his adhesion to the royal 
cause. Under James, duke of York, he commanded the English fleet which 
descended upon the Dutch coast, and gained a great victory over the com- 
bined naval forces led by Van Opdam. For this great service to his country 
Admiral Penn was knighted, and became a favorite at court, the king and his 
brother, the duke, holding him in cherished remembrance. At his death there 
was due him from the crown the sum of i^ 16,000, a portion of which he him- 
self had advanced for the naval service. 

Filled with the romantic idea of colonization, and enamored with the sacred 
cause of his sect, William Penn, who had come to be regarded with favor 
because of his distinguished father's services, petitioned King Charles II to 
grant him, in liquidation of this debt, " a tract of land in America, lying north 
of Maryland, bounded east by the Delaware River, on the west limited as 
Maryland, and northward to extend as far as plantable." There were con- 
flicting interests at this time, however, which were being closely watched at 
court. The petition was submitted to the privy council, and afterward to the 
Lords of the Committee of Plantations. The duke of York already held the 
counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. Lord Baltimore held a grant upon 
the south, with an undefined northern limit, and the agents of both these prov- 
inces viewed with jealousy any new grant that should trench in any way upon 
their rights. 



42 History of Warren County. 

These claims were fully debated and heard by the lords, and, being a mat- 
ter in which the king manifested special interest, the lord chief-justice, North, 
and the attorney- general, Sir William Jones, were consulted both as to the 
grant itself and the form, or manner, of making it. Finally, after a careful 
study of the whole subject, it was determined by the highest authority in the 
government to grant to Penn a larger tract than he had asked for, and the 
charter was drawn up with unexampled liberality, in unequivocal terms of gift 
and perpetuity of holding, and with remarkable minuteness of detail ; and that 
Penn should have the advantage of any double meaning conveyed in the instru- 
ment, the last section provides — " And, if perchance hereafter any doubt or 
question should arise concerning the true sense and meaning of any word, 
clause or sentence contained in this our present charter, we will ordain and 
command that at all times and in all things such interpretation be made there- 
of, and allowed in any of our courts whatsoever as shall be adjudged most 
advantageous and favorable unto the said William Penn, his heirs and assigns." 

Doubtless it was a joyful day for Penn when he finally reached the consum- 
mation of his wishes, and found himself invested with almost dictatorial power 
over a province as large as England itself But his exultation was tempered 
with the most devout Christian spirit, fearful lest in the exercise of his great 
power he might be led to do something that would be displeasing to God. At 
this time, in a letter to his friend Robert Turner, he wrote as follows : 

" My true love in the Lord salutes thee and dear friends that love the 
Lord's precious truth in those parts. Thine I have, and for my business here 
know that after many waitings, watchings, solicitings and disputes in council, 
this day my country was confirmed to me under the great seal of England, 
with large powers and privileges, by the name of Pennsylvania, a name the 
King will give it in honor of my father. I chose New Wales, being, as this, a 
pretty hilly country ; but Penn being Welsh for a head, as Penmanmoire in 
Wales, and Penrith in Cumberland, and Penn in Buckinghamshire, the highest 
land in England, called this Pennsylvania, which is the high or head wood- 
lands ; for I proposed, when the Secretary, a Welshman, refused to have it 
called New Wales, Sylvania, and they added Penn to it; and though I much 
opposed it, and went to the King to have it struck out and altered, he said it 
was past, and would take it upon him ; nor could twenty guineas move the 
Under Secretary to vary the name; for I feared lest it should be looked on as 
a vanity in me, and not as a respect in the King, as it truly was to my father, 
whom he often mentions with praise. Thou mayest communicate my grant 
to P'ricnds, and e.xpect shortly my proposals. It is a clear and just thing, and 
my God, that has given it me through many difficulties, will, I believe, bless 
and make it the seed of a nation. 1 shall have a tender care to the govern- 
ment, that it be well laid at first." 

Penn had asked that the western boundary of his grant should be the same 



The Province of Pennsylvania. 4j 

as that of Maryland ; but the king made the width from east to west five full 
degrees. The charter limits were " all that tract, or part of land, in America, 
with the islands therein contained as the same is bounded, on the east by Del- 
aware River, from twelve miles distance northwards of New Castle town, unto 
the three and fortieth degree of northern latitude. . . The said land to 

extend westward five degrees in longitude, to be computed from the said east- 
ern bounds ; and the said lan.ds to be bounded on the north by the beginning 
of the three and fortieth degree of northern latitude, and, on the south, by a 
circle drawn at twelve miles distance from New Castle northward and west- 
ward unto the beginning of the fortieth degree of northern latitude ; and then 
by a straight line westward to the limits of longitude above mentioned." 

It is very evident that the royal secretaries did not well understand the 
geography of the New World (nor do they seem to have cared, since in nearly 
all early English grants the latest usually overlapped those granted at an ear- 
lier date) ; for by reference to the maps it will be seen that the beginning of 
the fortieth degree — that is, the end of the thirty-ninth — cuts the District of 
Columbia, and hence Baltimore, and the greater part of Maryland and a good 
slice of Virginia, would have been included in the chartered limits of Pennsyl- 
vania. But the charters of Maryland and Virginia antedated this of Pennsyl- 
vania. Still, the terms of the Penn charter were distinct — the beginning of 
the fortieth degree — whereas those of Maryland were ambiguous, the northern 
limit being fixed at the fortieth degree ; but whether at the beginning or at 
the ending of the fortieth was not stated. Penn claimed three full degrees of 
latitude, and when it was found that a controversy was likely to ensue, the 
king, by the hand of his royal minister Conway, issued a further declaration, 
in which the wording of the original chartered limits fixed for Pennsylvania 
were quoted verbatim, and his royal highness declared that these limits should 
be respected, "as they tender his majesty's displeasure." This was supposed 
to be a settlement of the matter. But Lord Baltimore still pressed his claim, 
and the question of southern boundary remained an open one, causing much 
disquietude to Penn during his life, and was not finally settled until more than 
three-quarters of a century later, when Mason and Dixon established the line. 
Indeed, since the French already claimed all that portion of the province 
granted to Penn lying west of the Allegheny Mountains, and as Virginia and 
Connecticut subsequently made claim to other portions of the present common- 
wealth, besides the claims of the Indians as original occupants and owners, a 
clear title was not obtained, and the true boundaries of Pennsylvania were not 
known and plainly defined until the war for independence had closed, or long 
after the territory granted to Penn had passed from the control of his heirs. 

From the terms of the charter it is evident that the king, in making the 
grant, was influenced " by the commendable desire of Penn to enlarge our 
British Empire, and promote such useful commodities as may be of benefit to 



44 History of Warren County. 

us and our dominions, as also to reduce savage nations by just and gentle man- 
ners, to the love of civil society and Christian religion," and " out of regard to 
the memory and merits of his late father, in divers services, and particularly to 
his conduct, courage and discretion, under our dearest brother, James, Duke 
of York, in the signal battle and victory, fought and obtained, against the 
Dutch fleet, commanded by the Herr Van Opdam in 1665." 

The charter of King Charles II, granting Pennsylvania to William Penn, 
was dated March 4, 1681. But lest any trouble might arise in the future from 
claims founded on the grant previously made to the duke of York, of " Long 
Island and adjacent territories occupied by the Dutch," the prudent fore- 
thought of Penn soon after induced him to obtain a deed of the duke, for Penn- 
sylvania, substantially in the terms of the royal charter. Yet still Penn was 
not satisfied. He was cut off from the ocean except by the uncertain naviga- 
tion of one narrow stream. He therefore obtained from the duke a grant of 
New Castle and a district of twelve miles around it, dated August 24, 1682, 
and on the same day a further grant from the duke of a tract extending to 
Cape Henlopen, embracing the two counties of Kent and Sussex, the two 
grants comprising what were known at an early day as the three " lower coun- 
ties," and which for many years were part of Pennsylvania, but subsequently 
became the State of Delaware. 

Being now eminently well pleased with his province, and that his titles 
were secure, the proprietor drew up such a description of the country as from 
his limited knowledge of it he was able to give, which, together with the 
royal charter and proclamation, terms of settlement, and other papers pertain- 
ing thereto, he published and spread broadcast through the kingdom, taking 
special pains to have these documents reach the Friends. The terms of sale of 
lands were forty shillings for one hundred acres, and one shilling per acre rental. 
The question has been asked, why exact the annual payment of one shilling 
per acre ? and answered, that the terms of the grant by the royal charter to 
Penn were made absolute on the " payment therefor to us, our heirs and suc- 
cessors, two beaver skins, to be delivered at our castle in Windsor, on the first 
day of January in every year," and contingent payment of " one-fifth part of 
all gold and silver which shall from time to time happen to be found clear of all 
charges." Penn, therefore, held his title only upon the payment of quit-rents. 
He could, consequently, give a valid title only by the exacting of quit-rents. 

With a great province of his own to manage, Penn was now obliged to re- 
linquish his interest in West New Jersey. He had devoted much of his time 
and energies to its settlement ; he had sent fourteen hundred emigrants, many 
of them people of high character ; and under his control farms were improved 
and the town of Burlington was founded, meeting-houses were erected, good 
government was established, and the savage Indians were turned to peaceful 
ways. With satisfaction, therefore, he could now give himself to reclaiming and 
settling his own province. 



The Province of Pennsylvania. 45 

The publication of the royal charter and his description of the country at- 
tracted much attention, and many purchases of land were made of Penn before 
leaving England. That these purchasers might have something binding to rely 
upon, he drew up what he termed " conditions or concessions " between him- 
self as proprietor, and the purchasers of lands in the province. These related 
to the settling of the country, laying out towns, and especially to the treat- 
ment of the Indians, who were to have the same rights and privileges, and care- 
ful regard as the Europeans. And, what may be considered a remarkable in- 
stance of provident forethought, the eighteenth article provided, "That, in 
clearing the ground, care be taken to leave one acre of trees for every five acres 
cleared, especially to preserve oak and mulberries for silk and shipping." 

He also drew up a frame of government, consisting of twenty-four articles 
and forty laws. These were drawn in a spirit of unexampled fairness and lib- 
erality, introduced by an elaborate essay on the just rights of government and 
governed, and with such conditions and concessions that it should never be in 
the power of an unjust governor to take advantage of the people and practice 
injustice. Said he : " For the matter of liberty and privilege, I purpose that 
which is extraordinary, and leave myself and successors no power of doing mis- 
chief, that the will of one man may not hinder that of a whole country." This 
frame gave impress to the character of the early government. It implanted 
in the breasts of the people a deep sense of duty, of right, and of obligation in 
all public affairs, and the relations of man with man, and formed a framework 
for the future State constitution. He had felt the tyranical hand of government 
for opinion's sake, and was determined, in the matter of religion, to leave all 
free to hold such opinions as they might elect, and hence enacted for his prov- 
ince that all who " hold themselves obliged in conscience, to live peaceably and 
justly in civil society, shall, in no ways, be molested, nor prejudiced, for their 
religious persuasion, or practice, in matters of faith and worship, nor shall they 
be compelled at any time, to frequent, or maintain, any religious worship, place, 
or ministry whatever." Such governmental liberality in matters of religion 
was at that time almost unknown, though Roger Williams, in the colony of 
Rhode Island, had previously under similar circumstances, and having just es- 
caped a like persecution, proclaimed it, as had likewise Lord Baltimore in the 
Catholic colony of Maryland. 

Not being in readiness to go to his province during the first year, Penn dis- 
patched three ship loads of settlers, and with them sent his cousin, William 
Markham, to take formal possession of the country and act as deputy governor. 
The latter sailed for New York, and upon his arrival there exhibited his com- 
mission, and the king's charter and proclamation, to Captain Anthony Brock- 
holls, acting governor (in the absence of Govenor Andros), who gave him a 
letter addressed to the civil officers on the Delaware, informing them that 
Markham's authority as governor was unquestionable, and requesting them to 



46 History of Warren County. 

submit quietly to the new government. Armed with this letter, which was 
dated June 21, 1681, Markham continued his voyage to the Delaware, where 
he was kindly received. 

As the chief officer in the province, Markham was empowered to call a 
council of nine citizens to assist him in the government, and over whom he was 
to preside. He also brought a letter addressed to Lord Baltimore, relating to 
the boundary between the two grants, and showing the terms of the charter for 
Pennsylvania. On receipt of this letter. Lord Baltimore came to Upland to 
confer with Markham. An observation fixing the exact latitude of Upland 
showed that it was twelve miles south of the forty-first degree, to which degree 
Baltimore claimed, and that the beginning of the fortieth degree, which the 
royal charter explicitly fi.xed for the southern boundary of Pennsylvania, would 
include nearly the entire province of Maryland. " If this be allowed," was sig- 
nificantly asked by Lord Baltimore, "where is my province?" He returned 
to his colony, and from this time an active contention was waged for many 
years for possession of the disputed territory. 

Four commissioners — William Crispin, John Bezer, William Haigc, and 
Nathaniel Allen — appointed by Penn, accompanied Markham. The first named 
had been designated as surveyor-general, but he died ai route, when Thomas 
Holme was appointed to succeed him. These commissioners, in conjunction 
with the governor, had two important duties assigned them. The first was to 
meet and preserve friendly relations with the Indians and acquire lands of them 
by actual purchase, and the second was to select the site of a maritime city and 
make the necessary surveys. That they might have a suitable introduction to 
the natives from him, Penn supplied them with a declaration of his purposes, 
conceived in a spirit of brotherly love, and expressed in such simple terms that 
it was supposed the children of the forest would have no difficulty in appre- 
hending his meaning. 

Said Penn in this declaration : "There is a great God and power that hath 
made the world, and all things therein, to whom you and I, and all my people 
owe their being, and well being ; and to whom you and I must one day give 
an account for all that we do in the world. This great God hath written His 
law in our hearts, by which we are taught and commanded to love, and help, 
and do good to one another. Now this great God hath been pleased to make 
me concerned in your part of the world, and the King of the country where I 
live hath given me a great province therein ; but I desire to enjoy it with your 
love and consent, that we may always live together, as neighbors and friends ; 
else what would the great God do to us, who hath made us, not to devour and 
destroy one another, but to live soberly and kindly together in the world ? 
Now I would have you well observe that I am very sensible of the unkindness 
and injustice that have been too much exercised toward you by the people of 
these parts of the world, who have sought themselves, and to make great ad- 



The Province of Pennsylvania. 47 

vantages by you, rather than to be examples of goodness and patience unto 
you, which I hear hath been a matter of trouble to you, and caused great grudg- 
ing and animosities, sometimes to the shedding of blood, which hath made the 
great God angry. But I am not such a man, as is well known in my own 
country. I have great love and regard toward you, and desire to gain your 
love and friendship by a kind, just and peaceable life, and the people I send 
are of the same mind, and shall in all things behave themselves accordingly ; 
and if anything shall offend you or your people, you shall have a full and speedy 
satisfaction for the same by an equal number of just men on both sides that by 
no means you may have just occasion of being oftended against them. I shall 
shortly come to you myself, at which time we may more freely confer and dis- 
course of these matters. In the mean time, I have sent my Commissioners to 
treat with you about land, and form a league of peace. Let me desire you to 
be kind to them and their people, and receive these presents and tokens which 
I have sent you as a testimony of my good will to you, and my resolution to 
live justly, peaceably and friendly with you." 

Although this address, or explanation, is clothed with plain and simple 
words, it is not probable that the savages understood its true intents and pur- 
poses, nor cared any more than that mythical dignitary, the Indian " Emperor 
of Canada," for whose enlightenment Penn at about this time had drawn up 
an elaborate address, which was subsequently beautifully engrossed on parch- 
ment. In substance this message to the aforesaid " Emperor " was a notifica- 
tion that he, Penn, had purchased a province in America and intended to 
occupy it, and wished to live upon terms of peace and amity with his neigh- 
bors. Certainly this was a novel proceeding on the part of Penn, since he must 
have been aware that the French had been in actual and almost undisturbed 
possession of Canada for considerably more than fifty years, and who besides 
him ever supposed there then existed such a personage as a savage " Emperor 
of Canada?" If there were such we have never read or heard of them. 

But the Indians found inhabiting the wilds of Pennsylvania could appre- 
ciate kind treatment, and, like all other savages, were always promptly on hand 
when presents were to be distributed. As a result they became very friendly 
with Penn's colonists, and were protected in their rights. When Penn came 
to propose his laws, one was adopted which forbade private trade with the na- 
tives in which they might be cheated ; instead, it was required that the valua- 
ble skins and furs they had to sell should be exposed in the market place where 
all could see them and enter into competition for their purchase. He was 
offered i^6,ooo for a monopoly of trade in his province. But he well knew the 
injustice to which this would subject the simple-minded natives, and he refused 
it, saying: " As the Lord gave it to me overall amid great opposition, I would 
not abuse His love, nor act unworthy of His providence, and so defile what 
came to me clean." To his commissioners he gave a letter of instructions in 
which he says: " Be impartially just to all; that is both pleasing to the Lord, and 



48 History of Warren County. 

wise in itself. Be tender of offending the Indians, and let them know that you 
come to sit down lovingly among them. Let my letter and conditions be read 
in their tongue, that they may see we have their good in our eye. Be grave, 
they love not to be smiled on." Acting upon these suggestions, and by a judi- 
cious distribution of presents, the commissioners soon succeeded in making 
large purchases of lands from the Indians, situated on the right bank of the 
Delaware and above the mouth of the Schuylkill. 

Markham and the commissioners, however, found considerable difficulty in 
determining upon the site for the new city. Penn had given very particular 
instructions about this, and it was not easy to find a tract which answered all 
the conditions. Their search was kept up for seven weeks. The proprietor 
had written, " be sure to make your choice where it is most navigable, high, 
dry and healthy ; that is, where most ships may best ride, of deepest draught 
of water, if possible to load and unload at the bank or Key's side without 
boating and lightening of it. It would do well if the river coming into that 
creek be navigable, at least for boats up into the country, and that the sit- 
uation be high, at least dry and sound, and not swampy, which is best known 
by digging up two or three earths and seeing the bottom." Further instruc- 
tions were that the site of the city be between two navigable streams, and em- 
brace at least ten thousand acres in one block. " Be sure," said Penn, "to set- 
tle the figure of the town so that the streets hereafter may be uniform down to 
the water from the country bounds. Let every house be placed, if the person 
pleases, in the middle of its plat, as to the breadth way of it, so that there may 
be ground on each side for gardens or orchards or fields, that it may be a 
green country town, which will never be burnt and always wholesome." 

The soil was examined, the streams were sounded, and deep pits were dug, 
that a location might be found which would gratify the desires of the proprie- 
tor. All the eligible sites were inspected from the ocean far up into the coun- 
try. Penn himself had anticipated that Chester or Upland would be adopted 
from all that he had learned of the new county ; but these grounds were re- 
jected as unsuitable, as was also the territory upon Poquessing Creek and that 
at Pennsbury Manor above Bristol, which had been carefully considered; and 
the present site of Philadelphia was adopted as coming nearest to the require- 
ments of the proprietor. It did not embrace ten thousand acres in a solid 
block or square, but it was between two navigable streams, and the land was 
high and dry, being for the most part a vast bed of gravel, excellent for drain- 
age and likely to prove healthful. The streets were laid out regularly, and 
crossed each other at right angles. As the ground was only gently rolling, 
the grading was easily accomplished. One wide street. Market, extends from 
river to river through the center of it, which is crossed at right angles at its 
middle point by Broad street, of equal width. The name Philadelphia, mean- 
ing brotherly love, had been selected by the proprietor before his first colonists 
sailed from England. 



Penn in Pennsylvania. 49 



CHAPTER VII. 

PENN IN PENNSYLVANIA. 

William Penn Sails for America — His Advice to His Family — The Voyage — Warmly Re- 
ceived at New Castle — The First Assembly — Penn Visits New York and Maryland — Unsat- 
isfactory Conference with Lord Baltimore — The Great Treaty with the Indians — The Walk- 
ing Purchase — Great Influx of Colonists — Counties Formed — Meeting of the First General 
Assembly — Sitting of the First Grand Jury — First Conviction — Another Fruitless Interview 
.with Lord Baltimore — Baltimore's Demand — Penn's Anxiety — His Liberal Ofl'er — -Balti- 
more's Adherents Invade the Lower Counties — Penn Determines to Return to England — His 
Farewell to His Colonists. 

MEANTIME Penn had settled his affairs in England, and in August, 1682, 
in company with about a hundred planters, chiefly from his native town 
of Sussex, he embarked on board the ship Welcome and began the voyage 
across the Atlantic. Before leaving the Downs he addressed a farewell letter 
to his friends whom he left behind, and another to his wife and children, giv- 
ing them much excellent advice, and sketching the way he wished them to live. 
With remarkable care he pointed out to his wife how he wished his children to 
be educated, married, etc. " Be sure," said he, " to observe their genius, and 
do not cross it as to learning ; let them not dwell too long on one thing ; but 
let their change be agreeable, and let all their diversions have some little bod- 
ily labor in them. When grown big, have most care for them ; for then there 
are more snares both within and without. When marriageable, see that they 
have worthy persons in their eyes ; of good life and good fame for piety and 
understanding. I need no wealth but sufficiency ; and be sure their love be 
dear, fervent and mutual, that it may be happy for them." To his children he 
said : " Betake yourselves to some honest, industrious course of life, and that 

not of sordid covetousness, but for example and to avoid idleness 

Love not money nor the world ; use them only, and they will serve you ; but 
if you love them you serve them, which will debase your spirits as well as 
offend the Lord. . . . Watch against anger, neither speak nor act in it ; 
for like drunkenness, it makes a man a beast, and throws people into desperate 
inconveniences." 

It required nearly six weeks to comeplete the voyage, and the weather was 
pleasant ; but the voyagers had not been long at sea ere that loathsome disease, 
the small-pox, broke out among them, of which thirty died, or nearly one-third 
of the whole company. This, added to the usual discomforts and terrors of 
the ocean, to most of whom this was their first experience, made the voyage a 
dismal one. Here again was seen the true nobility of Penn. He contributed 
to the necessities of those less fortunate than himself He moved about fre- 
quently among the sick, and cheered them with his presence and kind wojds. 



so History of Warren County. 

His arrival upon the coast and passage up the river was hailed with joyous 
demonstrations by all classes, including the Swede, Dutch, and English set- 
tlers, and especially by his own devoted followers, the Friends. He landed at 
New Castle on the 24th of October, 1682, and on the following day summoned 
the people to the court-house, where possession of the country was formally 
tendered to him; and he renewed the commissions of the magistrates, to whom 
and the assembled people he announced the purpose of his coming, explained 
the nature of good government, assured them that their civil and religious 
rights should be respected, and recommended that they live in sobriety and 
peace. He then proceeded to Upland, henceforward to be known as Chester, 
where, on the fourth of the following month, he called a meeting of the people, 
at which an equal number of votes was allowed to the province and the terri- 
tories. Here Nicholas Moore, president of the Free Society of Traders, was 
speaker. As at New Castle, Penn addressed the assembly, giving those as- 
sembled assurances of his beneficent intentions, for which they returned their 
grateful acknowledgments, the Swedes being especially demonstrative, deput- 
ing one of their number. Lacy Cock, to say " that they would love, serve and 
obey him with all they had, and that this was the best day they ever saw." 
One can well understand with what satisfaction the first settlers upon the Del- 
aware hailed the prospect of a stable government established in their own midst, 
after having been so long at the mercy of the government in New York, orig- 
inally termed New Amsterdam, with allegiance trembling between the courts 
of Sweden, Holland, and England. 

This first assembly was conducted with great decorum, and after the usages 
of the British Parliament. On the 7th of December, 1682, the three lower 
counties (now the State of Delaware), which had previously been under the gov- 
ernment of the Duke of York's representative in America, the governor of New 
York, were formally annexed to the province of Pennsylvania. The frame of 
government, which had been drawn with much deliberation, was submitted to 
the assembly, and after some alterations and amendments was adopted, and be- 
came the fundamental law. The assembly was in session only three days, but 
the work accomplished was vast and far-reaching in its influence. 

Soon after his arrival in the colony Penn made a visit to New York, and 
subsequently he journeyed to Maryland, where he was entertained by Lord 
Baltimore with great ceremony. The settlement of the disputed boundaries 
was made the subject of formal conference. But after two days spent in fruit- 
less discussion, the weather becoming severely cold, and thus rendering it im- 
possible to take observations or make the necessary surveys, it was agreed to 
adjourn further consideration of the subject until the milder weather of spring 
again returned. 

During his journeyings Penn did not forget to preach the gospel wherever 
there were people to hear him. On his return from Maryland he said : " I 



Penn in Pennsylvania. 51 

have been also at New York, Long Island, East Jersey, and Maryland, in 
which I have had good and eminent service for the Lord." And again he 
says : " As to outward things we are satisfied — the land good, the air clear 
and sweet, the springs plentiful, and provisions good and easy to come at, an 
innumerable quantity of wild fowl and fish ; in fine, here is what an Abraham, 
Isaac, and Jacob would be well contented with, and service enough for God, 
for the fields are here white for the harvest. Oh, how sweet is the quiet of 
these parts, freed from the anxious and troublesome solicitations, hurries, and 
perplexities of woeful Europe ! . . . . Blessed be the Lord, that of twen- 
ty-three ships, none miscarried ; only two or three had the small-pox ; else 
healthy and swift passages, generally such as have not been known ; some but 
twenty-eight days, and few longer than six weeks.-" 

Early in November, during the season known in this latitude as the Indian 
summer, Penn determined to visit the site of the proposed new city chosen by 
his commissioners. Accordingly he embarked in an open barge with a number 
of his friends and was rowed up the Delaware to the present site of Philadel- 
phia, which the natives called Coaquannock. The scattered settlers had gath- 
ered to see and welcome the proprietor, and when he stepped upon the shore 
they extended a helping hand in assisting him up the rugged bluff. Three 
Swedes had already taken up tracts within the limits of the boundaries chosen 
for the city, but they were given other valuable lands in exchange, and readily 
relinquished their claims. 

Still Penn did not consider that he had as yet any just title to the soil, holding 
that the Indians were its rightful possessors, and until it was fairly acquired by 
purchase from them his own title was entirely void. Hence he sought an early 
opportunity to meet the chiefs of the tribes claiming possession, and cultivate 
friendly relations with them. Tradition fixes the first great treaty, or confer- 
ence, at about this time — November, 1682 — and the place under the elm tree 
known as "Treaty Tree,"i at Kensington. The letter which Penn had sent by 
the hands of his commissioners had prepared the minds of these simple-hearted 
inhabitants of the forest to regard him with awe and reverence. His coming, 
doubtless, had for a long time been awaited, and when at length the day came, 
the bands from far around had all assembled. It is known that at least three 
tribes, or nations, were represented — the Delawares, the Shawanese, who were 
mostly located along the Lower Susquehanna, and the Mingos, who claimed 
relationship with the Five Nations. 

1 The memory of the " Great Treaty" was long preserved by the Indians, and the novel spectacle 
was reproduced on canvas by the genius of Benjamin West. In this picture Penn is represented as a 
corpulent old man clad in Quaker garb, whereas he was at this time but thirty-eight years of age, tall 
and active, and not at all inclined to corpulency. The " Treaty Tree " was preserved and guarded from 
injury with almost suirerstitious care. During the Revolutionary War, when Philadelphia was occu- 
pied by the British troops, and their details were scouring the country for fire wood, General Simcoe 
had a sentinel posted at this tree to protect it from mutilation. It stood until 1810, when it was blown 
down, and it was then ascertained, by its annual concentric accretions, to be two hundred and eighty- 
three years old. The Penn Society erected a substantial monument on the spot where it stood. 



52 History of Warren County. 

In making his purchases from the Indians Penn drew up his deeds for land 
in legal form, and had them duly executed and recorded, so that in case dis- 
putes should arise in the future, his proofs of purchase would be definite and 
positive. Of these purchases there are two deeds on record executed in 1683. 
One is for land near Neshaminy Creek, and thence to Pennypack, and the other 
for lands lying between the Schuylkill and Chester Rivers, the first bearing the 
signature of the great chieftain Taminend. In one of these purchases it is pro- 
vided that the tract "shall extend back as far as a man can walk in three days." 
Tradition says that Penn himself, with a number of his friends, walked out halt 
of this purchase with the Indians, that no advantage should be taken of them 
by making a great walk, and to show his consideration, and that he was not 
above the toils and fatigues of such a duty. They began at the mouth of the 
Neshaminy and walked up the Delaware. In one day and a half a spruce tree 
near the mouth of Baker's Creek was reached, when Penn concluded that this 
would include as much land as he would want for the time being. A line was 
then run and marked from the spruce tree to Neshaminy, and the remainder 
left to be walked out when it should be wanted. They proceeded after the In- 
dian manner, walking leisurely, sitting down sometimes to smoke their pipes, 
eat biscuit and cheese, and drink a bottle of wine. In the day and a half they 
walked a little less than thirty miles. The balance of the purchase was not 
walked until September 20, 1733, when the then governor of the province 
offered a prize of five hundred acres of land and £s sterling to the man who 
would walk the farthest. As a result a distance of eighty-six miles was cov- 
ered, in marked contrast with the kind consideration shown by the original 
proprietor. 

During the first year of Penn's stay in the province the country along the 
Delaware from the falls of Trenton to Chester, a distance of nearly sixty miles, 
was rapidly taken up and peopled. They were for the most part Friends, and 
devotedly attached to their religion and its proper observances. They were, 
morally, of the best classes, and though they were not generally of the aris- 
tocracy, yet many were in comfortable circumstances, had valuable properties, 
were of good families, educated, and had the resources within themselves to 
live contented and happy. They built meeting-houses, established schools, 
were provident and industrious, and had come hither with no fickle purpose. 
Many brought servants with them, and well-supplied wardrobes, and all nec- 
essary articles which they wisely judged could not be procured in a new coun- 
try. 

In a brief period ships with colonists from London, Bristol, Ireland, Wales, 
Cheshire, Lancashire, Holland, and Germany came, to the number of about 
fifty. Among those who were particularly conspicuous at the time was a com- 
pany of German Friends from the Palatinate, and a sufficient number of the 
descendants of the ancient Britons from Wales to people four townships. The 



Penn in Pennsylvania. 53 

latter were also Friends, and to-day their descendants are among the most 
worthy and respected citizens in Philadelphia and vicinity. Such a large in- 
crease in population caused a scarcity in many kinds of food, especially of 
meats. More time was required for bringing forward flocks and herds than 
for producing grains ; but Providence seems to have provided for them, in a 
measure, for it is recorded that the " wild pigeons came in such great numbers 
that the sky was sometimes darkened by their flight, and, flying low, they were 
frequently knocked down as they flew, in great quantities by those who had no 
other means to take them, whereby they supplied themselves, and having salted 
those which they could not immediately use, they preserved them, both for 
bread and meat." The Indians, too, often furnished them with game, for which 
they would accept no compensation. 

In 1682 the counties of Bucks, Chester, and Philadelphia were organized, 
also the three lower counties, or, as they were then termed, the " territories " of 
New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. Sheriffs were appointed and writs issued for 
the election of members of a General Assembly — three from each county for 
the Council or Upper House, and nine from each county for the Assembly or 
Lower House. The members elected convened and organized for business at 
Philadelphia, on the lOth of January, 1683. As an example of the crude and 
impracticable propositions brought forward by some of these newly-fledged 
law-makers, the following may be cited as specimens : That young men shall 
be obliged to marry at or before a certain age ; that two sorts of clothes only 
shall be worn — one for winter and the other for summer. The session lasted 
twenty- two days. 

On the 2d of February, 1683, was summoned the first grand jury to sit in 
Pennsylvania, to inquire into the cases of some persons accused of issuing coun- 
terfeit money. The Governor and Council sat as a court. One Pickering was 
convicted, and sentenced as follows : " That he shall make full satisfaction, in 
good and current pay, to every person who shall within the space of one month, 
bring in any of this false, base, and counterfeit coin, and that the money brought 
in shall be melted down before it is returned to him, and that he pay a fine of 
forty pounds towards the building a court-house, stand committed till the same 
be paid, and afterward find security for his good behavior." 

During the early part of 1683 there was great activity throughout the col- 
ony, and especially in the new city, in selecting lots and erecting dwellings, 
the surveyor-general, Thomas Holme, laying out and marking the streets. In 
the center of the city was established a public square of ten acres, and in each 
of the four quarters one of eight acres. A large mansion, which had been un- 
dertaken before his arrival, was built for Penn, at a point twenty-six miles up 
the river, called Pennsbury Manor, where he sometimes resided, and where he 
often met the Indian sachems. 

His plans of government and settlement were now fairly in operation, but 



54 History of Warren County. 



there was another matter which caused him unceasing anxiety. As we have 
seen, the visit of Penn to Lord Baltimore, soon after his arrival in America, for 
the purpose of settling the boundaries of the two provinces, after two days' 
conference proved fruitless, and an adjournment was had for the winter, when 
the efforts for a settlement were to be resumed. Accordingly in May, 1683, 
the proprietors again met at New Castle. Penn proposed to confer by the aid 
of counselors and in writing. But to this Baltimore objected, and, complain- 
ing of the sultriness of the weather, the conference was broken up. In the 
mean time it had come to the knowledge of Penn that Lord Baltimore had issued 
a proclamation offering settlers more land, and at cheaper rates than Penn had 
done, in portions of the lower counties which Penn had purchased from the 
Duke of York, but which Baltimore now claimed. Besides, it was ascertained 
that an agent of his had taken an observation and determined the latitude with- 
out the knowledge of Penn, and had secretly made an ex parte statement of the 
case before the Lords of the Committee of Plantations in England, and was 
pressing for arbitrament. This condition of affairs caused much uneasiness in 
the mind of Penn, especially as the proclamation of Lord Baltimore was likely 
to bring the two governments into conflict on territory mutually claimed. 

Lord Baltimore, it appears, was not disposed to be content even with di- 
plomacy. He determined to pursue an aggressive policy. He accordingly 
commissioned his agent. Colonel George Talbot, under date of September 17, 
1683, to go to Schuylkill, at Delaware, and demand of William Penn " all that 
part of the land on the west side of the said river, that lyeth to the southward 
of the fortieth degree." This bold demand would have embraced the entire 
colony, both the lower counties, and the three counties in the province, as the 
fortieth degree reaches a considerable distance north of Philadelphia. Penn 
was in New York at the time Talbot arrived, and the latter made his demand 
upon Nicholas Moore, Penn's deputy. Upon his return, the proprietor made a 
dignified but earnest rejoinder. While he felt that the demand could not be 
justly sustained, yet the fact that a controversy for the settlement of the bound- 
ary was likely to arise gave him disquietude, and he plainly foresaw that his 
skill and tact would be taxed to the utmost to defend and hold his claim before 
the I^nglish court. If the demand of Lord Baltimore was to prevail, all that 
he had done would be lost, as his entire colony would be swallowed up by 
Maryland. 

Penn's anxiety to hold from the beginning of the fortieth degree of latitude 
was not founded upon a desire for a vast amount of territory, for the two de- 
grees which he held unquestioned, so far as amount of land was concerned, 
would have entirely satisfied him ; but he wanted this degree chiefly that he 
might have the free navigation of Delaware Bay and River, and thus have un- 
trammeled communication with the ocean. He desired also to hold the lower 
counties, which were now well settled, as well as his own counties rapidly be- 



Penn in Pennsylvania. 55 

ing peopled, and his new city of Philadelphia, which he regarded with especial 
fondness. So anxious was he to settle the controversy, and to hold the land 
on the right bank of the Delaware to the open ocean, that at the second meet- 
ing he asked Lord Baltimore to set a price per square mile on this disputed 
ground ; and, though he had purchased it once of the crown and held the king's 
charter for it and the Duke of York's deed, yet rather than have any further 
wrangle over it he was willing to pay for it again. But this Lord Baltimore 
refused to do. 

The year 1684 opened favorably for the continued prosperity of the young 
colony. The cultivation of the soil was being prosecuted with grand success. 
Goodly flocks and herds gladdened the eyes of the settlers. An intelligent, 
moral, and industrious yeomanry was Vapidly being welded as a symmetrical 
body or community, where all were warmly interested in the welfare of each 
other. Emigrants were pouring in from different European countries. The 
government was becoming settled in its operations and popular with the people, 
and the proprietor had leisure to attend to the interests of his religious society, 
not only in his own province, but in the Jerseys and New York. 

Baltimore, however, was bent upon bringing matters to a crisis; hence, early 
in the same year (1684), a party of his adherents from Maryland made forcible 
entry upon the plantations in the lower counties and drove off the owners. 
Thereupon the Governor and Council at Philadelphia sent thither a copy of the 
answer of Penn to Baltimore's demand for the land south of the Delaware, with 
orders to William Welch, sheriff at New Castle, to use his authority to rein- 
state the lawful owners, and issued a declaration plainly stating the claim of 
Penn, for the purpose of preventing such unlawful incursions in the future. 

Feeling assured, nevertheless, that the controversy between himself and 
Lord Baltimore could be settled only by the crown, Penn decided to return to 
England and defend his imperiled interests. Without a doubt he took this step 
with much regret, as he was contented and happy in his new country and was 
most usefully employed. He empowered the Provincial Council, of which 
Thomas Lloyd was president, to act in his stead ; commissioned Nicholas 
Moore, William Welch, William Wood, Robert Turner, and John Eckley pro- 
vincial judges for two years ; appointed Thomas Lloyd, James Claypole, and 
Robert Turner to sign land patents and warrants, and William Clark as justice 
of the peace for all the counties, and on the 6th of June, 1684, sailed for En- 
gland. 

His feelings on leaving his colony are exhibited by a farewell address which 
he issued from on board the vessel to his people, of which the following are 
brief extracts : " My love and my life is to you, and with you, and no water 
can quench it, nor distance wear it out, nor bring it to an end. I have been 
with you, cared over you and served over you with unfeigned love, and you are 
beloved of me, and near me beyond utterance. I bless you in the name and 



56 History of Warren County. 

power of the Lord, and may God bless you with His righteousness, peace and 

plenty all the land over Oh ! now you are come to a quiet land ; 

provoke not the Lord to trouble it. And now liberty and authority are with 
you, and in your hands. Let the government be upon His shoulders, in all 
your spirits, that you may rule for him under whom the princes of this world 
will, one day, esteem it their honor to govern and serve in their places. . 
And thou, Philadelphia, the virgin settlement of this province, named before 
thou wert born, what love, what care, what service, and what travail has there 
been to bring thee forth, and preserve thee from such as would abuse and 
defile thee ! . . . So, dear friends, my love again salutes you all, wishing 
that grace, mercy, and peace, with all temporal blessings, may abound richly 
among you — so says, so prays, your friend and lover in the truth, 

"William Penn." 
Having thus shown in this and the preceding chapter how and when the 
province of Pennsylvania was granted and settled, its extent, natural advan- 
tages, etc., besides the narration of many other interesting incidents connected 
with its early history, the reader's attention is again directed in the following 
chapters to the operations of the French, the Iroquois, and the English in their 
struggle for control in Canada and New York, in the lake region, and finally in 
that part of Penn's province lying west of the Allegheny Mountains, including 
the Conewango and Allegheny valleys. 



CHAPTER VHI. 

FRENCPI DOMINION. 

A Slight Ascendency — De Nonville Attacks the Senecas — Origin of Fort Niagara — Count 
Frontenac in the Field — Treaty of Ryswick — Queen Anne's War — The Iroquois Neutral — 
The Tuscaroras — Joncaire — Fort Niagara Rebuilt — French Power Increasing — Conflicting 
Claims — Secret Instructions — De Celeron Takes Possession of the Allegheny Valley — Buries 
a Lead Plate at Mouth of the Conewango — The Si.x Nations Ahirnied — French Estabhsh a 
Line of Forts — The Ohio Company — Virginia's Claim — Wasliington as an Envoy — French 
Build Fort Du Qnesne — Washington and his Virginians Captured — Braddodc's Disastrous 
Campaign — The Final Struggle — French Defeated all Along the Line — Their Surrender of 
Power in the New World. 

FOR many years after the adventures of La Salle, the I'rcnch maintained a 
general but not very substantial ascendency in the lake region. Their 'i'oya- 
geiirs traded, their missionaries labored, and their soldiers sometimes made in- 
cursions, but they had no permanent fortress beyond or west of F"ort P'ronte- 
nac (Kingston, Canada), and they were constantly in danger from their enemies 



French Dominion. 57 



the Iroquois. Yet the French sovereigns and ministers considered the whole 
lake region, besides the territory drained by the Allegheny, the Ohio, and the 
Mississippi, as being unquestionably a part of "New France." Their maps so 
described it, and they looked forward with entire assurance to the time when 
French troops and French colonists should hold undisputed possession of all 
that vast domain. 

In 1687 the Marquis de Nonville, governor of New France, arrived at Iron- 
dequoit Bay, a few miles east of the site of the city of Rochester, N. Y., 
with nearly two thousand French soldiers and some five hundred Indians, and 
marched at once against the Seneca villages, situated, as has been stated, in the 
vicinity of Victor and Avon, N. Y., or from ten to twenty miles south of Roch- 
ester's site. The Senecas attacked him on his way and were defeated, as well 
they might be, considering that the largest estimate gives them but eight hun- 
dred warriors, the rest of the confederates not having arrived. 

The Senecas hastened back to their villages, burned them, and with their 
women and children fled to the Cayugas. De Nonville destroyed their stores 
of corn, etc., and retired, after going through the ceremony of taking posses- 
sion of the country. The supplies thus destroyed were immediately replen- 
ished by the other confederates, and the French accomplished little except still 
further to enrage the Iroquois. The Senecas, however, determined to seek a 
home less accessible from the waters of Lake Ontario, and accordingly located 
their principal village at the foot of Seneca Lake, and others on the Genesee 
River above Avon. 

The French commander, after defeating the Senecas, sailed to the mouth 
of the Niagara River, where he erected a small fort on the east side. This 
was the origin of Fort Niagara, one of the most celebrated strongholds in 
America, which, though for a time abandoned, was afterwards during more 
than half a century considered the key of the whole upper lake country, and 
the vast domain stretching southward to the head waters of the Ohio. From 
the new fortress De Nonville sent the Baron La Hontan with a small detach- 
ment of French to escort the Indian allies to their northwestern homes. They 
made the necessary portage around the falls, rowed up the Niagara to Lake 
Erie, and thence coasted along the northern shore of the lake in their canoes 
All along the river they were closely watched by the enraged Iroquois, but 
were too strong and too vigilant to be attacked. Ere long the governor re- 
turned to Montreal, leaving a small garrison at Fort Niagara. These suffered 
so severely from sickness that the fort was soon abandoned, and it does not 
appear to have been again occupied for nearly forty years. 

In fact, at this period the fortunes of France in North America were 
brought very low. The Iroquois ravaged a part of the island of Montreal, 
compelled the abandonment of Forts Frontenac and Niagara, and alone proved 
almost sufficient to overthrow the French dominion in Canada. 



58 History of Warren County. 

The English revolution of 1688, by which James II was driven from the 
throne, chiefly on account of his friendship for William Penn and his liberal 
views regarding all religious sects, was speedily followed by open war with 
France. In 1689 the Count de Frontenac, the same energetic old peer who 
had encouraged La Salle in his brilliant discoveries, and whose name was for a 
while borne by Lake Ontario, was sent out as governor of New France. This 
vigorous but cruel leader partially retrieved the desperate condition of the 
French. He, too, by way of retaliation, invaded the Iroquois country, but ac- 
complished no more than De Nonville. This war continued with varying for- 
tunes until 1697, the Five Nations being all that while the friends of the Eng- 
lish, and most of the time engaged in active hostilities against the French. 
Their authority over the whole west bank of the Niagara and far up the 
south side of Lake Erie was unbroken, save when a detachment of French 
troops was actually marching along the shore. 

At the treaty of Ryswick in 1697, while the ownership of certain lands in 
America was definitely conceded to France and England respectively, those 
formerly occupied by the exterminated tribes — the Eries and Kahquahs — were 
left undecided. The English claimed sovereignty over all the lands of the 
Five Nations, the French with equal energy asserted the authority of King 
Louis over territory discovered by their explorers, while the Iroquois them- 
selves, whenever they heard of the controversy, repudiated alike the pretensions 
of Yonnondio and Corlear, as they denominated the governors respectively of 
Canada and New York. 

So far as Warren county was concerned, they could base their claim on the 
good old plea that they had killed or driven away all its previous occupants ; 
and as neither the English nor the French had succeeded in killing the Iro- 
quois, the title of the latter still held good. 

However, scarcely had the echoes of battle died away after the treaty of 
Ryswick, when, in 1702, the rival nations plunged into the long, desolating 
conflict known as "Queen Anne's War." But by this time the Iroquois had 
grown wiser, and prudently maintained their neutrality, thus commanding the 
respect of both French and English. The former were wary of again provok- 
ing the powerful confederates, and the governments of the colonies of New 
York and Pennsylvania were very willing that the Five Nations should remain 
neutral, as they thus furnished a shield against French and Canadian Indian 
attacks along their frontiers. 

Meanwhile, through all the western country the French e.xtended their in- 
fluence. Detroit was founded in I70l,and other posts were established farand 
wide. Notwithstanding their alliance with the Hurons and other foes of the 
Iroquois, and notwithstanding the enmity aroused by the invasions of Cham- 
plain, De Nonville, and Frontenac, such was the subtle skill of the French that 
they rapidly acquired a strong influence among the western tribes of the con- 



French Dominion. 59. 



federacy, especially with the Senecas. Even the powerful socio-political sys- 
tem of the Hedonosaunee weakened under the influence of European intrigue, 
and while the eastern Iroquois, though preserving their neutrality, were friendly 
to the English, the Senecas, and perhaps the Cayugas, were almost ready to 
take up arms for the French. 

Another important event in the history of the Hedonosaunee occurred 
about the year 1712, when the Five Nations became the Six Nations. The 
Tuscaroras, a powerful tribe of North Carolina, had become involved in a war 
with the whites, originating, as usual, in a dispute about land. The colonists 
being aided by several other tribes, the Tuscaroras were soon defeated, many 
of them were killed, and many others were captured and sold as slaves. The 
greater part of the remainder fled northward to the Iroquois, who immediately 
adopted them as one of the tribes of the confederacy, assigning them a loca- 
tion near the Oneidas. The readiness of those haughty warriors to extend 
the valuable shelter of the Long House over a band of fleeing exiles is prob- 
ably due to the fact that the latter had been the allies of the Iroquois against 
other southern Indians, which would also account for the eagerness of the lat- 
ter to join the whites in the overthrow of the Tuscaroras. 

Not long after this one Chabert Joncaire, otherwise known as Jean Coeur, 
a Frenchman who had been captured in youth by the Senecas, who had been 
adopted into their tribe, and had married a Seneca wife, but who had been 
released at the treaty of peace, was employed by the French authorities to 
promote their influence among the Iroquois. Pleading his claims as an adopted 
child of the nations, he was allowed by the Seneca chiefs to build a cabin 
and establish a trading-post on the site of Lewiston, on the Niagara, which 
soon became a center of French influence and activity. 

All the efforts of the English were impotent either to dislodge him or to 
obtain a similar privilege for any of their own people. " He is one of our 
children ; he may build where he will," was the sole reply vouchsafed to every 
complaint. "Among the public oflicers of the French," says Bancroft, "who 
gained influence over the red men by adapting themselves with happy facility 
to life in the wilderness, was the Indian agent Joncaire. For twenty years he 
had been successfully negotiating with the Senecas. He had become by 
adoption one of their own citizens and sons, and to the culture of the French- 
man added the fluent eloquence of an Iroquois warrior." Though Fort Niag- 
ara was for the time abandoned, and no regular fort was built at Lewiston, yet 
Joncaire's trading-post embraced a considerable group of cabins, and at least 
a part of the time a detachment of French soldiers was stationed there. Jon- 
caire and his trappers and voyageurs frequently visited Chautauqua Lake, the 
Conewango River, and the Allegheny, and thus the French maintained at least 
a slight ascendency over the territory which is the subject of this history. 

About 1725 they began rebuilding Fort Niagara on the site where De Non- 



6o History of Warren County. 

ville had erected his fortress. They did so without opposition; Joncaire's influ- 
ence was now potent among the Senecas; besides, the fact of the French being 
such poor colonizers worked to their advantage in establishing a certain kind 
of influence and confidence among the Indians. Few of them being desirous 
of engaging in agriculture, they made little effort to obtain land, while the 
English were constantly arousing the jealousy of the natives by obtaining 
enormous grants from some of the chiefs, often, doubtless, by very dubious meth- 
ods. Moreover, the French have always possessed a peculiar facility for assim- 
ilating with savage and half-civilized races, and thus gaining an influence over 
them. 

Whatever the cause, the power of the French constantly increased among 
the Senecas. Fort Niagara became a noted stronghold, and Western New York 
and Northwestern Pennsylvania were almost wholly given over to their domin- 
ion. They established small trading-posts along the streams and did a large 
trade with the Indians by exchanging beads, brooches, guns, ammunition, and 
tomahawks for furs, which were shipped to Europe and sold at an immense 
profit. However, although their possession was as yet undisturbed, it must 
not be inferred that it was quietly acquiesced in by the English. The latter 
viewed the projects of the French with mingled jealousy and alarm, sent out 
numerous agents,^ and succeeded in some quarters in estranging the Indians 
from their rivals, but not to any extended degree. The influence of Joncaire, 
aided by that of his sons Chabert and Clauzonne Joncaire, in the interests of the 
French, was maintained and increased all through the second quarter of the 
eighteenth century. 

In the war between England and France, begun in 1744 and closed by the 
treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, the Six Nations generally maintained their 
neutrality, though the Mohawks gave some aid to the English. During the 
eight years of nominal peace which succeeded that treaty, both the French and 
English made numerous efforts to extend their dominion beyond their frontier 
settlements, the former with most success. To Niagara and Detroit they 
added other posts, and finally determined to establish a line of forts from the 
lakes to the Ohio, and thence down that river to the Mississippi. 

The French claimed that their discovery of the St. Lawrence and the Mis- 
sissippi entitled them to the ownership of the territory bordering upon those 
streams and their tributaries. The English claim was based upon a grant by 
King James I, in 1606, to "divers of his subjects, of all the countries between 
north latitude 48° and 34°, and westward from the Atlantic Ocean to the 
South Sea," and also upon purchases of western lands made from the Six Na- 

' English agents or lraclcr.s were located at Venango (now Franklin) and l.e Boeuf (now Waterford), 
when the advance of the Krencli army reached those ])oints in 1753. John Frazier, a Scotchman, had 
established himself at the former place .about 1745, where he carried on a gunsmith shop, and traded 
with the Indians until driven away by Joncaire, who also captured at Venango the traders John Trotter 
and James McLaughlin, and sent them as prisoners to Montreal. 



French Dominion. 6i 



tions by commissioners from the provinces of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Vir- 
ginia, representing the mother country. Hence, although the treaty of Aix- 
la-Chapelle was supposed to have settled all difficulties between the courts of 
England and France, it appears that it did not settle anything in the New 
World, nor had either party relinquished its claims. Therefore, when it was 
ascertained that the French were actively pushing forward their enterprises with 
a view of permanently occupying the great territory beyond the Alleghenies, 
the British embassador at Paris entered complaint before the French court that 
encroachments were being made by the French upon English soil in America. 
These charges were politely heard, and promises made of restraining the French 
in Canada from encroaching upon English territory. Formal orders were sent 
out by the home government to this effect ; but at the same time secret intima- 
tions were conveyed to the French Canadians that their conduct in endeavoring 
to secure and hold the territory in dispute was not displeasing to the govern- 
ment, and that disobedience of these orders would not incur its displeasure. 

In the execution of these secret instructions the French deemed it neces- 
sary, in order to establish a legal claim to the country, to take formal posses- 
sion of it. Accordingly the Marquis de la Galissonniere, who was at this time 
captain- general of Canada, dispatched Captain Bienville de Celeron with a 
party of two hundred and fifteen French and fifty-five Indians, to publicly 
proclaim possession, and bury at prominent points plates of lead bearing inscrip- 
tions declaring occupation in the name of the French king. Celeron started 
on the 15th of June, 1749, from La Chine. He followed the southern shores 
of Lakes Ontario and Erie until he reached a point opposite Lake Chautau- 
qua, where the boats were drawn up and taken bodily over the dividing ridge, 
a distance of ten miles, with all the impedimenta of the expedition, the pioneers 
having first opened a road. Following on down the lake and the Conewango 
Creek, they arrived on the site of the present town of Warren. Here the first 
plate was buried. These plates were eleven inches long, seven and a half 
inches wide, and one-eighth of an inch thick. A translated account of De 
Celeron's procedure at this point reads as follows: 

"In the year one thousand seven hundred and forty-nine. We, Celeron, 
Knight of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, captain commanding a 
detachment sent by order of the Marquis de la Galissonniere, Captain General 
in Canada, and the Beautiful River, otherwise called the Ohio, accompanied by 
the principal officers of our detachment, have buried at the foot of a red oak 
tree, on the south bank of the River Ohio,^ and opposite the point of a little 
island where the two rivers, Ohio and Kanaougou^ unite, a leaden plate, with 
the following inscription engraved thereon: 

1 During their occupation of this region the French always termed the Allegheny the River Ohio, 
and it is so printed upon all their early maps. 

2 Upon Captain Pouchot's French map, published in 1758, for the purpose of showing the French 
and English frontiers in America, from the French stand-point, an Indian village called " Kanoagoa" 



62 History of Warren County. 

"In the year one thousand seven hundred and forty-nine, in the reign of 
Louis XV, King of France. 

" We, Celeron, commanding officer of a detachment sent by the Marquis 
de la Galissonniere, Captain General of New France, to re-establish peace in 
some Indian villages of these Cantons, have buried this plate at the confluence 
of the Rivers Ohio and Kanaougou this 29th day of July, as a monument of 
the renewal of the possession which we have taken of the said River Ohio, and 
of all the lands on both sides, up to the source of the said rivers, as the pre- 
ceding Kings of France have enjoyed or ought to enjoy the same, and have 
maintained themselves there by arms and treaties, and especially by those of 
Ryswick, Utrecht, and Aix-la-Chappelle. We have, moreover, affixed the 
King's arms at the same place to a tree. In testimony whereof, we have signed 
and drawn up this proces verbal. 

" Done at the mouth of the Beautiful river,i this twenty-ninth day of 
July, one thousand seven hundred and forty-nine. 

" Signed by all the officers. 

" Celeron." 

The burying of this plate was attended with much form and ceremony. 
All the men and officers of the expedition were drawn up in battle array, while 
the savages assembled looked on in open-mouthed awe and wonder, when Ce- 
leron proclaimed, in a loud voice, " Vive le Roi," and declared that possession 
of the country was now taken in the name of the king. A plate bearing the 
arms of France was then affixed to the nearest tree. 

The same formality was observed in planting each of the other plates : the 
second at the rock known as the "Indian God" — on which are ancient and 
unknown inscriptions — a few miles below Franklin ; a third at the mouth of 
Wheeling Creek ; a fourth at the mouth of the Muskingum ; a fifth at the 
mouth of the Great Kanawha, and the sixth and last at the mouth of the Great 
Miami. Toilsomely ascending the Miami to its head waters, the party burned 
their canoes, and obtained ponies for the march across the portage to the 
head waters of the Maumee, down which and by Lakes Erie and Ontario they 
returned to Fort Frontenac, arriving on the 6th of November. It appears 
that the Indians through whose territory they passed viewed this planting of 
plates with great suspicion. By some means they got possession of one of them, 
generally supposed to have been stolen from the party at the very commence- 
ment of their journey. 

is localed at the mouth of the present Coiiewango, but the name of the latter stream was then printed 
" Scliatacoin River," the French geographer intending, douhtless, to apply to it the same name as 
that of the lake of which it is an outlet. The name of the same stream has also been written by early 
English geographers, American officers and surveyors, as the Canawagy, Conewauga, Conewagoo, 
Canawago, Conawango, and Conewaugo ; but since 1795 it has been considered proper to write it Con- 
ewango. 

1 A mistake of the translator or copyist. It should read mouth of the Kan.aougou. 



French Dominion. 63 



Mr. O. H. Marshall, in an excellent monograph upon this expedition, made 
up from the original journal of Celeron and the diary of Father Bonnecamps, 
found in the Department de la Marine in Paris, gives the following account of 
this stolen plate : 

" The first of the leaden plates was brought to the attention of the public 
by Gov. George Clinton to the Lords of Trade in London, in a communication 
dated New York, December 19, 1750, in which he states that he would send to 
their Lordships in two or three weeks a plate of lead full of writing, which 
some of the upper nations of Indians stole from Jean Coeur, the French inter- 
preter at Niagara, on his way to the River Ohio, which river, and all the lands 
thereabouts, the French claim, as will appear by said writing. He further 
states ' that the lead plate gave the Indians so much uneasiness that they im- 
mediately dispatched some of the Cayuga chiefs to him with it, saying that 
their only reliance was on him, and earnestly begged he would communicate 
the contents to them, which he had done, much to their satisfaction and the 
interests of the English.' The Governor concludes by saying that ' the contents 
of the plate may be of great importance in clearing up the encroachments 
which the French have made on the British Empire in America.' The plate 
was delivered to Colonel, afterward Sir William Johnson, on the 4th of Decem- 
ber, 1750, at his residence on the Mohawk, by a Cayuga sachem, who accom- 
panied it by the following speech : 

"'Brother Corlear and War-ragh-i-ya-ghey ! I am sent here by the Six 
Nations with a piece of writing which the Senecas, our brethren, got by some 
artifice from Jean Coeur, earnestly beseeching you will let us know what it 
means, and as we put all confidence in you, we hope you will explain it ingen- 
iously to us.' 

" Col. Johnson replied to the Sachem, and through him to the Six Nations, 
returning a belt of wampum, and explaining the inscription on the plate. He 
told them ' it was a matter of the greatest consequence, involving the posses- 
sion of their lands and hunting grounds, and that Jean Cceur and the French 
ought immediately to be expelled from the Ohio and Niagara.' In reply, the 
Sachem said that ' he had heard with great attention and surprise the sub- 
stance of the " devilish writing " he had brought, and that Col. Johnson's 
remarks were fully approved. ' He promised that belts from each of the Six 
Nations should be sent from the Seneca's castle to the Indians at the Ohio, to 
warn and strengthen them against the French encroachments in that direction." 
On the 29th of January, 175 i, Clinton sent a copy of this inscription to Gov- 
ernor Hamilton, of Pennsylvania. 

The French followed up this formal act of possession by laying out a chain 
of military posts, on substantially the same line as that pursued by the Celeron 
expedition ; but instead of crossing over to Lake Chautauqua, as had been the 
custom of their traders for many years, they kept on down to Presque Isle 



64 History of Warren County. 

(now Erie), where was a good harbor, and where a fort was established, and 
thence up to Le Boeuf ^ (now VVaterford) ; thence down the Venango (French 
Creek) to its mouth at Franklin, establishing Fort Venango there ; thence by 
the Allegheny to Pittsburgh, where Fort Du Quesne was afterwards seated, 
and so on down the Ohio. 

To counteract this activity on the part of the French, the Ohio Company 
was chartered, and a half million of acres was granted by the crown, to be 
selected mainly on the south side of the Ohio, between the Monongahela and 
Kanawha Rivers, and the condition made that settlements (one hundred fami- 
lies within seven years), protected by a fort, should be made. The company 
consisted of Maryland and Virginia gentlemen, among whom were Lawrence, 
a brother of George Washington. 

In 1752 a treaty was entered into with the Indians, securing the right of 
occupancy, and twelve families, under the leadership of Captain Gist, estab- 
lished themselves upon the Monongahela, and subsequently began the erection 
of a fort at the junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers. Apprised 
of this intrusion into the very heart of the territory which they were claiming, 
the French at once built a fort at Le Boeuf, and strengthened their post at 
Venango. 

These proceedings having been promptly reported to Governor Dinwiddle, 
of Virginia, where the greater number of the stockholders resided, and which 
province, by the way, claimed jurisdiction over all of the region lying west of 
Laurel Hill^ and northward to the junction of the two rivers just named, he 
determined to send an official communication to the French commandant at 
Le Boeuf, protesting against the forcible interference with their chartered rights, 
granted by the crown of Great Britain, and pointing to the late treaties of 
peace entered into between the English and French, whereby it was agreed 
that each should respect the colonial possessions of the other. 

But who should be the messenger to execute this delicate and responsible 
trust? Winter was approaching, and the distance to be traversed — some five 
hundred miles — led through a wild wilderness, cut by rugged mountain chains 
and deep, rapid streams. It was proposed to several, who declined, and was 
finally accepted by GEORGE Washington, then a youth barely twenty-one 
years old. On the last day of November, 1753, he bade adieu to civilization, 
and pushed on through the forest to the settlements on the Monongahela, 
where he was joined by Captain Gist. He then followed up the Allegheny to 
Fort Venango ; thence up the Venango or French Creek to its head waters at 
Fort Le Boeuf, where he held formal conference with the French commandant, 
St. Pierre. 

ISo called because when the loc.iliiy was fir.st visited by Europeans — the French — it seemed a 
favorite haunt for vast herds of buffalo. 

2 It was believed by many at that time that the western boundary of Pennsylvania would not fall to 
the westward of Laurel Hill. 



French Dominion. 65 



The French officer had been ordered to hold this territory on the claim of 
the discovery of the Mississippi by La Salle, and the subsequent occupation of 
all this region for many years by the French, and he had no discretion but to 
execute his orders, and referred Washington to his superior, the governor- 
general of Canada. Making careful notes of the location and strength of the 
post and those encountered on the way, the young embassador returned, being 
twice fired at on his journey by hostile Indians, and came near losing his life 
by being thrown into the freezing waters of the Allegheny while effecting a 
crossing on a hastily improvised raft. Upon his arrival he made a full report 
of the embassage, which was widely published throughout the English colonies 
and in England, and doubtless was the basis upon which action was taken 
that eventuated in a long and sanguinary war — the Old French and Indian 
War — which resulted in the collapse of French dominion upon this continent. 

Governor Dinwiddle being satisfied that the French were determined to hold 
the territory upon the Ohio by force of arms, a body of one hundred and fifty 
Virginia provincials, of which Washington as lieutenant-colonel was in com- 
mand, was sent to the support of the small garrison at the mouth of the Alle- 
gheny. But the French, having this river as a means of transportation and the 
Virginians a very rugged and mountainous country to overcome, the former 
first reached the goal or vantage ground for which each was striving. Con- 
tracoeur, the French commander, with one thousand men, and well-equipped 
batteries of artillery, having provided himself with a sufficient number of 
bateaux and canoes, glided swiftly down the Allegheny and easily seized the 
unfinished work of defense of the Ohio Company, and at once began the con- 
struction of an elaborate work which was named Fort Du Quesne, in honor of 
the governor-general of Canada. 

Informed of this proceeding, Washington pushed forward and, finding that 
a detachment of the French was in his immediate neighborhood, he made a 
forced march by night, and coming upon them unawares killed and captured 
the entire party save one. Ten of the French, including their commander, 
Jumonville, were killed and twenty-one made prisoners. Though reinforce- 
ments had been dispatched from the several colonies in response to the urgent 
appeals of Washington, none reached him but one company of one hundred 
men, under the command of the insubordinate Captain Mackay, from South 
Carolina. Knowing that he was confronting a vastly superior force of the 
French, well supplied with artillery, he threw up defensive works at a point 
called the Great Meadows, in the present county of Fayette, Pa., and named 
his hastily built fortification Fort Necessity. Stung by the loss of Jumonville 
and his command, the French came on in strong force and soon invested the 
place. Washington informs us that he had chosen a " charming field for an 
encounter," but unfortunately for him one part of his position was easily com- 
manded by the artillery of the French, which they were not slow in taking 



66 History of Warren County. 

advantage of. The action opened on the 3d of July, and was continued till late 
at night. A capitulation was then proposed by the French commander, which 
Washington reluctantly accepted, seeing all hope of reinforcements reaching 
him cut off, and on the 4th of July marched out with the honors of war and 
fell back to Will's Creek, now Cumberland, Md. 

The French were now in complete possession of the country claimed by them 
from the mouth of the St. Lawrence via the Great Lakes and the head waters 
of the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers to the Mississippi. Along this line gayly- 
dressed French officers sped backward and forward, attended by the fierce 
warriors of their allied tribes, and not unfrequently by the Senecas, who 
seemed more friendly to them than to the English. Dark-gowned Jesuits also 
hastened to and fro, everywhere receiving the respect of the red men, even 
when their creed was rejected, and using all their art to magnify the power of 
both Rome and France. 

Possession and victory counted heavily in the balance. Many of the Sen- 
ecas, and nearly all of the Indian tribes in the Canadas and the great North- 
west, east of the Mississippi, were the friends and allies of the French, and it 
is probable that the whole Iroquois confederacy would ha\e been induced to 
become active partisans of the French had it not been for one man, the skillful 
English superintendent of Indian affairs, soon to be known as Sir William 
Johnson. He, having in 1734 been sent to America as the agent of his uncle, 
a great landholder in the valley of the Mohawk, had gained almost unbounded 
influence over the Mohawks by integrity in dealing and native shrewdness, 
combined with a certain coarseness of nature which readily affiliated with them. 
He had made his power felt throughout the whole confederacy, and had been 
intrusted by the British government with the management of its relations with 
the Six Nations. 

The English, meanwhile, were not idle spectators of the enterprise and 
activity displayed by their ancient enemy, the French, in their efforts to 
occupy, hold, and possess the greater and best portions of North America. 
Hence, determined to push military operations, the British government had 
called, early in the year of 1755, upon the provinces of New York, Pennsyl- 
vania, and Virginia for several thousand volunteers, and had sent two regi- 
ments of its standing army, under General Braddock, from Cork, Ireland. 
Landing at Alexandria, Va., he marched to Frederick, Md., and thence by 
a circuitous route to Will's Creek, or Fort Cumberland, Md., where all of the 
troops under his command were concentrated. 

It seems that he had formed extravagant plans for his campaign. He 
would march forward and reduce Fort Du Quesne, thence proceed against Fort 
Niagara, which having conquered, he would close a season of triumphs by the 
capture of Fort Frontenac. But this was not the first nor the last time in war- 
fare that the result of a campaign had failed to realize the promises of the mani- 



French Dominion. 6j 



festo. The orders brought by Braddock giving officers of the line precedence 
over those who commanded the provincial forces gave great offense, and 
Washington, among others, because of this, as well as the cutting criticisms 
indulged in regarding his brief campaign in the Monongahela valley during 
the previous year, threw up his commission ; but, enamored of the profes- 
sion of arms, he accepted the position offered him by General Braddock as 
volunteer aid-de-camp. Accustomed to the discipline of military establish- 
ments in old, long-settled countries, Braddock had little conception of making 
war in a wilderness with only Indian paths, or " trails," to move upon, against 
wily savages. He was advised by Washington and other provincial officers to 
push forward with pack-horses, and by rapidity of movement forestall ample 
preparations on the part of his enemy. But the English general knew of but 
one way of soldiering, and, where roads did not exist sufficient to pass his cum- 
brous wagon trains and artillery, he stopped to fell the forest and bridge the 
streams. The French, who were kept advised of his every movement by their 
Indian scouts and runners, made ample preparations to receive him, though 
they were much less in numbers. 

In the mean time Washington fell sick; but intent on being up for the bat- 
tle, he hastened forward as soon as sufficiently recovered, and only joined the 
army on the day before the fatal engagement. He had never seen much of 
the pride and circumstance of war, and when, on the morning of the 9th of 
July, the army of Braddock marched on across the Monongahela, with gay 
colors flying and martial music awakening the echoes of the forest, he was 
accustomed in subsequent years to speak of it as the " most magnificent spec- 
tacle " he had ever beheld. But the gay pageant was destined to be of but 
short duration, for the army had only marched a little distance before it fell 
into an ambuscade skillfully laid by the French and Indians at a point within a 
few miles of Fort Du Quesne, and the forest resounded with the unearthly 
whoop of the Indians and the continuous roar of musketry. The advance 
was checked and thrown into confusion by the French from their well-chosen 
position, and every tree upon the flanks of the long drawn out line concealed a 
murderous foe, who, with unerring aim, picked off the officers. A resolute 
stand was made, and the battle raged with great fury for three hours ; but the 
fire of the English regulars, who were held in close ranks, was of little effect 
because directed against an invisible foe. The few Virginia provincials, how- 
ever, fighting in their own way, made it exceedingly warm for some, at least, 
of the French and Indians. Finally, the English mounted officers having all 
fallen killed or wounded, panic seized the survivors, and they fled from the 
field in dismay, leaving their dead, their baggage, artillery, etc., and nearly all 
of their wounded in the hands of an inferior force of the French and their sav- 
age allies. 

Of the fourteen hundred and sixty officers and men of Braddock's army 



68 History of Warren County. 

engaged in this battle, four hundred and fifty-six were killed and four hun- 
dred and twenty-one wounded, a greater loss, in proportion to the number 
engaged, than has ever occurred in the annals of modern warfare. The sur- 
prising statement that more men were killed than wounded, is accounted for 
from the fact that when the English fled from the field, the Indians bounded 
forth from their coverts and tomahawked and scalped many of the wounded 
ere the more humane of the Frenchmen could put a stop to the slaughter. Sir 
Peter Halkert, the second in rank of the British forces, was killed, and Brad- 
dock, mortally wounded, was brought off the field by Washington, assisted by 
less than a score of other subalterns and soldiers, with the greatest difficulty. 

The panic-stricken survivors fled back to the reserve forces commanded by 
Colonel Dunbar, who, it appears, was also seized with fright, though his re- 
serves more than outnumbered the combined French and Indians at Du Quesne ; 
and without attempting to halt the fugitives, to renew the campaign and return 
to the encounter, he abandoned his trains, destroyed his stores and artillery, 
and joined in a disgraceful flight, which was not stayed until Fort Cumber- 
land was reached. The French remained at Fort Du Quesne anticipating a 
renewal of the struggle ; but when they found that the English had fled, leav- 
ing the frontier all unprotected, they left no stone unturned in whetting the 
minds of the savages for the work of plunder and blood, and in organizing 
relentless bands to range at will along all the wide border. The Indians could 
not be induced to pursue the retreating English, but fell to plundering the 
field. Nearly everything was lost, even to the camp-chest of Braddock. The 
wounded general was taken back to the summit of Laurel Hill, where, after 
four days, he breathed his last. He was buried in the middle of the road, and 
the army marched over his grave that it might not be discovered or molested 
by the Indians. 

This easy victory, won chiefly by the savages, served to encourage them in 
their fell work, in which, when their passions were aroused, no known people 
on earth were less touched by pity. The unprotected settler in his wilderness 
home was the easy prey of the torch and the scalping-knife, and the burning 
cabins lit up the somber forests by their continuous blaze, and the shrieks of 
women and children resounded from the Hudson to the Potomac. Before the 
defeat of Braddock there were three thousand men capable of bearing arms 
residing in that part of Pennsylvania lying west of the Susquehanna. Six 
months later there were scarcely one hundred. 

The ferment in the wilderness daily grew more earnest, and in this hour of 
extremity the Indians for the most part showed themselves a treacherous race, 
ever ready to take up on the stronger side. Even the Shawanese and Dela- 
warcs, who had been loudest in their protestations of friendship for the h.nglish 
and readiness to fight for them, no sooner saw the French victorious than they 
gave ready ear to their advice to strike for the recovery of the lands which 



French Dominion. 69 



they had voluntarily sold to the English. As days passed the gay officers and 
soldiers of King Louis of France more frequently sped from Quebec, and Fron- 
tenac, and Niagara, now in bateaux, now on foot, through and along the bor- 
ders of the present county of Warren, to Fort Du Quesne ; staying a few hours 
perchance to hold a council with the Seneca sachems, then hurrying forward 
to strengthen the feeble line of posts on which so much depended. 

In 1756, after two years of open hostilities in America, and several impor- 
tant conflicts, war was again declared between England and France, being their 
last great struggle for supremacy in the New World. In this war the Mohawks 
were persuaded by Sir William Johnson to take the field in favor of the En- 
glish. But the Senecas, as before mentioned, were quite friendly to the French, 
and were only restrained from taking up arms for them as a nation by an 
unwillingness to fight against their Iroquois brethren -farther east. A few of 
them, without a doubt, did assist the French to defeat Braddock. Indeed, it 
has frequently been asserted that "Cornplanter," an Indian chieftain whose 
name is indissolubly connected with the history of Warren county, then a 
young half-breed warrior of about the age of Washington, was one of the fierce 
young Seneca braves who were with the French at Fort Du Quesne; but 
this statement is not well authenticated. 

For a time, as we have shown, the French were everywhere victorious. 
Braddock, almost at the gates of Fort Du Quesne, was slain, and his army cut 
in pieces by a force utterly contemptible in comparison with his own. Mont- 
calm had captured Oswego, and the French lines up the Great Lakes and 
across the country to Fort Du Quesne were stronger than ever. But in 1758 
William Pitt entered the councils of George II, as nominal though not actual 
chief of the ministry, and then England flung herself in deadly earnest into the 
contest. That year Fort Du Quesne was captured by an English and Provin- 
cial army under General Forbes, and Fort Pitt erected upon its ruins, the 
French garrison having destroyed their fort, etc., and retreated while the En- 
glish were thundering at their gates. To the northward Fort Frontenac was 
seized by Colonel Bradstreet, and other victories prepared the way for the 
grand success in 1759. The Gallic cordon was broken, but Fort Niagara still 
held out for France ; still the messengers ran forward and backward, to and 
from Presque Isle, Le Boeuf, Venango, and the upper valley of the Allegheny, 
and still the Senecas strongly declared their friendship, and in many instances 
their undying fealty for Yonnondio and Yonnondio's royal master. 

Yet heavier blows were struck in 1759. Wolf assailed Quebec, the strongest 
of all the French strongholds. Almost at the same time General Prideaux 
with two thousand British and Provincials, accompanied by Sir William John- 
son with one thousand of his faithful Iroquois, sailed up Lake Ontario and laid 
siege to Fort Niagara. Defended by only six hundred men, its capture was 
certain unless speedy relief could be obtained. 



JO History of Warren County. 

Its commander, however, was not idle. Once again along the Niagara and 
up Lake Erie, and away through the forests to the south and westward, sped 
his lithe, red-skinned messengers to summon the sons and the dusky allies of 
France. D'Aubrey, at Venango, heard the call and responded with his most 
zealous endeavors. Gathering all the troops he could muster from far and near, 
stripping bare with desperate energy the little French posts of the West, and 
mustering every red man he could persuade to follow his banners, he set forth 
to the relief of Niagara. 

Thus it was that in July, 1759, while the English army was still encamped 
around the walls of Quebec, while Wolf and Montcalm were approaching that 
common grave to which the path of military glory was soon to lead them, a 
stirring scene was being enacted along the southeastern shores of Lake Erie 
and its outlet. At that time the largest European force v.'hich had yet been 
seen in this region at any one time came coasting down the lake from Presque 
Isle, past the portage which led to Lake Chautauqua and the Conewango, and 
along the beach skirting the present counties of Chautauqua and Erie, N. Y., 
to the mouth of the limpid Buffalo. Fifty or sixty bateaux bore nearly a 
thousand hardy Frenchmen on their mission of relief, while a long line of 
slippery-bottomed canoes were freighted with four hundred or more of the 
dusky warriors of the West. 

A motley yet gallant band it was which then hastened along on the des- 
perate service of sustaining the fast-failing fortunes of France. Gay young 
officers, fresh from the court of the French monarch, sat side by side with sun- 
burned trappers and voyagetirs, whose feet had trodden every mountain and 
prairie from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi. Veterans who had won lau- 
rels under the marshals of France were here comrades of those who knew no 
other foe than the Iroquois, the Delawares, and the scowling Sioux. 

One boat was filled with soldiers trained to obey with unquestioning fidelity 
every word of their leaders ; another contained only wild savages who scarcely 
acknowledged any other law than their own fierce will. Here flashed swords 
and bayonets and brave attire, there appeared the dark long rifles and buckskin 
garments of the hardy scouts and hunters, while still further on the tomahawks 
and scalping-knives and partly naked bodies of the savage contingent glistened 
in the July sun. There were some, too, among the younger men, who might 
fairly have taken their places in either bateau or canoe ; whose features bore 
unmistakable evidence of the commingling of diverse races; who might per- 
chance have justly claimed kindred with barons and chevaliers then resplen- 
dent in the salons of Paris, but who had drawn their infant nourishment from 
the breasts of dusky mothers, as they rested from hoeing corn and other 
drudgery on the banks of streams flowing into the Allegheny and Ohio. 

History has preserved but a slight record of this last struggle of the French 
for dominion in these regions, but it has rescued from oblivion the names of 



French Dominion. 71 



D'Aubrey, the commander, and De Lignery, his chief lieutenant ; of Marin, the 
leader of the Indians, and of the captains, De Villiers, Repentini, Martini, and 
Basonc. These men were by no means despondent. Their commands con- 
tained many of the same men, both white and red, who had slaughtered the 
unlucky battalions of Braddock only two years before, and they might well 
hope that some similar turn of fortune would give them another victory over 
the foes of France. 

The Seneca warriors, snuffing the battle from their homes on the Genesee 
and the head waters of the Allegheny, were roaming restlessly through the 
lake regions and along the shores of the Niagara River, quite uncertain how 
to act ; more friendly to the French than the English, and yet unwilling to 
engage in conflict with their brethren of the Six Nations. Hardly pausing, 
however, to communicate with his doubtful friends, D'Aubrey led his flotilla 
past the pleasant groves whose place is now occupied by a great commercial 
emporium (the city of Buffalo), hurried by the tall bluff now crowned by the 
battlements of Fort Porter, and only halted on reaching the shores of Navy 
Island. After staying here a day or two to communicate with the fort, he 
passed over to the mainland and confidently marched forward to battle. 

But Sir William Johnson, who had succeeded to the command of the Brit- 
ish forces on the death of Prideaux, was not the kind of man likely to meet 
the fate of Braddock. Apprised of the approach of the French, he posted men 
enough before the fort to prevent an outbreak or sortie of the beleaguered gar- 
rison, and stationed the rest in an advantageous position on the east side of the 
Niagara, just below the whirlpool. After a sanguinary contest of an hour's 
duration the French were utterly routed, several hundred being slain on the 
field and a large number of the remainder being captured, including the 
wounded D'Aubrey. 

On the receipt of this disastrous news the garrison at once surrendered. 
And thus the control of the Niagara River, which for more than a hundred 
years had been in the hands of the French, passed into those of the En- 
glish. For a little while the French held possession of a few minor posts and 
fortifications, leading from Niagara to the mouth of French Creek. Becoming 
satisfied, however, that they could not withstand their powerful foe with any 
certainty of success, the forts, fortifications, etc., along this line were soon after 
hastily dismantled, and the garrisons left in bateaux for Detroit. Upon taking 
their departure they told the Indians that they had been driven away by supe- 
rior numbers, but would return in sufficient force to hold the country perma- 
nently. In this, however, they were too sanguine, as they were destined 
never again to occupy Northwestern Pennsylvania. 

The English did not take formal possession of these forts until 1760, when 
Major Robert Rogers was sent out in command of two hundred Provincial 
rangers for that purpose. He repaired and garrisoned the forts at Presque Isle 



72 History of Warren County. 

and Le Boeuf. Fort Machault, however, the French work at the mouth of 
French Creek, having been totally destroyed by its garrison at the time of its 
evacuation, was never rebuilt; but instead, the English in 1760 went about 
forty rods higher up on the Allegheny and built Fort Venango. The long, 
desolating war between England and France finally closed with the signing of 
the treaty of Paris, February 10, 1763, and by its sweeping provisions the 
Canadas and all the vast regions in the West heretofore claimed by the French 
were ceded to England. 

The struggle was over. Forever destroyed was the prospect of a French 
peasantry inhabiting the hills and valleys of Warren county ; of baronial cas- 
tles crowning its vine-clad heights, and of gay French villas and towns over- 
looking the picturesque Allegheny. 



CHAPTER IX. 

ENGLISH DOMINION. 

Pontiac's Conspiracy — Th^ Devil's Hole— A Fight at Black Rock — Bradstreet's E.\pedi- 
tion — fciulky Senecas — The Troops Composing Bradstreet's Command — Israel Putnam — The 
Revolution — Four Iroquois Tribes Hostile — The Treaty at Oswego — A Price for American 
Scalps — Brant, the Mohawk — Principal Seneca Chiefs— Wyoming — Cornplanter Conspic- 
uous — His Many Names, etc. — Cherry Valley — Americans Retaliate — Brodhead's Expedi- 
tion — Sullivan's Indian Campaign — Results — Close of the War, and of English Rule. 

ALTHOUGH the French soldiers had disappeared, the western tribes still 
remembered them with affection and were still disposed to wage war upon 
the English. In truth, no sooner were the latter in complete possession of the 
country, than they began by neglect and ill treatment to excite the worst passions 
of the red men. The mutterings of the coming storm, therefore, soon began 
to be heard, and in iVIay, 1763, the great Indian uprising known as " Pontiac's 
Conspiracy " occurred, resulting in the capture of nine out of twelve linglish 
posts, and the relentless massacre of their garrisons. The forts at Venango, 
Le Bceuf, and Presque Isle were among those which fell before the fierce 
onslaught of the savages, while those at Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Niagara alone 
escaped surprise, and each successfully resisted a siege, in which branch of war, 
indeed, the Indians were almost certain to fail as against white men. There is 
no positive evidence, but there is little doubt that the Senecas were involved in 
Pontiac's league, and were active in the attack on Fort Niagara. They had 
been unwilling to fight their brethren of the Long House, under Sir William 
Johnson, but had no scruples about killing the English when left alone, as was 
soon made terribly manifest. 



English Dominion. 73 



In the September following occurred the awful tragedy of the Devil's Hole, 
when a band of Senecas, of whom Honayewus, afterwards celebrated as Far- 
mer's Brother, was one, and Cornplanter probably another, ambushed a train of 
English army-wagons with an escort of soldiers, the whole numbering ninety- 
six men, three and a half miles below Niagara Falls, and massacred every man 
with four exceptions. 

A few weeks later — October 10, 1763 — while six hundred British soldiers 
under Major Wilkins were on their way in boats to reinforce their comrades at 
Detroit, and when just upon the point of passing from the Niagara River into 
Lake Erie, a hundred and si.xty of them, who were half a mile astern of the 
others, were suddenly fired upon by a band of Senecas, ensconced in a thicket 
on the river shore, probably on the site of Black Rock. Though even the 
British estimated the enemy at only sixty, yet so close was their aim that thir- 
teen men were killed and wounded at the first fire. The captain in command 
of the nearest boats immediately ordered fifty men ashore and attacked the 
Indians. The latter fell back a short distance, but rallied, and when the Brit- 
ish pursued them they maintained their ground so well that three more were 
killed on the spot, and twelve others badly wounded, including two commis- 
sioned officers. Meanwhile, under the protection of other soldiers, who formed 
on the beach, the boats made their way into the lake, and the men who had 
taken part in the fight were enabled to re-embark. It does not appear that 
the Indians suffered nearly as heavily as the soldiers. 

This was the last serious attack by the Senecas upon the English. Becom- 
ing at length convinced that the French had really yielded, and that Pontiac's 
scheme had failed as to its main purpose, they sullenly agreed to abandon their 
Gallic friends and be at peace with the English. 

Events in the West, however, where Pontiac still maintained an active but 
unavailing hostility to the British, as well as the massacres previously perpe- 
trated by the Senecas, determined the English commander-in-chief to send a 
force up the lakes able to overcome all opposition. Accordingly, in the sum- 
mer of 1764, General Bradstreet, an able officer, with twelve hundred British 
and Americans, proceeded by water to Fort Niagara, accompanied by the 
indefatigable Sir William Johnson and a strong body of his Mohawk warriors. 
A grand council of friendly Indians was held at the fort, among whom Sir 
William exercised his customary skill, and satisfactory treaties were made with 
them. 

But the Senecas, though repeatedly promising attendance in answer to the 
baronet's messages, still held aloof and were said to be meditating a renewal 
of war. At length General Bradstreet ordered their immediate attendance 
under penalty of the destruction of their settlements. This threat had its 
desired effect. They came, ratified the treaty, and thereafter adhered to it 
pretty faithfully, notwithstanding the peremptory manner in which it was 



74 History of Warren County. 

obtained. In the mean time a fort had been erected on the site of Fort Erie, 
the first ever built there. 

In August Bradstreet's army, increased to nearly three thousand men, 
among whom were three hundred Senecas (who seem to have been taken along 
partly as hostages), proceeded westward along the south shore of Lake Erie, 
for the purpose of bringing the Western Indians to terms, a task which was 
successfully accomplished without bloodshed. From the somewhat indefinite 
accounts which have come down to us, it is evident that the journey was made 
in open boats, rigged with sails, with which, when the wind was favorable, 
excellent speed was made. 

This army, like D'Aubrey's, was a somewhat mixed one. There were 
stalwart, red-coated British regulars, who, when they marched, did so as one 
man ; hardy New England provincials, or "minute men," whose dress and 
discipline and military maneuvers were but a poor imitation of the imported 
Britons, yet who had faced the legions of France on many a well-fought field ; 
rude hunters of the border, to whom all discipline was irksome ; faithful 
Indian allies from the Mohawk valley, trained to admiration of the English by 
Sir William Johnson ; and finally the three hundred dark, sullen Senecas, their 
hands red from the massacre of the Devil's Hole, and almost ready to stain 
them again with English blood. 

Of the British and Americans, who then in closest friendship and under 
the same banners passed along the shores of Lake Erie, there were not a few 
who in twelve years more were destined to seek each other's lives on the bat- 
tle-fields of the Revolution. Among them was one whose name was a tower 
of strength to the patriotic dwellers of America, whose voice rallied the falter- 
ing soldiers at Bunker Hill, and whose fame has come down to us surrounded 
by a peculiar halo of adventurous valor. This was Israel Putnam, then a loyal 
soldier of King George, and lieutenant-colonel commanding the Connecticut 
battalion. 

For a while after the successful termination of Bradstreet's expedition there 
was peace, not only between England and France, but between the Indians 
and the colonists. But this quiet condition of affairs was destined to be of 
but brief duration. The Senecas, who it seems were chronic grumblers, 
always in trouble and ever ready for a fight — and a massacre, if they could 
accomplish it — began to make complaints of depredations committed by whites 
on some of their number, who had villages on the head waters of the Susque- 
hanna and Allegheny in Pennsylvania. " Cressap's war," in which the cele- 
brated Logan was an actor, also contributed to render them uneasy, but they 
did not break out into open hostilities. They, like the rest of the Six Nations, 
had by this time learned to place explicit confidence in Sir William Johnson, 
and made all their complaints through him. 

He did his best to redress their grievances, and also sought to have them 



English Dominion. 75 



withdraw their villages from those isolated localities in Pennsylvania to their 
chief seats in New York, so that they would be more completely under his 
jurisdiction and protection. Ere this could be accomplished, however, all 
men's attention was drawn to certain mutterings in the political sky, low at first, 
but growing more and more angry until at length there burst upon the coun- 
try that long and desolating storm of war known as the Revolution. 

As the danger of hostilities increased, the Johnsons, at Johnson's Hall, 
showed themselves more and more clearly on the side of the king. Sir Will- 
iam said little and seemed greatly disturbed by the gathering trouble. There 
is little doubt, however, that had he lived he would have used his power in 
behalf of his royal master. But in 1774 he suddenly died. Much of his 
influence over the Six Nations descended to his son. Sir John Johnson, and his 
nephew, Colonel Guy Johnson ; the latter becoming his successor in the office 
of superintendent of Indian affairs. 

The Revolution began in 1775, and soon after the new superintendent per- 
suaded the Mohawks to move westward with him, and made good his influence 
over all the Six Nations except the Oneidas and Tuscaroras, though it was 
nearly two years from the breaking out of the war before they committed any 
serious hostilities. John Butler, however, established himself at Fort Niagara, 
and organized a regiment of Tories known as Butler's Rangers, and he and 
the Johnsons used all their influence to induce the Indians to attack the Amer- 
icans. 

The prospect of both scalps and pay was too much for the Senecas long 
to withstand, and in 1777 they, in common with the Cayugas, Onondagas, and 
Mohawks, made a treaty with the British at Oswego, agreeing to serve the 
king throughout the war. Mary Jemison, the "white woman " then living 
among the Senecas on the Genesee, has declared that at that treaty the British 
agents, after giving the Indians numerous presents, " promised a bounty on 
every scalp that should be brought in." 

The question whether a price was actually paid or promised for scalps has 
been widely debated. There is not sufficient evidence to prove that it was 
done, and the probabilities are that it was not. Mary Jemison was usually con- 
sidered truthful, and had good means of knowing what the Indians understood 
on the subject, but the latter were very ready to understand that they would 
be paid for taking scalps. Whether the British paid a bounty for scalps or not, 
the Indians were certainly employed by them to assail the inhabitants with 
constant marauding parties, notwithstanding their well-known and inveterate 
habit of slaughtering and scalping men, women, and children whenever oppor- 
tunity offered. In fact they were good for very little else, their desultory 
methods of warfare making them almost entirely useless in assisting the regu- 
lar operations of an army. 

As formerly the Senecas, though favorable to the French, hesitated about 



76 History of Warren County. 

attacking their brethren of the Long House, or the combined nations of the 
confederacy, so now the Oneidas, who were friendly to the Americans, did not 
go out to battle against the other Iroquois, but remained neutral throughout 
the contest. The great league was weakened but not destroyed. 

From the autumn of 1777 forward, the Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, and 
Mohawks were active in the British interests. Fort Niagara again became, as 
it had been during the French War, the key of all this region, and to it the Iro- 
quois constantly looked for support and guidance. Their raids kept the whole 
frontier for hundreds of miles in a state of terror, and were attended by all the 
horrors of savage warfare. 

The most active and most celebrated of the Iroquois chiefs in the Revolu- 
tion was Joseph Brant, or Thayendenegea, a Mohawk who had received a mod- 
erate English education under the patronage of Sir William Johnson. He was 
most frequently intrusted with the command of detached parties by the British 
officers, but it does not appear that he had authority over all the tribes, and it 
is almost certain that the haughty Senecas, the most powerful tribe of the con- 
federacy, to whom, indeed, by ancient custom belonged the right of choosing 
the principal war-chiefs of the league, would not have submitted and did not 
submit to the control of a Mohawk. 

Of the Senecas who became most conspicuous during this period, in carry- 
ing death and destruction to many American border settlements, were the 
chiefs " Farmer's Brother," "Cornplanter," and "Governor Blacksnake." The 
first two, it will be remembered, are credited with the massacre of over ninety 
British soldiers at the Devil's Hole, and, it has been stated, were half brothers. 
These three chiefs seem to have been the principal leaders of the Seneca mur- 
derers during the struggle for American independence, but which one of them 
was the ranking chieftain has not been learned. It is probable, however, that 
they acted independently to a certain extent, and that each received his orders 
directly from the British officers when ready to start forth against the frontiers 
of New York and Pennsylvania. 

In the summer of 1778 a force of savages and sour-faced Tories to the 
number of about twelve hundred — under the leadership of Colonel John Butler, 
the cruel and inhuman wretch before mentioned — descending from Fort Niag- 
ara and the Seneca country, appeared in the Wyoming valley, or the present 
county of Luzerne, Pa., on the 2d of July. The strong men of the valley were 
serving in Washington's army, and the only defenders were old men, beardless 
boys, and resolute women. These old men and boys, to the number of about 
four hundred, under Colonel Zebulon Butler, a brave soldier who had won dis- 
tinction in the old French War, and who happened to be present, moved reso- 
lutely out to meet the invaders. Overborne by numbers, the inhabitants were 
beaten and put to the sword, the few who escaped retreating to Forty Fort, 
whither the helpless, up and down the valley, had sought safety. Here humane 



English Dominion. tj 



terms of surrender were agreed to, and the families returned to their homes, 
supposing all danger to be past. But the savages had tasted blood, and per- 
haps captured liquor, and were little mindful of capitulations. The night of 
the 5th was given to indiscriminate massacre, burning, and pillage. The cries 
of the wounded and helpless rang out upon the night air, and the heavens all 
along the valley were lighted up with the flames of burning cottages; "and 
when the moon arose, the surviving, terrified inhabitants were fleeing to the 
Wilkesbarre Mountains and the dark morasses of the Pocono Mountain beyond." 
Most of these were emigrants from Connecticut, and they made their way 
homeward as fast as their feet would carry them, many of them crossing the 
Hudson at Poughkeepsie, where they told their tales of woe. 

Another writer, intending to speak in extenuation of the conduct of the 
Tories and Indians, says "no quarter was given during the conflict; and after 
the Americans were routed the Tories and Senecas pursued and killed all they 
could ;" but that " those who reached the fort and afterward surrendered were 
not harmed, nor were any of the non-combatants. The whole valley, how- 
ever, was devastated and the houses burned " We leave it to the impartial 
reader to decide whether this presentation adds to or detracts from the unen- 
viable reputation of the Tories and Senecas. 

W. L. Stone, in his " Life of Brant," says that Brant, the Mohawk, was not 
present at Wyoming, and that the leader of the Senecas, who formed the main 
body of the Indian force on that ever memorable occasion, was Gui-eiig-wak- 
toh. Now, as we understand it. Stone was not at all familiar with the multi- 
plicity of names borne by " the Cornplanter " through life, and, since we find 
the Indian name of the latter variously written by white men who knew him, 
as Guiengwako, Gientwadoh, Kientwoughko, Gyantwado, Gyantawanka, Cycn- 
tookee, Cyentwokee, Gyantwache, Kiendtwoke, Gyantwachia, Gientwakia, and 
Gyantwahia, we strongly incline to the belief that the " Guiengwahtoh " men- 
tioned by Brant and Stone was none other than the then blood-stained savage, 
"Captain John O'Bail," or "the Cornplanter." 

Equally strange and contradictory are the statements respecting Corn- 
planter's parentage, and in spelling another of his many names. One says 
that his father was a Frenchman, another that he was an Irishman, while a 
third gravely asserts that the Cornplanter and Red Jacket were brothers. 
Then, too, we find that his reputed father's name has been written and printed 
Obeal, O'Bail, O'Bayle, Abeil, Obeel, Abeel, Abeal, and O'Bale. The reader 
can form his own opinion regarding the chief's progenitor, but we will venture 
to assert that he (Cornplanter) and Red Jacket were not brothers. 

Returning to the harrowing scenes of the Revolution, we find that at 
Cherry Valley, N. Y., the same year (1778) the blood-thirsty Senecas were 
present in force, together with a body of Mohawks under Brant, and of Tories 
under Captain Walter Butler, son of Colonel John Butler, and there then was 



78 History of Warren County. 

an undoubted massacre. Nearly thirty women and children were killed, 
besides many men surprised helpless in their homes. 

These events and similar ones on a smaller scale induced Congress and 
General Washington, in the spring of 1779, to set on foot movements of strong 
bodies of Continental troops into the Indian country by way of retaliation. 
These expeditions against the hostile tribes of the Six Nations were com- 
manded, respectively, by General Sullivan and Colonel Brodhead. The lat- 
ter's route led him through the present county of Warren, and his report to 
the commander-in-chief of the Continental armies, made at the conclusion of 
the campaign, was as follows : 
" To His Excellency Gen. Washington. 

"Pittsburg, Sep'r i6th, 1779. 

" Dear General : I returned from the expedition against the Seneca and 
Muncy nations the 14th inst.and now do myself the honor to inform you how 
far I have succeeded in prosecuting it. 

" I left this place the i ith of last month with six hundred & five Rank & 
File, including Militia & Volunteers, & one Month's provision which except 
the live Cattle was transported by water under the escort of one hundred men 
to a place called Mahoning, about 15 Miles above Fort Armstrong,^ where 
after four days detention by excessive Rains & the straying of some of the 
Cattle, the stores were loaded on Pack Horses, and the troops proceeded on 
the march for Canawago ^ on the path leading to Cuscushing ; at ten miles on 
this side the town, one of the advance guards consisting of fifteen White men, 
including the spies & Eight Delaware Indians, under the command of Lieut. 
Hardin of the 8th Penn'a Reg't, whom I have before recommended to your 
Excellency for his great bravery & skill as a partisan, discovered between 
thirty and Forty warriors coming down the Allegheny River in seven Canoes. 
These warriors having likewise discovered some of the Troops, immediately 
landed, stript off their shirts and prepared for action, and the advanced Guard 
immediately began the attack. All the troops except one column and Flank- 
ers being in the narrows between the River and high hill were immediately 
prepared to receive the enemy, which being done I went forward to discover 
the ICnemy, and saw six of them retreating over the River without arms, at the 
same time the rest ran away leaving their Canoes, Blankets, Shirts, provisions 
and eight Guns, besides five dead and by the signs of Blood, several went off 
wounded ; only two of my men and one of the Delaware Indians (Nanouland) 
were wounded and so slightly that they are already recovered & fit for action. 
The next morning the Troops proceeded to Buchloons,^ where I ordered a 

' Fort Armstrong stood on llie site of the present town of Kittanning. It had been built and garri- 
soned, by orders of Colonel lirodliead, a few weeks prior lo the beginning of this expedition. 

2 Now written Conewango. The Indian village of " Canawago " stood a mile or so below the site 
of the town of Warren. 

" An Indian town, at the junction of Urokenstraw Creek and the .'\llegheny River. 



English Dominion. 79 



small Breastwork to be thrown up of felled Timber and fascines, a Capt. and 
forty men were left to secure our Baggage and Stores, and the Troops imme- 
diately proceeded to Canawago, which I found had been deserted about eight- 
een months past. 

" Here the Troops seemed much mortified because we had no person to 
serve as a Guide to the upper Towns, but I ordered them to proceed on a path 
which appeared to have been travelled on by the Enemy some time past, and 
we continued marching on it about 20 Miles before any discoveries were made 
except of a few tracks of their spies. But immediately after ascending a high 
hill we discovered the Allegheny River & a number of Corn Fields, and de- 
scending several towns ^ which the Enemy had deserted on the approach of 
the Troops. Some of them fled just before the advanced Guards reached the 
Towns and left several packs of Deer skins. At the upper Seneca Towns we 
found a painted image or War post, clothed in Dog skin, and John Montour 
told me this town was called Yoghroonwago ; besides this we found seven 
other Towns, consisting in the whole of one hundred and thirty Houses, some 
of which were large enough for the accommodation of three or four Indian 
families. The Troops remained on the ground three whole days destroying 
the Towns and Corn Fields. I never saw finer Corn altho' it was planted 
much thicker than is common with our Farmers. The quantity of Corn and 
other vegetables destroyed at the several Towns, from the best accounts I can 
collect from the officers employed to destroy it, must certainly exceed five 
hundred acres which is the lowest estimate, and the plunder taken is estimated 
at 30 m. Dollars ; I have directed a sale to be made of it for the Troops. On 
my return I preferred the Venango Road, the old towns of Canawago, Buch- 
loons & Mahusquechikoken, about 20 Miles above Venango on French Creek, 
consisting of 35 large houses were likewise burnt. The greatest part of the 
Indian houses were larger than common, and built of square & round logs and 
frame work. From the great quantity of Corn in new Ground & the'number 
of new houses Built and Building it appears that the whole Seneca & Muncy 
nations intended to collect to this settlement which extends about eight Miles 
on the Allegheny River, between one hundred and seventy and two hundred 
miles from hence. The River at the upper Towns is little if any larger than 
Kiskamanitis Creek. It is remarkable that neither man or Beast has fallen 
into the Enemies hands on this expedition, & I have a happy presage that the 
counties of Westmoreland, Bedford & Northumberland, if not the whole west- 
ern Frontiers will experience the good effect of it. 

"Too much praise cannot be given to both officers and soldiers of every 
Corps during the whole expedition, their perseverance and zeal during the 
whole march thro' a Country too inaccessible to be described can scarcely be 

1 Cornplanter's towns, the lower one of which was located where the descendants of that chief and 
his followers still reside. 



8o History of Warren County. 

equalled in history. Notwithstanding many of them returned barefooted ' and 
naked they disdained to complain, and to my great mortification I have neither 
Shoes, Shirts, Blankets, Hats, Stockings nor leggins to relieve their necessities. 

" On my return here I found the Chiefs of the Delawares, the principal 
Chief of the Hurons [Wyandots] and now the king of the Maquichee tribe of 
the Shavvnese, is likewise come to treat with me ; about 30 Delaware warriors 
are here likewise ready to go to war, but I have nothing to encourage them 
with, and without the means of paying them I cannot send them out. The 
Troops here have at least nine months pay due them and there is neither 
money nor Pay master to discharge the arrearages. 

" A majority of my Reg't are now discharged and the term of the two Rang- 
ing Companies of Westmoreland expired, so that I shall be weak in Troops 
to prosecute an expedition which by your permission I should be happy to 
make against Detroit, taking the Shawanese in my way. I should be happy 
to have your permission to make occasional excursions against any of the In- 
dian nations who may hereafter prove inimical to us, as sometimes a favorable 
opportunity may be lost before I can be favored with your particular orders. 
Likewise to know your pleasure in regard to the Senecas and Muncies should 
they in their great distress sue for peace. I have before taken the liberty to 
give you my opinion respecting them, and the pairings of scalps and the hair 
of our Countrymen found at every Warrior's camp on the path we marched are 
new inducements for Revenge. 

"I am informed that Col. Clark who took Post St. Vincent, is making peace 
and war with the natives. I am not instructed how far your Excellency has 
authorized him to do so and apprehend the worst consequences to this frontier 
should either Col. Clark or myself enter into a treaty of peace with one of the 
Indian nations and the others break it, and by my instructions I am confined to 
the immediate command of the Troops here, I can take no steps to prevent 
such a probable [event?] but humbly entreat you to do it. 

"The Wyandotts and the Maquichee tribe of the Shawanese promise very 
fair, and I have promised them peace, provided they take as many prisoners 
and scalps from the Enemy as they have done from us and on every occasion 
join us against the enemies of America, which they have engaged to do. 

"A few Indian Goods, Paint and trinkets at this juncture would enable me 
to engage the Delawares to harrass the enemy frequently. 

"The bearer, Capt. Mclntire, has some private as well as public Business 
to transact at Philada. I have therefore ordered him to proceed to Head Quar- 
ters and he will have the honor to wait on you with this letter. 

"I have the honor to be with the most perfect regard and esteem, Your 
Excellency's Most Obed't H'ble Serv't, D. Brodhe.\d." 

1 Said Colonel Biodliead in describing his lack of supplies, clotliing, etc., a few d.iys before Uiis 
movement began : " My officers begin to be very ragged, and some have worn out and lost their blank- 
ets, and I have not a single stocking for my men." 



English Dominion. 8i 



In a subsequent letter, addressed to the " Hon'ble Major Gen'l Sullivan," 
Colonel Brodhead said that "Yahrungwago is about forty miles on this side 
[meaning to the southward] Jenesseo, where I should have gone had I not 
been disappointed in getting a sufficient number of shoes for my men." This 
would indicate that Brodhead penetrated as far northward as the southern cen- 
tral part of Cattaraugus county, New York State, or the vicinity now known as 
the town of Salamanca. It will also be noticed in the foregoing letter from 
Colonel Brodhead to General Washington, that the Colonel makes the state- 
ment, " it is remarkable that neither man or Beast has fallen into the Enemies 
hands on this expedition." Now, viewed ' from another stand-point, these 
results were not at all remarkable. There were no Seneca warriors at home 
to oppose him. His movement into their country was wholly unexpected. 
Hence the chief portion of the warlike Senecas, under the leadership of " Corn- 
planter," "Farmer's Brother," and "Governor Blacksnake," had gone forward 
to join others of the Six Nations in opposing General Sullivan. 

Having marched up the Susquehanna to Tioga Point, where he was joined 
by a brigade under General James Clinton (father of De Witt Clinton), General 
Sullivan, early in August, 1779, with a total force of some four thousand 
men, moved up the Chemung to a point a few miles below the site of Elmira. 
There Colonel John Butler, with a small body of Tories and Indian allies, to 
the number of about fifteen hundred men, had thrown up intrenchments and a 
battle was fought. Speedily defeated with considerable loss, Butler hastily 
retired and made no further opposition. 

Sullivan advanced and destroyed all the Seneca villages on the Genesee 
and about Geneva, burning wigwams and log cabins, cutting down orchards, 
cutting up green corn, and utterly devastating the country. The Senecas fled 
in great dismay to the British stronghold known as Fort Niagara. The On- 
ondaga village had in the mean time been destroyed by another force, but it is 
evident that the Senecas were the ones who were chiefly feared and against 
whom the vengeance of the Americans was chiefly directed. After thoroughly 
laying waste their country the Americans under Sullivan returned to the East. 

Sullivan's and Brodhead's expeditions substantially destroyed the league 
which bound the Six Nations together. Its form remained, but it had lost its 
binding power. The Oneidas and Tuscaroras were encouraged to increase 
their separation from the other confederates. Those tribes whose possessions 
had been destroyed were thrown into more complete subservience to the Brit- 
ish power, thereby weakening their intertribal relations, and the spirits of the 
once haughty Senecas, the most powerful and warlike of them all, were much 
broken by the double dose of punishment they had received. 

It was a more serious matter than had been the destruction of their villages 
in earlier times, as they had adopted a more permanent mode of existence. 
They had learned to depend more on agriculture and less on the chase, and 



History of Warren County. 



possessed not only cornfields, but gardens, orchards, and sometimes comfort- 
able houses. In fact they had adopted many of the customs of civilized life, 
thongh without relinquishing their primitive pleasures, such as tomahawking 
prisoners and scalping the dead. 

They fled en masse to Fort Niagara, and during the winter of 1 779-80, 
which was of extraordinary severity, were scantily sustained by rations which 
the British authorities with difficulty obtained. As spring approached, the En- 
glish made earnest efforts to reduce the expense by persuading the Indians to 
make new settlements and plant crops. The red men, however, were naturally 
anxious to keep as far as practicable from their dreaded foes (the " Long 
Knives," as they sometimes termed the American soldiery, especially the Vir- 
ginians) who had inflicted such heavy punishment the year before, and were 
unwilling to risk their families again at their ancient seats. 

At this time a considerable body of the Senecas, with a few Cayugas and 
Onondagas, moved up from Niagara and established themselves near Buffalo 
Creek, about four miles above its mouth. The same spring another band 
located themselves at the mouth of the Cattaraugus. The Senecas who set- 
tled on Buffalo Creek were under the leadership of Sayengaraghta, an aged 
but influential chief, sometimes called Old King, and said to have been during 
his life the head sachem of the Seneca nation. 

Meanwhile the war was continued with varying fortunes. The Johnsons, 
Colonel Butler, Brant, and prominent Tories kept the Indians as busy as possi- 
ble, marauding in small parties upon the frontiers of New York and Pennsylva- 
nia; but they had been so thoroughly broken up by Sullivan and Brodhead 
that they were unable to produce such devastation as marked their pathway 
at Wyoming and Cherry Valley. They had learned to fear the Americans, to 
respect their strength, and to doubt the vaunted invincibility of British armies. 
Burgoyne had already succumbed to the inevitable. Cornwallis surrendered 
in October, 1781, and on the i ith of April, 1783, the treaty of peace having 
been signed and the independence of the United States of America acknowl- 
edged by Great Britain, Congress sent forth the joyful proclamation ordering 
the cessation of hostilities. Tiius the unquestioned English authority over the 
territory of which Warren county forms a part, lasted only a little more than 
twenty years. 



From 1783 to 1790. 83 



CHAPTER X. 

FROM 1783 TO 1790. 

Forlorn Condition of the Senecas at the Close of the Revolutionary War — Willing to Cede 
the Remainder of their Lands in Pennsylvania — Commissioners Appointed to Treat with Them 
— A Sum Appropriated to Purchase Indian Goods — Quantity and Kind of Goods with which 
Purchase was Made — Treaty of Fort Stanwix — Boundaries of the Tract Acquired by Penn- 
sylvania— Cornplanter the Friend of the Whites — Subsequent Indignation of His Tribe — 
General Irvine Explores the New Purchase — Extracts from His Report — Running the Bound- 
ary Line Between New York and Pennsylvania — Interesting Details — Early Names of War- 
ren County Streams — Indian Villages — Pertinent Suggestions — A Tract of Land Granted to 
Cornplanter — Survey of Lands of the Mouth of the Conewango — An Account of the First 
Official Exploration of the Head Waters of the Allegheny. 

WITH the return of peace between the English and Americans, many of 
the Senecas returned to their old haunts on the upper waters of the 
Allegheny and Susquehanna. But they were destitute and dejected. The sites 
of their once thriving villages, orchards and cornfields, were overgrown with 
rank weeds and briers. They were without the supplies which years of inter- 
course and trading with the French and English had taught them to consider 
indispensable, and it was soon ascertained that they, in conjunction with others 
of the Six Nations, were willing to cede the remainder of their lands in Penn- 
sylvania for quantities of gunpowder, lead, rum, blankets, beads, flannels, etc., 
or such goods as invariably delighted the sons and daughters of the forest. 

Thereupon, permission having first been obtained from Congress allowing 
the authorities of Pennsylvania to treat for the cession of Indian lands lying 
within the boundaries of the State, the Supreme Executive Council, on the 
25th of September, 1783, appointed Samuel J. Atlee, William Maclay and 
Francis Johnston as commissioners for the State to hold treaties with the 
Indians and to purchase the lands above mentioned. However, no further 
action seems to have been taken until August 28, 1784, when it was ordered 
by Council that a warrant be issued on the State treasurer in favor of the com- 
missioners for the sum of ;^3,375, specie, with which to "negotiate a purchase 
from the Indians of the unpurchased territory in the State." In addition the 
commissioners were allowed £1,000, to defray expenses while making a pur- 
chase of goods with which to pay the Indians, of travel, etc. They were also 
authorized to employ interpreters, messengers, and such other persons as might 
be found useful in gaining the object sought, and such expenses were to be an 
extra claim against the State. Captain Joseph Stiles, commissary of military 
stores, was ordered to deliver to them five hundred pounds of gunpowder, three 
horsemen's tents and one soldier's tent, to be used while accomplishing their 
undertaking, and lastly they were directed by Council to procure immediately 



84 



History of Warren County. 



the following described articles, being duly cautioned, however, not to expend 
more in their purchase of goods than the amount placed at their disposal — 
j^3.37S: 



3° 



" 2oJ casks of gunpowder. 

1 tonn of barr lead. 

2 groce of thimbles. 
2 do of jews harps. 
50 dozen white ruffled shirts. 
5 do laced hats. 
50 do knives. 
10 do hatchets. 
10 do pipe tomahawks. 
12 do looking glasses. 
2 M. awl blades. 
5 M. needles. 
I C. Vermillion. 
50 ritles. 

60 M. wampum, 30 white. 30 black. 
12 dozen silver arm bands. 
12 do do wrist bands. 
20 do pipes, Moravian. 
20 do callicoe shirts. 

1 hogshead of tobacco. 
500 pounds of brass kettles, in nests, com- 

pleat. 
100 pounds of small white beads. 

2 groce of morrice bells. 
5 dozen pieces of yellow, green, and purple 

ribbon. 

Thus prepared and equipped the commissioners soon after proceeded from 
Philadelphia to the site of the present town of Rome, N. Y., and there, on the 
23d day of October, 1784, nearly all of the distinguished chieftains of the Si.K 
Nations being assembled, completed the negotiations known in American his- 
tory as the treaty of Fort Stanwix. 

The boundaries of the lands then ceded to Pennsylvania were described as 
follows: "Beginning at the South side of the river Ohio, where the western 
Boundary of the State of Pennsylvania crosses the said River near Shingas Old 
Town at the mouth of Beaver Creek, and thence by a due north line to the 
End of the forty-second, and beginning of the forty-third degrees of North 
Latitude, thence by a due East line separating the forty-second and forty-third 
degrees of North Latitude, to the East side of the East branch of the River 
Susquehanna, thence by the Bounds of the late purchase made at Fort Stan- 
wix the fifth day of November anno Domini one thousand Seven hundred and 
Sixty-Eight as follows, down the said East Branch of Susquehanna on the East 
side thereof, till it comes opposite to the mouth of a creek called by the In- 
dians Owandae and across the River, and up the said creek on the south side 
tlicreof and along the range of Hills called Burnet's Hills by the English and 



5 pieces embossed flannels. 
60 dozen broaches. 

2 do gorgets. 
12 do nose bobs. 
12 do hair pipes. 
12 do rings. 

6 pieces scarlet broad cloth, 
loo pounds of brass wire. 
20 dozen silk handkerchiefs. 

2 do pieces of callicoe. 
4 do saddles & bridles. 
1000 flints, or i keg. 

I groce sheers. 

I do scissars. 

I do horn combs. 

I do ivory combs. 

50 pounds of thread, sorted. 

12 groce scarlet and star gartering. 

12 do green and yellow bed lace. 

3 hogsheads of rum. 

30 pieces best London Stroud. 
do French match coats, 
do blankets. 

do do one half thicks, purple and 
white nap." 



From 1783 to 1790. 85 



by the Indians , on the north side of them to the head of a creek which 

runs into the West Branch of the Susquehanna which creek is by the Indians 
called Tyadaghtan, but by the Pennsylvanians, Pine Creek, and down the said 
creek on the south side thereof, to the said West Branch of Susquehanna, then 
Crossing the said River, and running up the same, on the south side thereof 
the several courses thereof, to the Forks of the same River which lie nearest to 
a place on the River Ohio, called Kittanning, and from the Forks by a straight 
line to Kittanning aforesaid, and then down the said River Ohio by the several 
Courses thereof, to where the Western Bounds of the said State of Pennsyl- 
vania crosses the same River at the place of beginning." Or, in other words, 
the vast region now embraced by the counties of Potter, McKean, Warren, 
Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Butler, Venango, Forest, Clarion, JelTerson, Elk, 
and Cameron, besides, in part, by Bradford, Tioga, Lycoming, Clinton, Center, 
Clearfield, Indiana, Armstrong, Allegheny, Beaver, and Erie counties. 

At Fort Stanwix the Seneca chieftain of many names — "Captain John 
O'Bail," " Gyantwakee " or the " Cornplanter," was the principal speaker on 
behalf of the Senecas, though "Old King" was then recognized as the chief 
sachem of the nation. The " Cornplanter," half white by blood, but thoroughly 
Indian by nature, had been one of the bravest and most successful chiefs of the 
Senecas during the war. With the rank of captain in the motley forces com- 
posed of British regulars, Tories and Indians, he had led his band of murderers 
into many frontier settlements, sparing the lives of but few of those who were 
so unfortunate as to fall into his hands; but now he was for peace, a lasting 
peace, and did his utmost, probably more than any other chieftain to bring 
about this cession of lands to Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvanians of his day 
appreciated his efforts, at Fort Stanwix, at Fort Mcintosh, and at Presque Isle ; 
but with many of his own people his reputation was for a long time clouded 
because of his assent to the treaty of Fort Stanwi.x. They asserted in substance 
that he had been bribed by the white men, who coveted their lands ; and after 
the trinkets and trumpery they had received in payment were worn out or lost, 
when with no homes or lands of their own, they realized that their condition was 
much worse than ever before, they were loud and bitter in their denunciations 
of him. Indeed, that they were not without something to build their suspi- 
cions upon the following will show : 

" We the subscribers. Commissioners appointed to purchase of the Indians 
the late unpurchased Territory within the acknowledged limits of Pennsylvania 
do promise, to deliver as soon as conveniently may be, to Cap. Aaron Hill of 
the Mohawk Tribe, and to Captain O'Bale of the Seneca Tribe two good rifles 
of neat workmanship, one for each of them, the rifles to be sent to the new 
store near Tioga, if it should not be convenient for the said Captain Aaron Hill 
or Captain O'Bale to come themselves the Rifles to be delivered to the Bearer 
of this obligation. These Rifles civen to them in consideration of their serv- 



86 History of Warren County. 

ices at the late purchase. Witness our hands this 25th day of October, 1784." 
This paper was signed by Atlce, Maclay, and Johnston, and was witnessed by 
G. Evans and James Dean. 

The goods received by the Indians in payment for their lands ceded in 
1784 were delivered at the junction of the East Branch of the Susquehanna 
and Chemung Rivers, a place then known as "Tioga Point," but now desig- 
nated as Athens, Pa. The privilege of occupying, hunting and fishing upon 
the unimproved lands ceded was reserved by the Indians. From Fort Stan- 
wix the Pennsylvania commissioners proceeded on horseback to the Muskin- 
gum country, or Fort Mcintosh, where another treaty was concluded with the 
Wyandots and Delawares in January, 1785. Thence in the same manner the 
commissioners journeyed to Fort Pitt, and on eastward to Philadelphia. 

Soon after the Indian title to lands in the northwestern portion of the State 
had been extinguished, it was determined by the Supreme Executive Council 
to set aside and donate "to the late troops of the Pennsylvania Line, of the 
American Army," a large tract of territory to be located in the western part of 
the new purchase. With this object in view surveyors and explorers were sent 
forward in the spring and summer of 1785 to make personal observations of 
regions as yet but little known. One of the most active and intelligent of 
those delegated with authority to view the country was General William Irvine, 
a gentleman who had won distinction during the Revolutionary struggle as an 
officer of the Pennsylvania line. A soldier himself, it was his wish that those 
who had periled their lives in the fight for independence should have as good 
land as the new purchase afforded. During his journeyings he penetrated to 
the central part of the present county of Warren. His descriptions of this 
and adjacent regions as they appeared to him then, and his ideas of what were 
good or inferior lands, make interesting reading at this time, hence we append 
a considerable portion of his report. 

"In exploring the donation land, I began on the Line run by Mr. McLane 
between that and the tracts appropriated for redeeming depreciating certificates 
which he ascertained by a due North Line to be near thirty miles from Fort Pitt, 
and by the Common computation along the path leading from Fort Pitt to Ve- 
nango on the mouth of French Creek, which some affirm was actually measured 
by the French when they possessed the country, I found it forty miles. East of 
this part and along Mr. McLane's Line for five or six miles, the land is pretty 
level, well watered with small springs, and of tolerable quality, but from thence 
to the Allegheny River which is about Twenty-five miles due East, there is no 
land worth mentioning fit for cultivation; as far as French Creek all between 
the Venango Path and the Allegheny there is very little land fit for cultivation, 
as it is a continued chain of high barren mountains except small breaches for 
Creeks and Rivulets to disembogue themselves into the River. These have 
very small bottoms. 



From 1783 to 1790. 87 



" As I proceeded along the path leading to French Creek about five miles 
to a branch of Beaver or rather in this place called Canaghqunese [now Con- 
noquenessing], I found the Land of a mixed quality, some very strong and 
broken with large quantities of fallen Chestnut interspersed with strips covered 
with Hickory, lofty oak, and under Wood or Brush, Dogwood, Hazel, &; along 
the Creek very fine rich and extensive bottoms in general fit for meadows; 
from hence to another branch of said Creek called Flat Rock Creek, about ten 
miles distant, the land is generally thin, stony and broken, loaded, however, 
with Chestnut Timber, the greatest part of which lies flat on the earth, which 
renders it difficult travelling — at the usual crossing place on the last named 
Creek, there is a beautiful fall over a Rock ten or twelve feet high, at the ford- 
ing immediately above the fall, the bottom is one entire Rock, except some 
perforations which are capacious enough to receive a horses foot and leg — it is 
here about forty yards wide and runs extremely rapid. From Flat Rock to 
Sandy Creek by Hutchins & Scull called, Lycomie, is about twenty-four miles; 
•on the first twelve there are a considerable quantity of tolerable level lands 
tho' much broken with large stony flats, on which grows heavy burthens of 
Oak, Beech, and Maple, particularly seven or eight miles from the Creek there 
is a plain or Savannah three or four miles long, and at least two wide, without 
anything to obstruct the prospect, except here and there a small grove of lofty 
Oaks or Sugar Tree, on the skirts the ground rises gradually to a moderate 
height from which many fine springs descend, which water this fine Tract 
abundantly — along these Rivulets small but fine spots of meadow may be 
made, from hence the remaining twelve miles to Sandy Creek is a ridge or 
mountain, which divides the waters of the Allegheny, the Beaver and Ohio, 
and is from East to West, at least three times as long as it is Broad — on the 
whole of this there is little fit for cultivation, yet some of it is well calculated 
for raising stock. But a person must be possessed of very large Tracts to enable 
him to do even this to purpose. 

" From Sandy to French Creek is about seven or eight miles from the 
mouth, but it soon Forks into many small runs, and is but a few miles from the 
mouth to the source — there are two or three small bottoms only on this Creek — 
to French Creek is one entire hill, no part of which is by any means fit for cul- 
tivation. 

" On the lower side, at the mouth of French Creek, where the Fort called 
Venango formerly stood, there is three or four hundred acres of what is com- 
monly called upland or dry bottom, very good land. On the North East 
side, about one mile from the mouth, another good bottom begins of four or 
five hundred acres, and on the summits of the hills on the same side, tho' high, 
there is a few hundred acres of land fit for cultivation — this is all in this neigh- 
borhood nearer than the first fork of the Creek ; which is about eight miles 
distant. On the Road leading from French to Oil Creek, within about three 



History of Warren County. 



miles and a half of Venango, there is a Bottom of fine land on the bank of 
tlie Allegheny, containing four or five hundred acres, there is little beside to 
Oil Creek fit for cultivation. 

"French Creek is 150 yards wide. From French to Oil Creek is about 
eight miles — this is not laid down in any map, notwithstanding it is a large 
stream not less than eighty, or perhaps a hundred yards wide at the mouth, a 
considerable depth, both of which it retains to the first fork, which is at least 
twenty miles up, and I am certain is as capable of rafting timber or navigating 
large boats as French Creek in the same seasons this high. On the northeast 
or upper side of this creek, at the mouth, is four or five hundred acres of good 
bottom, and about a mile up there is another small bottom on the southwest 
side, which is all the good land to the first fork. 

"Oil Creek has taken its name from an oil or bituminous matter found float- 
ing on the surface. Many cures are attributed to this oil by the natives, and 
lately by some whites, particularly rheumatic pains and old ulcers; it has hith- 
erto been taken for granted that the water of the creek was impregnated with 
it, as it was found in so many places, but I have found this to be an error, as I 
examined it carefully and found it issuing out of two places only, these two are 
about four hundred yards distant from [each] other, and on opposite sides of 
the creek. It rises in the bed of the creek at very low water, in a dry season 
I am told it is found without any mixture of water, and is pure oil; it rises, 
when the creek is high, from the bottom in small globules, when these reach 
the surface they break and expand to a surprising extent, and the flake varies 
in color as it expands; at first it appears yellow and purple only, but as the 
rays of the sun reach it in more directions, the colors appear to multiply into a 
greater number than can at once be comprehended. 

"From Oil Creek to Cuskakushing, an old Indian town, is about seventeen 
miles — the whole of this is barren, high mountains, not fit for cultivation; the 
mountain presses so close on the river that it is almost impassable, and by no 
means practicable when the river is high, then travelers either on foot or horse- 
back are obliged to ascend the mountain and proceed along the summit. 

"At Cuskushing there is a narrow bottom about two miles long, good land, 
and a very fine island fifty or si.xty acres, where the Indians formerly planted 
corn. From Cuskushing to another old Indian town, also on the bank of the 
river, is about six miles; this place is called Canenacai, or Hickory Bottom; 
here is a few hundred acres of good land and some small islands, from hence to 
a place named by the natives the Burying Ground, from a tradition they have 
that some extraordinary man was buried there many hundred years ago, is 
about thirteen miles; most of this way is also a barren and very high mount- 
ain, and you have to travel the greatest part of the way in the bed of the river. 
To Brokcnstraw Creek, or Bockaloons, from the last named place is about four- 
teen miles, here the hills are not so high or barren, and there are sundry good 



From 1783 to 1790. 



bottoms along the river. About half way there is a hill called by the Indians, 
Paint Hill, where they find very good red oker. Brokenstraw is thirty yards 
wide, there is a fine situation and good bottom near the mouth on both sides, 
but a little way up the creek large hills covered with pine make their appear- 
ance. From Brokenstraw to Conewagoo is eight or nine miles — here is a nar- 
row bottom, interspersed with good dry land and meadow ground all the way, 
and there is a remarkable fine tract at the mouth of Conewagoo, [Conewango,] 
of a thousand or perhaps more acres, from the whole of which you command 
a view up and down the main branch of Allegheny, and also up Conewagoo a 
considerable distance. Conewagoo is one hundred and fifty yards wide, and 
is navigable for large boats up to the head of Jadaque Lake, which is upwards of 
fifty miles from its junction with the east branch of the River. The head of 
Jadaque Lake is said to be only twelve miles from Lake Erie, where it is said 
the P'rench formerly had a Fort, and a good Wagon Road from it to the Lake. 
Conewagoo forks about thirty miles from the mouth of the East Branch, is lost 
in a morass where the Indians frequently carried their canoes across into a 
large creek called the Cateraque, which empties into the lake forty or fifty miles 
above Niagara. 

"This account of the Branches of Conewagoo I had from my Guide, an In- 
dian Chief of the Senecas, a native of the place, and an intelligent white man, 
who traversed all this country repeatedly. I have every reason to believe the 
facts are so — tho' I do not know them actually to be so, as I went only a small 
distance up this creek, being informed there is no land fit for cultivation to the 
first fork or to the lower end of Jadaque Lake, which begins seven miles up 
the West Branch, except what has already been mentioned at the mouth of the 
creek, the appearance of the country, in a view taken from the summit of one 
of the high hills, fully justified this Report, as nothing can be seen but one 
large chain of mountains towering above another, here, perhaps, it may not be 
amiss to insert the supposed distances in a collected view — and First from 

" Fort Pitt to McLanes .40 Miles. 

To fourth branch ot Canaghqunese 5 " 

" Rocky, or Flat Rock Creek 10 " 

" Sandy Creek 24 " 

" French Creek 8 " 

" Oil Creek 8 " 

" Cuskakushing- 17 " 

" Cananacai 6 '• 

" The Burying Ground 13 " 

" Brokenstraw 14 '' 

" Conewagoo 9 '' 

'54 
Deduct from Fort Pitt to McLanes' line between the depreciation and 

donation tracts 40 " 

Leaves the donation land to be 114 Miles Long. 

"Wm. Irvine, agent." 



90 History of Warren County. 

During the same year (1785) part of the Indian purchase of 1784 was added 
to Westmoreland county, for judicial and other purposes, including portions of 
the present county of Warren, and about two years later the Supreme Execu- 
tive Council, of which Benjamin Franklin was president, granted to one "James 
Chambers, Esquire," late a colonel in the Revolutianary army, five hundred 
acres of land, then described as "in the County of Westmoreland," but now 
embraced by Spring Creek township in the county of Warren. This deed or 
grant was signed by Franklin August 17, 1787, and is one of the oldest papers 
of record relating to Warren county. 

In the summer of 1787, Andrew Ellicott and Andrew Porter commissioners 
for the State of Pennsylvania, and Abraham Hardenburg and William Morris, 
commissioners for the State of New York, ran out and marked the boundary 
line between the two States from the ninetieth mile stone west from the Dela- 
ware River, on the parallel of forty-two degrees north latitude, westward to 
a meridian line drawn from the southwestern corner of the State of Pennsyl- 
vania. On the 29th of August of that year from their "observatory" on the 
west side of the Conewango, the Pennsylvania commissioners reported to the 
Supreme Executive Council as follows: 

"Gentlemen: — We now take the earliest opportunity we have had of 
acquainting you with the progress we have made in the business which you 
have intrusted to us. We arrived at the Cawwanishee Flats on the 1 1 th day 
of June, where the 90th mile-stone was set up last season. The Susquehan- 
nah was remarkably low, which prevented our Boats making the necessary 
expedition. From the 90th mile-stone we sent our Instruments up the Thy- 
esa in Canoes about 10 miles; our water-carriage then failed, and we had 
recourse to our Pack-Horses, but the ruggedness of the country at the Heads 
of the Susquehannah, Geneseo and Allegheny Rivers, soon killed, and rendered 
useless about two-thirds, but fortunately for our business, when the Horses 
failed we found ourselves on a small branch of the Allegheny River, necessity 
then pointed out the propriety of using water-carriage as much as possible, we 
immediately set about making canoes, and by the spirited exertions of our 
men, with no other implements than three falling axes, two or three Toma- 
hawks, and a Chisel, i-j- inch wide, we had completed in six days for the use 
of our Pennsylvania party 5 excellent Canoes, two of which are between 40 
and 50 feet in length. These Canoes with our Stores, Instruments and Bag- 
gage, we hauled 10 miles down a shallow stream to the main Allegheny River, 
our progress now began to appear less difficult, and we prepared to proceed 
down the River to a proper place for correcting the random Line by astro- 
nomical observation, but the day preceding our intended movement, we were 
ordered by the Indians [probably some of Cornplanter's band] to discontinue 
the Line 'till after a treaty should be held. We met them at the time and 
place appointed, explained the nature and propriety of the business we were 



From 1783 to 1790. 91 



about, and finally were permitted to proceed. We have, notwithstanding these 
difficulties, completed the Line to the 167 mile-stone from the Delaware, and 
expect to have 28 miles more finished in a few days, and the fullest expecta- 
tion of finishing the business this season in good time, if not impeded by some 
uncommon difficulty or accident." 

This report was signed by Messrs. Ellicott and Porter. In it, it will be 
noticed, the commissioners speak of their stores, etc.; and to show that these 
worthies were not destitute of the comforts and even the luxuries of life, while 
making their way through the wilderness and along the northern border of 
what is now Warren county, a hundred years ago, we append Mr. Porter's 
requisition for animals and supplies, made just before starting forth : 



20 Horses and Pack Saddles. 

20 Bells. 

10 Bbls of Pork. 

30 Bbls of Flour. 

200 lbs of Loaf Sugar. 

50 lbs of Coffee. 

8 lbs of Tea. 

1 5 lbs of Chocolate. 

60 lbs of Cheese. 

3 doz'n neats Tongues. 

3 lbs of Pepper and 6 Bottles Mustard. 

3 jars of Pickles. 



I box of Prunes. 

1 Hhd Spirits. 
20 Gall'ns Wine. 

10 Gall'ns F. Brandy. 

2 Gall'ns Lime Juce. 
30 lbs Soap. 

50 lbs Candles. 

10 Gall'ns Vinegar. 

28 lbs Scotch Barley. 

14 lbs Rice. 

4 Bushels Salt. 

Stationerv." 



On the 29th of October of the same year (1787) the commissioners of the 
two States made their final report, showing that the boundary line had been 
marked in a satisfactory and permanent manner by mile-stones, or posts sur- 
rounded by mounds of earth, where stones could not be procured, from the 
ninetieth mile-stone west from the river Delaware to Lake Erie. Two maps 
also accompanied their report, showing the route traversed, the location of 
mile-posts, observatories, etc., the names of streams crossed or flowing near 
by, and likewise the names and location of a number of Indian towns. From 
these maps we learn that Conewango Creek was then written " Conawango 
River;" the Kinzua, "Consua," and the Brokenstraw, "Koshanuadeago." No 
Indian towns were shown within the present limits of Warren county, but just 
over the line in New York, upon both the Conewango 1 and Allegheny, Indian 
villages were designated, besides another, termed " Hickory Town," at the 
point now known as Tionesta. 

In February, 1788, Andrew Ellicott, one of the boundary-line commis- 
sioners, in writing from Baltimore to Benjamin Franklin, president of the 
Supreme Executive Council, said : " From the Face of the Map we returned 

ITlie Indian village on or near the Conewango was termed by the commissioners "Cayontona"; 
but Colonel Proctor, who visited this region in April, 1791, writes it " Cayanlha, or the Cornfields." 
It stood about one mile north of the iQSlh mile-post on the State line west from the Delaware River, 
and between the forks of a small stream which, here flowing northeasterly, empties into the Cone- 
wango about a mile and a half north of the Slate line. 



92 History of Warren County. 

to the Supreme Executive Council last December, of the Country thro' which 
we passed with the Northern 15oundary of the State; it appears plain that the 
situation of several places demands the attention of the Legislature. The first 
is the Mouth of the Conewango River; the second at the Mouth of French 
Creek, where the Old Venango Fort stood, and the third at the head of the 
Navigable Water of French Creek at Fort Le Boeuf " Thus again was the 
attention of the authorities directed to the eligible and picturesque site of the 
town of Warren. 

The following year Richard Butler and John Gibson, commissioners for and 
in behalf of the State of Pennsylvania, concluded another treaty with the chiefs, 
warriors, and others representing the Six Nations, by which treaty the State 
acquired possession of the territory bounded on the south by the north line of 
Pennsylvania, on the east by the western boundary of New York, agreeably to 
the cession of that State and the State of Massachusetts to the United States, 
and on the north by the margin of Lake Erie, including Presque Isle and other 
points. At this treaty Cornplanter was again conspicuous as the friend of the 
whites, and by his speeches and bearing rendered the work of the commission- 
ers comparatively easy of accomplishment. Feeling grateful, therefore, Gen- 
eral Richard Butler, one of the commissioners above named, on the 22d of 
March, 1789, addressed the following communication to Thomas Mifflin, then 
president of the Supreme Executive Council : 

" I beg leave to mention to your Excellency and Council that Capt'n 
Abeal, alias the Cornplanter, one of the principal Chiefs of the Seneca Tribe 
of the Six Nations, has been very useful in all the Treaties since 1784 inclu- 
sive, and particularly to the State of Pennsylvania, this he has demonstrated 
very fully, and his attachment at present to the State appears very great. This 
has induced me to suggest to your Excellency and Council whether it may not 
be good Policy in the State to fix this attachment by making it to his interest 
to continue it. This, from the Ideas he possesses of Civilization, induces me 
to think if the state would be pleased to grant him a small tract of land within 
the late purchase, it would be very grateful to him, and have that Eflect. 
This may be done in a manner that would render him service without lessen- 
ing his influence with his own people or Exposing him to jealousy. The quan- 
tity need not be large, perhaps one thousand or fifteen hundred acres. How 
far your Excellency and Council may concur in this opinion will rest with 
your Excellency and them. My wishes for the quiet and interest of the State 
as well as the merits of the man, has induced me to take the liberty to mention 
this matter and hope the motive will be my appology." 

This letter having been received and considered in Council March 24, or 
two days after date, it was resolved that the recommendation to grant Corn- 
planter one thousand or fifteen hundred acres of land be complied with. 

As alluded to in a preceding paragraph, the attention of the lixecutive 



From 1783 to 1790. 93 



Council having frequently been directed to certain choice locations in the ter- 
ritory recently acquired by purchase (at Presque Isle, on Lake Erie ; at Le 
Boeuf, at the head of navigation of French Creek ; at the mouth of the Con- 
ewango, in the county of Allegheny, and at Fort Venango, situated at the mouth 
of French Creek), it was resolved in Council on Saturday, April 4, 1789, "that 
the Surveyor General be directed, and he is hereby directed to appoint a 
proper person to locate, survey, and make return of the several tracts men- 
tioned in the said resolution of Assembly, for the use of the Commonwealth, in 
conformity with the said resolution, and that the locations at each place amount 
to three thousand acres and no more." In compliance with this resolution 
the surveyor-general soon after appointed John Adlum to perform the work. 
The latter did so during the following summer, and in September, 1789, 
reported that he had completed the survey of four reserved tracts of lands, 
or " State Manors," at the points indicated, at an expense to the State of one 
hundred and seventy-five pounds eight shillings and two pence. 

In the year 1790 the General Council of Pennsylvania appointed a commis- 
sion to survey and explore the West Branch of the Susquehanna and the head 
waters of the " Alegina," the object being to establish a suitable wagon road 
from the Susquehanna valley to Lake Erie. This commission consisted of 
John Adlum, Colonel Matlack, and Hon. Samuel Maclay, who afterward 
served a term as United States senator from Pennsylvania, from 1 803 to 1808. 
During the time that the commission was acting in the discharge of its duties 
Mr. Maclay kept a record of each day's events, and it is from this diary, now 
in the possession of his grandson, ex-State Senator Maclay, of Clarion county, 
that these notes of the first official exploration of the head waters of the Alle- 
gheny, by authority of the State of Pennsylvania, are compiled. 

By the terms of the act creating the commission, the commissioners were 
to meet at Lebanon on May i, 1790 ; but Mr. Adlum and Colonel Matlack 
did not arrive at that point until May 17. Immediately after their arrival the 
commission proceeded upon the discharge of its duties, Mr. Maclay having 
made all necessary preparations while waiting upon the delinquents. 

The West Branch was explored until the mouth of the Sinnemahoning 
Creek was reached, which stream was ascended as far as navigable by canoes, 
when the party proceeded on foot to the head waters of the Clarion River, in 
what is now Elk county. While Maclay and Matlack made different surveys 
in this locality, Mr. Adlum ran a line to the " Alegina," the object being to 
establish a camp on that river and leave some of the attendants there to build 
canoes for the accommodation of the commissioners when they should be ready 
to descend. This camp was located about twenty miles above the State line, 
and from this point the entire party started down the " Alegina " on the 2d 
day of July. About twelve o'clock they met two Indians, one of whom called 
himself " Doctor Thomas," who informed them that they had been sent by 



94 History of Warren County. 

their chief to see when the commissioners would arrive at the Indian town 
below. The State line was reached at three o'clock on the afternoon of the 
3d, and here the party encamped for the night. Leaving early the next morn- 
ing, the Indian camp was reached about nine o'clock, " Dr. Thomas " and his 
companion having preceded them. As what follows is of the most interesting 
character, we quote Mr. Maclay's diary in full : 

" We got to the town at 9 o'clock. Went down below the town a little 
distance, kindled a fire and got our breakfast. Several of the Indians came to 
our fire, but the principal man was out of town, and it seems we must wait for 
him. We waited until the afternoon and were then given to understand that 
Con-ne-shangom, their chief, was gone to Venango, but a certain Captain John 
supplyed his place. He made us a speech in the afternoon to the following 
effect : That he and all their men returned thanks to Almighty God for the 
opportunity of speaking to his brothers ; that as he now speaks he hopes that 
you will hear that you are come to poor people that are all suffering. Another 
thing he hopes that he knew nothing of our coming until he looked up and 
saw us come down the water. He hopes we will take pity on their women 
and children and give them something to prevent them from starving. 

" Monday, July 5th. — Set off in the morning, two Indians going with us in 
a canoe, viz : Captain John and Ten Days, and the Doctor on horseback. 
About the middle of the afternoon we came to an Indian camp on shore where 
they had whisky, which they offered us. At this camp we saw a Dutchman 
who in the war had been taken prisoner, and, it seemed, choosed to continue 
with the Indians. We delayed but a short time at this camp, when we put 
out and left the Indians. After some time the Indians came up with us and 
the Doctor had got himself a little drunk. Just so much as to put him to 
showing his horsemanship, and, in attempting to ride up a steep bank, him 
and his horse tumbled together into the river. We took up our camp a little 
before sunset. 

" Tuesday, July 6th. — Took our breakfast and set off, and came to Tuis-in- 
Guis-an-Gothtaw about 10 o'clock. We soon found that the Doctor, who had 
reached the town before us, had been doing us ill offices with the people of the 
town. They looked remarkably sour, and insisted on our stopping until they 
sent for their chief, the Cornplanter, who lived about seven miles below at a 
place called In-oh-show-Dego. We said that we could go on and call on the 
Cornplanter where he lived. They said it was not manly to call about busi- 
ness at a cabin in the woods, and said that they had a hold of the stern of our 
canoe, plainly intimating that they could and would make us stay. We thought 
it best to be as accommodating as we could and told them to send for the 
Cornplanter, and we would stay until the afternoon. About noon their Chief 
came and told us that he had sent for the Cornplanter ; that he expected him 
soon, but that we must not think the time long. His advice had no effect, for 
we did think the day a very long one. Night came at last but no Cornplanter. 



From 1783 to 1790. 95 



"Wednesday, July 7th. — The Cornplanter came about eight o'clock, and 
appeared to be friendly disposed. He said he would look for a place where we 
might meet and speak to each other. We met, told our business and deliv- 
ered the Cornplanter his letter, which was read and interpreted to the Indians 
by one Matthews. They then all appeared in a good humor, and the Corn- 
planter, in a speech, told us he was glad to see us and gave us a welcome to 
anything we could catch in their country. Then we were addressed by an 
orator in behalf of the women. They told us that they were glad to see us; 
that they hoped we were well; that we had come a long, bad road; that they 
had heard the good news we had brought; that they thought that as the 
severest part of the labour of living fell to their lot, they had a right to speak 
and to be heard, and again thanked us for our good news; that they hoped 
that as soon as the good road we had spoke of was made they would be able 
to purchase what things they wanted on better terms; that it was true their 
trade at this time was much worse than formerly, owing to the scarcity of game, 
but that if a good road was made it would still be worth while for traders to 
come among them, and that they hoped a good correspondence would still be 
cultivated between them and us until we should become one people. Their 
speech was answered very properly by Col. Matlack. As soon as that was 
ended, though it rained, we got on board of our canoes and pushed down the 
river, and took up our camp opposite Capt. John Obeales Town, and had the 
honor of his company for supper. 

"Thursday, July 7th. — The morning rainy. After breakfast it cleared, and 
Mr. Adlum went up to the State line to survey the river, and to assist me in 
making a survey for the Cornplanter. This business kept us employed until 
about four o'clock. As we were both wet when we came to cam p we concluded 
to stay where we were for the night. 

"Friday, July 9th. — Set off after breakfast and proceeded down the river 
to the mouth of the Kinjua, where we parted with Mr. Adlum. He proceeded 
up the Kinjua with two of the hands, accompanied with an Indian called Tim 
T. Tugmutton. We proceeded down the river to the mouth of the Conno- 
wango, and got up the same about two miles, where we encamped for the 
night. 

"Saturday, July loth. — In the morning we proceeded up the Connowango 
about two miles further, where we left one of our canoes and all our baggage 
and provisions that we could spare in the care of Samuel Gibbons, taking with 
us only provisions for 10 days, and set off for the Jadockque lake, having one 
Matthews with us to act as an interpreter, as we expected to meet with several 
Indians. We kept with dilligence at the poles and paddled all day, and got 
17 miles as we computed. 

"Sunday, July l Ith. — We started in the morning and kept steadily at work 
all day, and made as we computed, 17 miles further up the Connowango. In 



96 History of Warren County. 

these two days' traveling with our canoes we had not more than i6 miles of 
strong water, the bed of the river being like a mill pond, and in general so deep 
that we could not find the bottom with our setting poles. 

"Monday, July I2th. — Set off in the morning and found it extremely diffi- 
cult to get up the creek. The water was very low and divided with a great 
number of small Islands and the channels stopped up with driftwood and tim- 
ber that had fallen across the creek. In some places we cleared a passage, in 
others we were obliged to slide our canoe on Scates. We had about five miles 

of this kind of water; at length we entered the lake, which for about two 

miles widened gradually — the shore remarkably muddy and covered with splat- 
terdocks. From there the lake opens at once and has a very pleasing appear- 
ance. We got about four miles up and encamped." 

On the morning of the 14th, having found the old French wagon road, 
Colonel Matlack and Mr. Maclay followed it to Lake Erie, returning to Lake 
Jadockque (Chautauqua) on the 15 th. Mr. Maclay estimated the distance from 
the mouth of the Conewango to Lake Erie to be eighty miles "to go by 
water," and says the "greater part of the distance is through a very rich soil." 
On the morning of the 17th Maclay and Matlack rejoined Adlum at the camp 
at the mouth of the Conewango, and the three, with their employees, proceeded 
down the river to "Fort Frankland." From there another route was surveyed 
to Lake Erie, by way of French Creek. When this was completed they again 
continued down the "Alegina" to the mouth of the Kiskiminitis. This stream 
was explored and its chief tributary, the Conemaugh, was ascended to its source. 
After a vain attempt to find a passage across the Allegheny Mountains suit- 
able for a wagon road, they concluded to return home, arriving at Lebanon on 
September 17 of the same year. 



CHAPTER XI. 

CORNPL-VNTER AND OTHER INDIANS— 1790-91. 

The Seneca Chieftain Invited to Visit Philadelphia — Letter from Thomas Mifflin — Ensign 
Jcffers's Letter — The Journey — Arrival in the Quaker City — Subsequent Proceedings — 
Cornplanter's Speech to the Supreme E.xecutive Council — President Mifflin's Reply — Corn- 
planter Meets President Washington — Returns to His Foiost Home with Gifts and Various 
Supplies — Attempts on the Part of Pittsburgh Thieves to Steal the Same — Colonel Brodhead's 
Opinion of Early Pitt«sbnrgh Residents — Cornplanter Makes Choice of the Lands Granted Him 
— Their Location, etc. — Sketch of His Life. 

MEANWHILE, affairs along the western frontiers were in an unsettled 
condition, and, apparently, were daily becoming worse — murders of 
while families by Indians from the Ohio country, and of peaceful Seneca In- 



CORNPLANTER AND OTHER INDIANS — 179O-9I. 97 

dians by white men, were of frequent occurrence. Indeed, numbers of Corn- 
planter's own family had been robbed and killed, and he had repeatedly peti- 
tioned the authorities of the State for protection and relief At last, on the lOth 
of May, 1790, President Thomas Mifflin sent a letter' to the Seneca chieftains 
on the head waters of the Allegheny, wherein he said : " It gives us pain to 
hear from you that some bad people have plundered your camps and taken your 
property. Our laws do not permit one man to injure another. We are willing 
to give you an opportunity of laying before the government of Pennsylvania 
your grievances, and of explaining your wishes ; and agreeably to your request, 
we hereby invite three of your chief counsellors and warriors, vizt.: Corn- 
planter, Half- Town, and the New Arrow, to come to Philadelphia, on Wednes- 
day the first day of September next, when the General Assembly will be in 
session. We have granted a commission to your particular friend, Joseph 
Nicholson, to act as the interpreter to your three Chiefs, and will give him 
directions to conduct them to this city. 

"Thomas Mifflin. 
" To Kientwoughko, or Cornplanter, 

Guyaugh Shoto, alias the Great Cross, 

Hachuwoot, or Half Town, 

Kyendo, 

Shendeshowa, 

Wadungueta, 

Hagungush, 

Hucheaguough, alias the Dog Barker, 

Oe-wha-gaw-yo, alias the Oldnews, 

Candagowa alias Large Tree, 

Tehewanias, alias the Broken Tree. 

This letter having been received by Cornplanter July 7 of that year, his 
preparations for visiting Philadelphia were completed as speedily as circum- 
stances would permit, and, furnished with the following recommendatory letter 
by the commandant of Fort Franklin, at the mouth of French Creek, he set 
out on his journey accompanied by his interpreter, Joseph Nicholson, and six 
other chiefs and warriors. 

" My age, rank & situation in the world renders it rather improper for me 
to say anything on the subject I am about to relate, but I cannot but mention 
that the Bearer hereof, Cyentwokee, the head Chief of the Senica Nation, is 
an undoubted friend to the United States. When Indians have stolen Horses 
& other things from the good people, I have known him with the greatest dig- 
nity to give orders for them to be returned, & never knew his orders to be 
disobeyed. 

" When the people of Cussawanga [now Meadville] were about to flee on 

1 See allusion to this letter in Mr. Maclay's tliary, preceding chapter. 



Chief Counsellors 
and Warriors of the 
> Six Nations of 
Indians." 



98 History of Warren County. 

account of unfavorable accounts about some of the Southern Indians, he sent 
a Speech to me, & said, ' he wished the people to keep their minds easy, & 
take care of their Cornfields, that the Six Nations were friends, that should the 
Southern Indians invade the Settlement he would gather his Warriors & help 
to drive them to the setting of the Sun.' In consequence of this the people 
rest intirely easy. On his arrival here, he told me that should I be invaded so 
that I could not get provision, that he & his warriors would clear the way — 
he said that at the Council at Muskingum, the great men asked him which side 
he would die on ? He told them on the side of the Americans, he says he is 
of the same mind yet. 

" Sundry other things might be said, but as he is now on his way to attend 
the Assembly at Philadelphia, I will only recommend him to the particular 
attention of the good people of Pennsylvania between here & that place. They 
may depend upon it that they not only entertain a friend, but a consequential 
friend, for the Senica Nation is so much Governed by him that if he says War, 
it is war, & if he says peace it is peace — of Course he is a Man worthy of the 
greatest attention. The other Chiefs with him second him in every thing, & 
are Men worthy of great attention. 

" I am, my Dear fellow citizens, with sentiments of the highest esteem, 
your obedient & humble Servant, 

"J. Jeffers, Ensign, 
" 1st U. S. Reg't. & Commanding Fort Franklin on French Creek. 
"To the Good people between here & Philadelphia." 

Thus supplied with a kind of passport through the State, Cornplanter and 
his party arrived in Philadelphia towards the latter part of October, he having 
been detained beyond the appointed time by reason of certain untoward cir- 
cumstances. A day or so later, or on Saturday, October 23, the deputation 
was introduced to the president and members of Council, when Cornplanter 
was pleased to make the following speech : 

" Brothers, We were very happy when we received the answer to our letter 
sent to the Quaker State ; we are happy to see you. We could not come at 
the time appointed, it was too soon afterwards. When we were coming we 
heard of the murder of two of our people. I was obliged to satisfy my peo- 
ple. After I had satisfied my people, I received a message from the Shawan- 
ese and other nations that I should not come till we had a Council with them. 
When the fire was kindled with the Shawanese they brought a Virginia scalp 
and insisted on our seizing the scalp, or they would treat us the same way as 
the Big Knife ; ^ we told them the Council was for peace not for war, I sent to 
all the tribes to be at peace with the Thirteen Fires.^ 

" Brothers, I am much fatigued, I want to get a friend to write my speech, 

iThc Indians of that clay termed the Virginians " Big Knives," or " Long Knives." 
2 The thirteen original States. 



CORNPLANTER AND OTHER INDIANS — 179O-9I. 99 

as no interpreter can do it as well as if it was wrote. I will be ready on 
Tuesday morning." 

When Tuesday morning came Cornplanter sent a letter to the Council say- 
ing that he was not ready and requesting further time to prepare the state- 
ment he wished to make to the Council. His request was granted. Three 
days later, however, or on Friday, October 29, 1790, the renowned Seneca 
chieftain with the Indians who accompanied him, attended the sessions of the 
Supreme Executive Council, " His Excellency Thomas Mifflin, Esquire," pre- 
siding, and spoke as follows concerning his tribe and nation : 

" The Fathers of the Quaker State, Obeale or Cornplanter, returns thanks 
to God for the pleasure he has in meeting you this day with six of his people. 

" Fathers, Six years ago I had the pleasure of making peace with you, and 
at that time a hole was dug in the earth, and all contentions between my nation 
and you ceased and were buried there. 

" At a treaty then held at Fort Stanwix between the Six Nations of Indians, 
and the Thirteen Fires, three friends from the Quaker State came to me and 
treated with me for the purchase of a large tract of land upon the Northern 
boundary of Pennsylvania, extending from Tioga to Lake Erie for the use of 
their warriors. I agreed to the sale of the same, and sold it to them for four 
thousand dollars. I begged of them to take pity on my nation and not buy 
it forever. They said they would purchase it forever, but that they would give 
me further one thousand dollars in goods when the leaves were ready to fall, 
and when I found that they were determined to have it, I agreed that they 
should have it. I then requested, as they were determined to have the land 
to permit my people to have the game and hunt upon the same, which request 
they complied with, and promised me to have it put upon record, that I and my 
people should have the priviledge. 

" Fathers, The Six Nations then requested that another talk might be held 
with the Thirteen Fires, which was agreed to and a talk was afterwards held 
between them at Muskingum. Myself with three of my chiefs attended punct- 
ually, and were much fatigued in endeavoring to procure the attendance of the 
other nations, but none of them came to the Council Fire except the Dela- 
wares and the Wyandots. 

" Fathers, At the same treaty the Thirteen Fires asked me on which side I 
would die, whether on their side, or the side of those nations who did not 
attend the Council Fire. I replied, 'listen to me fathers of the Thirteen Fires, 
I hope you will consider how kind your fathers were treated by our fathers, 
the Six Nations, when they first came into this country, since which time you 
have become strong, insomuch, that I now call you fathers. In former days 
when you were young and weak, I used to call you brother, but now I call 
you father. Father, I hope you will take pity on your children, for now I 
inform you that I'll die on your side. Now father, I hope you will make my 
bed strong.' 

LifC. 



History of Warren County. 



" Fathers of the Quaker State : — I speak but little now, but will speak more 
when the Thirteen Fires meet, I will only inform you further, that when I had 
finished my talk with the Thirteen Fires, General Gibson, who was sent by the 
Quaker State, came to the fire, and said that the Quaker State had bought of 
the Thirteen F"ires a tract of land extending from the Northern boundary of 
Pennsylvania to Connewango river, to Buffaloe creek on Lake Erie, and thence 
along the Said Lake to the Northern boundary of Pennsylvania aforesaid. 
Hearing this I run to my father, and said to him father have you sold this land 
to the Quaker State, and he said he did not know, it might have been done 
since he came there. I then disputed with Gibson and Butler, who was with 
him about the same, and told them I would be satisfied if the line was run 
from Connewango river thro' Chatochque Lake to Lake Erie, for Gibson and 
Butler had told me that the Quaker State had purchased the land from the 
Thirteen Fires, but notwithstanding the Quaker State had given to me one 
thousand dollars in fine prime goods which were ready for me and my people 
at Fort Pitt, we then agreed that the line should be run from Connewango 
river thro' Chatochque Lake into Lake Erie, and that one-half of the fish in 
Chatochque Lake should be mine and one half theirs. They then said as the 
Quaker State had purchased the whole from the Thirteen Fires, that the Thir- 
teen Fires must pay back to the Quaker State the value of the remaining land. 
When I heard this my mind was at ease, and I was satisfied. I then proposed 
to give a half mile square of land upon the line so agreed upon to a Mr. Hartz- 
horn who was an Ensign in General Harmer's army, and to a Mr. Britt, a cadet, 
who acted as clerk upon the occasion, and who I well know [by the name of 
Half-Town, for the purpose of their settling there to prevent any mischief 
being committed in future upon my people's lands, and I hoped that the 
Quaker State would in addition thereto give them another half mile square on 
their side of the line so agreed upon for the same purpose, expecting thereby 
that the line so agreed upon would be known with sufficient certainty, and that 
no disputes would thereafter arise between my people and the Quaker State 
concerning it. I then went to my father of the Thirteen Fires and told him 
I was satisfied, and the coals being covered up I said to my children you must 
take your course right thro' the woods to Fort Pitt. When I was leaving 
Muskingum my own son who remained a little while behind to warm himself 
at the fire was robbed of a rifle by one of the white men, who, I believe, to 
have been a Yankee. Myself with Mr. Joseph Nicholson and a Mr. Morgan 
then travelled three days together thro' the wilderness, but the weather 
being very severe they were obliged to separate from me, and I sent some of 
my own people along with Mr. Nicholson and Mr. Morgan as guides to con- 
duct them on to Wheelen [Wheeling]. After I had separated from Mr. Nich- 
olson and Mr. Morgan, I had under my charge one hundred and seventy per- 
sons of my own nation consisting of men, women and children, to conduct 



CORNPLANTER AND OTHER INDIANS — 179O-91. lOI 

thro' the wilderness, through heaps of briars, and having lost our way, we, 
with great difficulty reached Wheelen. When I arrived there being out of 
provisions I requested of a Mr. Zanes to furnish me and my people with beacon 
and flour to the amount of seventeen dollars, to be paid for out of the goods 
belonging to me and my people at Fort Pitte. Having obtained my request, I 
proceeded on my journey for Pittsburg, and about ten miles from Wheelen 
my party were fired upon by three white people, and one of my people in the 
rear of my party received two shots thro' his blanket. 

"Fathers, It was a constant practice with me throughout the whole jour- 
ney to take great care of my people, and not suffer them to commit any out- 
rages or drink more than what their necessities required. During the whole 
of my journey only one accident happened which was owing to the kindness 
of the people of the town called Catfish [in Washington county, Pa.], in the 
Quaker State, who, while I was talking with the head men of the town, gave 
to my people more liquor than was proper, and some of them got drunk, which 
obliged me to continue there with my people all night, and in the night my 
people were robbed of three rifles and one shot gun ; and though every endeavor 
was used by the head men of the town upon complaint made to them to dis- 
cover the perpetrators of the robbery, they could not be found; and on my 
people's complaining to me I told them it was their own faults by getting 
drunk. 

"Fathers, Upon my arrival at Fort Pitt I saw the goods which 1 had been 
informed of at Muskingum, and one hundred of the blankets were all moth 
eaten and good for not'g. I was advised not to take the blankets, but the 
blankets which I and my people then had being all torn by the briars in our 
passage thro' the wilderness, we were under the necessity of taking them to keep 
ourselves warm ; and what most surprised me, was that after I had received 
the goods they extinguished the fire and swept away the ashes, and having no 
interpreter there I could talk with no one upon the subject. Feeling myself 
much hurt upon the occasion, I wrote a letter to you Fathers of the Quaker 
State, complaining of the injury, but never received any answer. Having 
waited a considerable time, and having heard that my letter got lost, I wrote a 
second time to you Fathers of the Quaker State and then I received an answer. 

"I am very thankfuU to have received this answer, and as the answer 
intreated me to come and speak for myself, I thank God that I have this oppor- 
tunity, I therefore, speak to you as follows: I hope that you Fathers of the 
Quaker State, will fix some person at Fort Pitt to take care of me and my 
people. I wish, and it is the wish of my people if agreeable to you that my 
present interpreter, Joseph Nicholson, may be the person, as I and my people 
have a confidence in him, and are satisfied that he will always exert himself 
to preserve peace and harmony between you and us. My reasons for wish- 
ing an interpreter to be placed there are that oftentimes when my hunters and 



History of Warren County. 



people come there, their canoes and other things are stolen, and they can 
obtain no redress, not having any person there on whom they can rely to 
interpret for them and see justice done to them. 

" Fathers of the Quaker State: — About a year ago a young man one of my 
Tribe who lived among the Shawanese, was one of a party who had committed 
some outrages and stolen a quantity of skins, the property of David Duncan, 
being at Fort Pitt, was seized by the White People there who would have put 
him in confinement and perhaps to death had not some of the Chiefs of the 
Seneca Nation, interfered and bound themselves to the said David Duncan, 
who insisted upon satisfaction for payment of the sum of five hundred and 
thirty dollars for the said skins so stolen, upon which the young man aforesaid 
was released and delivered up to them. 

"Fathers of the Quaker State : — I wish now to acquaint you with what hap- 
pened to one of my people about four years ago, four miles above Fort Pitt. 
A young man who was married to my wife's sister, when he was hunting, was 
murdered by a white man. There were three reasons for his being killed: In 
the first place he had a very fine riding horse; secondly, he was very richly 
drest, and had about him a good deal of silver; and thirdly, he had with him a 
very fine rifle. The white man invited him to his house, to light from his horse, 
and as he was getting off his horse, his head being rather down, the white man 
struck him with a tomahawk on the head and killed him, and having plun- 
dered him dragged iiim into the river. Upon the discovery of the murder, 
my people, with Mr. Nicholson and Mr. Duncan, had a great deal of trouble, 
and took a great deal of pains to find out the person who had committed the 
murder, and after three days' searching, they discovered him. 

"Fathers of the Quaker State : — About five years ago, one of my Chiefs, 
named Half- Town, was sent to Fort Pitt to deliver up into your hands your 
own flesh and blood who were taken in the war, and before he returned two 
horses were stolen from him by the white people. Now, P'athers, I will inform 
you of another accident which happened to my people last winter, fifteen miles 
below F'ort Pitt. My Nephew, with a hunting party, being there, was shot 
thro' the head in Mr. Nicholson's camp, the particulars of wiiich Mr. Nichol- 
son, who is here present can inform you. 

" Well, Fathers, I beg of you once more not to let such bad people be 
'longside of me. And, Fathers, you must not think I or any of my people are 
bad or wish evil to you or yours, nor must you blame us for mischiefs that 
have been committed by the other nations. Fathers, consider me and my 
people, and the many injuries we have sustained by the repeated robberies, 
and in the murder & depredations committed by the whites against us. 

" Fathers of the Quaker State : — I have now had the pleasure to meet you 
with six of my people. We have come a great way, by your desire, to talk 
with you and to shew to you the many injuries my nation has sustained. It 



CORNI'LANTER AND OTHER INDIANS — 179O-9I. I03 

now remains with you to do with me and my people what you please, on 
account of the present trouble which I and my people have taken for your sat- 
isfaction, and in compliance with your request. 

" Fathers, having come this great way at your request, and as it is neces- 
sary for some of us to remain here to talk with the Thirteen Fires when they 
meet, I have concluded to send back four of my people, and to remain here 
myself with Half- Town and my interpreter, Mr. Nicholson, untiU that time, 
which I hope you will approve of But should you not approve of it, I must 
be under the necessity of returning with the whole of my people, which will 
be attended with a considerable expense. 

" Fathers of the Quaker State : — You have now got the most of our lands, 
and have taken the game upon the same. We have only the privilege of hunt- 
ing and fishing thereon. I, therefore, would make this further request, that a 
store may be established at Fort Pitt for the accommodation of my people and 
the other nations when they go out to hunt ; and where they may purchase 
goods at a reasonable price. For, believe me. Fathers, you yourselves would 
be frightened were you to know the extravagant prices we are obliged to pay 
for the goods we purchase. 

" There is a man (Esquire Wilkie) in Pittsburg, who has taken a great 
deal of pains to serve my people, and has pitied them ; my people, when there, 
are very kindly treated by him, and give him a great deal of trouble, but he 
thinks nothing of it ; he is the man my people wish should have charge of 
the store. 

" Fathers of the Quaker State : — I have heard that you have been pleased 
to present me a tract of land, but as yet I have seen no writings for the same ; 
Well, Fathers, if it is true that you have given me this tract of land, I can only 
thank you for the same, but I hope you will also give me tools and materials 
for working the same. 

" Fathers of the Quaker State : — Five years ago, when I used to be with 
my present interpreter Joseph Nicholson, he took care of me and my people. 
Considering his services and the difficulties he underwent in his journey from 
Muskingum to Fort Pitt, the Six Nations wished to have him seated upon a 
tract of land of six miles square, lying in the Forks of Allegany river, and 
Broken Straw creek, and accordingly patented the same to him, this being the 
place where a battle 1 was fought between my people and yours, and where 
about thirty of my people were beaten, by him and twenty-five of your people, 
and where he was shot thro' the thigh. Now, Fathers, it is my wish, and I 
tell you it is the wish of the whole Six Nations, in behalf of whom and myself, 
I request that you would grant and confirm to our brother and friend, the 
before named Joseph Nicholson, the aforesaid tract of land, as described in our 
patent or grant to him. 

'This fight took place in August, 1779, during Colonel Brodhead's march into the Seneca country. 



I04 History of Warren County. 

" This, Fathers, is all I have to say to the Quaker State, and I hope you 
will consider well all I have mentioned. 



"Philadelphia, October, 1 790. 



His 
CORNPLANTER X, 

mark. 



" Half x Town, 

His 

"Big X Tree, 

His 

"James x Hutchins, 

mark. 
His 

" Seneca x Billy, 

His 

"John x Deckart." 

m.-lrk. 

On the following day a draft of a letter, addressed to the Cornplanter and 
the Indians who accompanied him, in reply to the representations which they 
had made to the Supreme Executive Council, was laid before the board, read 
and adopted as follows : 

"In Council, Philadelphia, Oct. 30, 1790. 

" Brothers : — Council have seriously considered the several matters 
which you laid before them yesterday morning, and assure you that it is their 
sincere desire to have all your complaints examined into and satisfactorily and 
speedily removed. But the change which has been made in the government 
of the State, puts it out of the power of this Council to give special answers to 
the most material parts of your speech. 

" On the first Tuesday of next December, the Legislature of Pennsylvania 
will meet under the new form of Government, and on the twenty-fourth of the 
same month the new Governor will commence his administration. 

" When those events take place, your speech, together with such further 
representation of a public nature, which you may think proper to make to us, 
shall be faithfully communicated to the new Government for their considera- 
tion and decision. 

" There are, however, two points on which wc may with propriet)' now 
decide. 

"The first, the grant to the Cornplanter of one thousand five hundred acres 
of land by the General Assembly, on the twenty-fourth day of March, 1789. 

" We would long ago have ordered the survey of the land for the Corn- 
planter, but being willing to gratify him in his choice of a tract, we instructed 
General Butler to consult with him on that subject, and have waited to this 
time for his determination. If he will inform us in what part of the unlocated 
lands of the State he wishes his survey to be made, we will order the Surveyor 
General to have the tract laid out without further delay. 



CORNPLANTER AND OTHER INDIANS — 179O-9I. I05 

" The second point on which we shall decide, is the Cornplanter's request, 
that Half-Town and Mr. Nicholson may remain with him in Philadelphia untill 
the meeting of the Legislature of the United States, or untill the President 
shall arrive here. We cheerfully comply with that request, and approve of 
his sending back the other Chiefs and Warriors. 

" And in order to make the residence of the Cornplanter, Half- Town and 
Mr. Nicholson in Philadelphia, as convenient and agreeable as possible. Coun- 
cil will instruct their Secretary to provide suitable lodgings for them in a pri- 
vate family. 

" Chiefs and Warriors zvho are to return to the Seneca Nation: — We desire 
you to inform the Seneca Nation that the Government of Pennsylvania enter- 
tains sentiments of the most sincere friendship for them, and are anxious to pre- 
vent injuries being done by its citizens to their persons and property. 

" But as evil disposed men exist in every society, and as violence may 
sometimes be committed by such men upon the persons and property of the 
Indians, the Government will think it their duty upon complaint being made 
of such violence having been committed, to endeavor to have the offenders 
apprehended and brought to Justice. 

" In the instance of the Walkers and Doyle, 1 this Council has done every 
thing in their power to have them secured and brought to tryal. They have 
succeeded only with respect to Doyle, but will continue their exertions for the 
securing of the Walkers. 

"Doyle will be conveyed next week to Sunbury under a strong guard, to 
stand his trial ; should he be convicted, there is little doubt of his being capi- 
tally punished. 

" We wish you may arrive at your own homes in good health, and find 
your families in the possession of the same blessings. 

"Thomas Mifflin." 

Cornplanter's companions, nevertheless, did not return to their country as 
early as anticipated. In some way the Chief Big Tree while viewing the sights 
in the Quaker City received a gun-shot wound in his leg. Thereupon Corn- 
planter and Half Town, with their interpreter, Joseph Nicholson, attended a 
subsequent meeting of the Council, and requested that, on account of the wound 
received by the Big Tree, the chiefs and warriors who were to have returned 
to the Indian country be" permitted to stay in the city until the arrival of the 
president of the United States. This request was complied with. Subse- 
quently, after Cornplanter and his friends had met President Washington, and 
had a " big talk " with him, all returned via Pittsburgh together, well loaded 
with good substantial presents. Indeed, the supplies, gifts, etc., received by 
Cornplanter at Philadelphia and sent by wagons to Pittsburgh, filled a large 

1 Doyle and two or three brothers by the name of Walker had killed two of the Seneca tribe on Pine 
Creek, then in the township of Lycoming, Northumberland county, in June, 1790. These were the 
murders referred to by Cornplanter when he first arrived in Philadelphia. 



io6 History of Warren County. 

bateau or keel boat, which, after the voyage up the Allegheny had been com- 
menced, unprincipled white wretches from Pittsburgh attempted to steal — 
both boat and cargo. 

It appears, however, that a certain class of residents of the latter town were 
only maintaining their former unenviable reputation when they endeavored to 
steal Cornplanter's boat and contents, since Colonel Brodhead in a letter dated 
at Pittsburgh, June 27, 1779, says : " The inhabitants of this place are continu- 
ally encroaching on what I conceive to be the rights of the Garrison and which 
was always considered as such when the Fort was occupied by the King of 
Britain's Troops. They have now the assurance to erect their fences within a 
few yards of the Bastion. I have mentioned the impropriety of their Conduct 

but without efiect The Block-houses, likewise, which are part 

of the strength of the place, are occupied and claimed by private persons to 
the injury of the service." Again on the 9th of July following the worried 
Colonel made another complaint as follows: " Whilst I am writing, I am tor- 
mented by at least a dozen drunken Indians, and I shall be obliged to remove 
my Quarters from hence on account of a cursed villainous set of inhabitants, 
who, in spite of every exertion continue to rob the soldiers, or cheat them and 
the Indians out of everything they are possessed of" 

Soon after Cornplanter's return to his old home on the upper waters of the 
Allegheny, he made choice of the lands which suited him best (which, by the 
way, proved to be at or near the place where he was then living), and promptly 
notified Governor Mifflin by letter of the location, etc., coupled with the 
request that a survey of the same be made as early as practicable. In direct- 
ing the attention of the Senate and House of Representatives of the Common- 
wealth to this matter the governor said : " Gentlemen : I have directed the 
Secretary to lay before you a Copy of a Letter from Cornplanter, in which that 
Chief requests that orders of survey may be issued for three tracts of Land, 
amounting in quantity to the 1500 acres which were granted to him by a reso- 
lution of the General Assembly of the 24th March, 1789, but differing in point 
of situation. 1 From the Information, however, contained in a Letter from the 
officers of the Land Office, a copy of which will likewise be transmitted to you, I 
find that the proposed tracts are unappropriated ; and as the resolution referred 
to describes Lands within the Tract of Country lately purchased from the 
United States, which Country has not yet been the subject of any Legislative 
provision, in respect to grants, and confirmations by Patent, permit me to sug- 
gest the propriety of complying with Cornplanter's request, and of authorizing 
the officers in the Land office to grant the Warrants, direct the surveys and 
issue the Patent which may be necessary upon the occasion." This communica- 
tion properly signed and indorsed was dated Philadelphia, January 22, 1791. 

1 It was supposed liy General Butler, when he recommended that a grant of land be made to Corn- 
planter, that the latter would make choice of lands in the " late purchase," meaning the territory bor- 
dering on I.ake Krie. 



CORNPLANTER AND OTHER INDIANS — 179O-9I. lO/ 

The preliminary matters of granting warrants, making surveys, etc., having 
been attended to early in the year last mentioned, Cornplanter, with his two 
wives, his children, and a following of many others of his band,i including men, 
women and children, soon after became permanently established upon the site 
of one of his former towns (that is, the first village destroyed by Colonel Brod- 
head in 1779, after proceeding up the river above " Canawago "), where, as- 
sisted by white men sent to him for that purpose, he began the erection of log 
cabins. Thus he with his followers became the first permanent residents in 
the county after the acquisition of its territory by Pennsylvania. His grant, or 
patent, embraced about six hundred and forty acres of land on the west bank 
of the Allegheny River, sixteen miles above Warren, together with two large 
adjacent islands, or, in other words, tracts, aggregating about fifteen hundred 
acres in extent, situated in the present township of Elk. Here he resided until 
his death, which did not take place until nearly a half century later. 

According to Rev. Timothy Alden, the founder of Allegheny College, the 
village established by Cornplanter on the lands granted to him was named 
Jen-ne-sa-de-go, or Tin-nes-hau-ta-go, which means " burnt houses, since 
one of the Seneca towns destroyed by Colonel Brodhead in the summer of 
1779 was located here." The same gentleman also said that Cornplanter's 
Indian names were as follows: Ki-end-twoh-ke, or The Planter, and No-nuh, 
or The Contemplative; but they (the Indians) usually addressed him as Shin- 
ne-wau-nah, or The Gentleman. 

From Day's " Historical Collections of Pennsylvania " we select the follow- 
ing sketch of the distinguished chieftain, whose life was so closely associated 
with the Indian history of Northwestern Pennsylvania, and particularly that of 
Warren county : 

" F"ew names are more distinguished in the frontier history of Pennsylvania 
than that of Cornplanter. He was born at Conewaugus, on the Genesee River, 
being a half-breed, the son of a white man named John O'Bail, a trader from 
the Mohawk Valley. In a letter written in 1822 [of course by an interpreter] 
to the Governor of Pennsylvania he thus speaks of his early youth : ' When I 
was a child I played with the butterfly, the grasshopper and the frogs ; and as 
I grew up I began to pay some attention and play with the Indian boys in the 

1 Soon after the Meads and other pioneers .settled at Meadville, Crawford county, Pa., Cornplanter 
and his band paid them a friendly visit, and such visits were frequently repeated during subsequent 
years. It was then that these white settlers noticed that a number of white men were living with the 
Indians, among whom were Lashley Malone, who was captured in the Bald Eagle valley, Pa.; Peter 
Krause, a German by birth, who was taken on Duncan's t'rcek, near the head of the Monongahela, in 
Virginia; Elijah Mathews, who was captured on Graves's Creek, Ohio: Nicholas Rosencrantz, the 
son of a minister, and Nicholas Tanewood, who were taken in the Mohawk valley, New Vork. Krause, 
Mathews, and Rosencrantz were married to Indian women. These men having lived from boyhood 
with their captors, were thoroughly weaned from the habits of civilization, and preferred to remain 
with the Indians. Rev. Timothy ,\lden, of Meadville, while on a visit to Cornplanter in the fall of 
1816, stayed over night at the cabin of Peter Krause, on the .Allegheny, where he was then living with 
his Indian wife and family. 



io8 History of Warren County. 

neighborhood, and they took notice of my skin being of a different color from 
theirs, and spoke about it; I inquired of my mother the cause, and she told 
me that my father was a resident of Albany, N. Y. I still ate my victuals out 
of a bark dish. I grew up to be a young man and married me a wife, but I 
had no kettle or gun. I then knew where my father lived, and went to see 
him, and found he was a white man and spoke the English language. He 
gave me victuals while I was at his house, but when I started to return home 
he gave me no provision to eat on the way. He gave me neither kettle nor 
gun, neither did he tell me that the United States were about to rebel against 
the government of England.' .... 

" Little further is known of his early life beyond the fact that he was allied 
with the French in the engagement against Gen. Braddock in July, 1755. He 
was probably at that time at least twenty years old. During the Revolution 
he was a war chief of high rank, in the full vigor of manhood, active, sagacious, 
eloquent, brave, and he most probably participated in the principal Indian 
engagements against the United States during the war. He is supposed to 
have been present at the cruelties of Wyoming and Cherry Valley, in which 
the Senecas took a prominent part. He was on the war-path with Brandt 
during Gen. Sullivan's campaign in 1779; and in the following year, under 
Brandt and Sir John Johnson, he led the Senecas in sweeping through the 
Schoharie Kill and the Mohawk. On this occasion he took his father a pris- 
oner, but with such caution as to avoid an immediate recognition. After 
marching the old man some ten or twelve miles he stepped before him, faced 
about and addressed him in the following terms : 

" ' My name is John O'Bail, commonly called Cornplanter. I am your son ! 
You are my father! You are now my prisoner, and subject to the customs of 
Indian warfare, but you shall not be harmed. You need not fear! I am a 
warrior! Many are the scalps which I have taken! Many prisoners I have 
tortured to death! I am your son. I was anxious to see you, and greet you 
in friendship. I went to your cabin and took you by force; but your life will 
be spared. Indians love their friends and their kindred, and treat them with 
kindness. If you now choose to follow the fortunes of your yellow son, and to 
live with our people, I will cherish your old age with plenty of venison and 
you shall live easy. But if it is your choice to return to your fields and live 
with your white children, I will send a party of my trusty young men to con- 
duct you back in safety. I respect you, my father. You have been friendly 
to Indians, and they are your friends.' The elder O'Bail preferred his white 
children and green fields to his yellow offspring and the wild woods, and chose 
to return. 

" Notwithstanding his bitter hostility while the war continued, he became 
the fast friend of the United States when once the hatchet was buried. His 
sagacious intellect comprehended at a glance the growing power of this coun- 



CORNPLANTER AND OTHER INDIANS I79O-9I. IO9 

try and the abandonment with which England had requited the fidehty of the 
Senecas. He therefore threw all his influence at the treaties of Fort Stanwix 
and Fort Mcintosh in favor of peace; and notwithstanding the vast conces- 
sions which he saw his people were necessitated to make, still, by his energy 
and prudence in the negotiation, he retained for them an ample and beautiful 
reservation. For the course which he took on those occasions, the State of 
Pennsylvania granted him the fine reservation upon which he resided on the 
Allegheny. The Senecas, however, were never well satisfied with his course 
in relation to these treaties; and Red Jacket, more artful and eloquent than 
his older rival, but less frank and honest, seized upon this circumstance to pro- 
mote his own popularity at the expense of Cornplanter. 

"Having buried the hatchet, Cornplanter sought to make his talents useful 
to his people by conciliating the good will of the whites, and securing from 
further encroachments the little remnant of his national domain. On more 
than one occasion, when some reckless and bloodthirsty whites on the frontier 
had massacred unofiending Indians in cold blood, did Cornplanter interfere to 
restrain the vengeance of his people. During all the Indian wars from 1790 
to 1794, which terminated with Wayne's victory over the northwestern tribes, 
Cornplanter^ pledged himself that the Senecas should remain friendly to 
the United States. He often gave notice to the garrison at Fort Franklin of 
intended attacks from hostile parties, and even hazarded his life on a media- 
torial mission to the Western tribes. He ever entertained a high respect and 
personal friendship for Washington, 'the great councillor of the Thirteen Fires,' 
and often visited him during his presidency on the business of his tribe. His 
speeches on these occasions exhibit both his talent in composition and his 
adroitness in diplomacy. Washington fully reciprocated his respect and friend- 
ship. They had fought against each other on the disastrous day of Braddock's 
field. Both were then young men. More than forty years afterwards, when 
Washington was about to retire from the presidency, Cornplanter made a special 
visit to Philadelphia to take an affectionate leave of the great benefactor of the 
white man and the red. 

"After peace was permanently established between the Indians and the 
United States, Cornplanter retired from public life and devoted his labors to 
his own people. He deplored the evils of intemperance, and exerted himself 
to suppress it. The benevolent efforts of missionaries among his tribe always 
received his encouragement, and at one time his own heart seemed to be 
softened by the words of truth; yet he preserved in his later \'ears many of the 
peculiar notions of the Indian faith." 

1 This statement is incorrect. Cornplanter was unfriendly in 1794, and, without a doubt, if Wayne 
had been defeated the Senecas would have become generally hostile, with Cornplanter's approial. 
See next chapter. 



History of Warren County. 



CHAPTER Xn. 

FROM 1791 TO 1800. 

Troublous Times on the Border — Baneful British Influence — Uneasy Iroquois — Colonel 
Proctor Visits Them— Interesting Details Gathered From His Journal — His Mission a Failure — 
St. Clair Defeated — The Iroquois Become Insolent — Their Arrogant Demands — Cornplanter 
Joins the Malcontents — Extracts from Letters Written by Andrew Ellicott, Brant tlie Mo- 
hawk, and John .4.dlum — Wayne's Victory — Salutary Effects — Iroquois Ardor Cooled — The 
Treaty at Canandaigua — The British Retire from American Territory — Cornplanter's Speech 
at Franklin — The Holland Land Company— Town of Warren Laid Out by State Commission- 
ers — Survey of Lands West of the Allegheny River — Advent of the First Settlers — A Block- 
house at Warren' — Navigable Waters — Origin of the Reserve Tracts and Academy Lands. 

FOR more than a decade of years after England had been forced to acknowl- 
edge the independence of the United States, British troops held all the 
forts on the American side of the boundary line, in open violation of the 
treaty of peace, alleging that the Americans had also failed to comply with its 
provisions. Embittered by defeat and not without hopes of again becoming 
masters of the ambitious, yet weak and poverty-stricken, confederated States, 
their influence over the Six Nations and the W'estern Indians was most bane- 
ful. They openly assumed a protectorate over the Iroquois and advised them 
to resist by force the occupation of lands which had already been ceded by 
the Indians to the Americans. Hence, as a result of such advice, and the 
intrigues of the Tory Colonel Butler, and the detestable Mohawk chieftain. 
Brant, the majority of the Senecas, eight years after the close of the Revolu- 
tionary War, were almost at the point of marching into Ohio to join the West- 
ern tribes in their operations against the military forces of the United States. 
At this critical moment Cornplanter, alone almost, of all those high in author- 
ity in his nation, remained true to his pledges as the friend of the Americans. 
For a time he stood as firm as the tall pines which cast their shadows over 
the waters of his beloved Allegheny. For three or four years after his visit to 
Philadelphia he counseled peace and moderation ; but before the troubles were 
over — /. c, just before General Wayne administered such signal and deserved 
punishment to the Indians — he, too, was forced to bend before the popular clamor 
of his people, to join the majority in their avowed hostility to the Americans, to 
make unjust demands, and declare that the terms of former treaties must be 
abrogated, and to threaten violence unless such demands were acceded to. 

To counteract the evil influence of the British oflicers and their emissaries, 
as well as the bad effects resulting from Harmer's defeat by the Western 
Indians during the preceding fall, early in 1791 Colonel Thomas Proctor, who 
had won distinction in the Pennsylvania Line during the Revolution, was 
instructed to visit the Seneca Indians, and use his utmost endeavors to gain 



F"rom 1 791 TO 1800. 



their confidence, and to persuade them to use their influence to stop the hos- 
tilities of the Western Indians (against whom General St. Clair was then pre- 
paring to move), and to that end to send a delegation of chiefs along with him 
on a mission to the Miamis. 

Proctor's commission was signed by General Knox, secretary of war, March 
10, 1 79 1, and two days later, accompanied by Captain M. G. Houdin, he 
started forth on horseback from Philadelphia. He journeyed ria Reading, 
Wilkesbarre, Tioga Point, Chemung, Newtown (now Elmira, N. Y.), to an 
Indian town a considerable distance beyond Painted Post, with the intention 
of proceeding direct to Buffalo, where he expected to meet the Seneca chiefs 
in council. But having learned at the last-mentioned place that Captain 
O'Beal, the Cornplanter, had not yet returned to his towns on the Allegheny 
from his visit to Philadelphia, and deeming it of the utmost importance that 
this chieftain should be present at the council. Proctor here secured the serv- 
ices of Horatio Jones, an interpreter, and determined to turn aside, and on 
reaching the Allegheny to proceed down that stream until Cornplanter should 
be met. He arrived at Cornplanter's " upper town " on the night of April 6. 

This town, Proctor informs us, was located on the north side of the Alle- 
gheny River, and was called " New Arrow's^ town," or " Tenachshegouchton- 
gee, or the burnt house." It contained twenty-eight "tolerably well built 
houses," one of which, new, neat and clean, was set apart for the use of Proc- 
tor and his party. At this place it was ascertained that Cornplanter was at 
Fort Franklin, at the mouth of French Creek, which point, said Proctor, was 
distant about one hundred and thirty miles down the river from New Arrow's 
town. This would indicate that the latter was located in the vicinity of the site 
of Olean, N. Y., which, by actual measurement of a United State's officer of 
topographical engineers, is one hundred and thirty-two miles by river, above 
the mouth of French Creek. Still, since Proctor's estimate was based on con- 
jecture alone, there might have been a variation in his calculation of fifteen or 
twenty miles from the true distance. Proctor's journal, however, establishes 
one or two interesting facts — that Cornplanter's immediate followers were then 
located in at least three different villages, widely separated one from another, 
/. e., at Tenachshegouchtongee, on the Allegheny, in New York ; at Cayantha, 
on the Conewango, just over the State line in New York, and at Jennesadaga, 
the " lower town," situated on the lands now known as the " Cornplanter Res- 
ervation," in Warren county. Also that Cornplanter was then living on the 
lands granted him by the State of Pennsylvania, that is, Jennesadaga, where, 
by the way, he had resided for years before the grant was made. 

From Tenachshegouchtongee Colonel Proctor proceeded in a canoe, guided 
by young Indians, to Fort Franklin, where he met Cornplanter, and where he 

' The chief, New .\rrow, one of Cornplanter's subordina'.es anci one of }iis warmest supporters, 
resided here. 



History of Warren County. 



was warmly received by the commandant, Ensign John Jeffers, of the Con- 
necticut Line, or First U. S. Regiment of Infantry. Cornplanter was calm and 
bore himself with becoming dignity, but those of his tribe with him were highly 
excited. They had just heard of the seizure of their boats and stores by 
certain people near Pittsburgh (see preceding chapter), but upon being assured 
by Colonel Proctor that he would see to it that all should be restored to them 
(and it was done a few days later), they became quiet and friendly. A day or 
so later, accompanied by Cornplanter and a large number of his band. Proctor 
moved up the Allegheny in canoes en route to Buffalo. They passed the night 
of April 14 at the mouth of " Casyonding Creek," /. c, the Brokenstraw. On 
the following day, Proctor being ill and almost helpless from rheumatism, he 
urged his canoe- men to push forward in advance of the fleet in order to reach 
Cornplanter's " lower town " at the earliest moment ; but he says the current 
was so swift and strong against them, slow progress was made, and the town 
was not reached until in the night. Here he applied to an Indian doctor for 
treatment, but the poultice of bruised roots and herbs applied to his foot to 
relieve the pain in the upper part of his leg was so effective in increasing his 
agony, that he became seriously alarmed and quickly dispensed with the poul- 
tice, compounded with so much patience and care by the native practitioner. 
He had passed the mouth of the " Canawaugo " during the last day's journey, 
where, he noted in his journal, " the Government of Pennsylvania has laid out 
a manor of 3000 acres, and up the said river (Canawaugo) to an Indian town 
called Cayantha, or the Cornfields, are extraordinary rich lands, of which sur- 
vey was made by David Rittenhouse, Esq'., of Philadelphia some time since." 

After a brief rest at Jennesadaga, the journey up the river was contin- 
ued to the upper town, or the Cattaraugus settlement, where Poctor had left 
his horse, also Captain Houdin, who was quite ill from exposure, and from 
thence across the country to Buffalo, Houdin, Cornplanter, and quite a follow- 
ing of Senecas accompanying him. At Buffalo he found the English influence 
very strong, the Indians obtaining supplies not only of clothing, but of provi- 
sions, from Forts F>ic and Niagara. On the commissioner's arrival, " Young 
King," who could not have been over twenty-two or three j'ears old, met him, 
appareled in the full uniform of a British colonel — red, with blue facings and 
gold epaulettes. The Senecas were also in possession of a two-pound swivel, 
which they fired in honor of the occasion, the gunner wisely standing inside 
the council-house, while he touched it off with a long pole passed between the 
logs. The charge was so heavy that it upset the gun and its carriage. 

At this time the celebrated Red Jacket had risen to a high position as an 
orator (though in war he was known to be cowardly, and was frequently 
spoken of in derision, by Cornplanter and other chiefs, as the "cow-killer"), 
being mentioned by Proctor as " the great speaker and a jirince of the Turtle 
tribe." In fact, however, he belonged to the Wolf clan. 



From 1791 to 1800. 113 



On Proctor's stating his object in the council, Red Jacket questioned his 
authority. This, as the colonel was informed by a French trader, was the result 
of the insinuations of Butler and Brant, who had been there a week before and 
had advised the Indians not to send a delegation to the Miamis. Proctor offered 
to present his credentials to any one in whom they had confidence, and they at 
once sent for the commandant at Fort Erie. The latter sent back Captain 
Powell, who seems to have acted as a kind of guardian to the Indians during 
the proceedings. These were very deliberate, and were adjourned from day to 
day. 

Red Jacket was the chief speaker for the Indians, and declared their deter- 
mination to move the council to Niagara, insisting on the commissioner accom- 
panying them the next day as far as Captain Powell's house, below Fort Erie. 
Proctor peremptorily declined. Then Red Jacket and Farmer's Brother ad- 
dressed the council by turns, the result being that a runner was at once sent 
to Niagara to summon Colonel Butler to the council. After two or three days' 
delay Butler came to Winne's trading-house (which was on the site of Buffalo, 
and four miles from the main Seneca village) and requested the sachems and 
head men to meet him there, but said nothing about Proctor. 

While waiting the commissioner dined with " Clear Sky," head chief of the 
Onondagas, whose " castle " he describes as being three miles east from " Buf- 
faloe," meaning from the Seneca village. There were twenty-eight good cabins 
near it, and the inhabitants were well clothed, especially the women, some of 
whom, according to Colonel Proctor, were richly dressed, " with silken stroud " 
and silver trappings worth not less than ;^30 per suit. It seems, too, that they 
had advanced so far in civilization that the women were invited to the feast of 
the warriors, which consisted principally of young pigeons boiled and stewed. 
These were served up in hanks of six, tied around the necks with deer's sin- 
ews, and were ornamented with pin feathers. However, the colonel managed 
to make a good meal. 

On the 4th of May the Indians went to Winne's store, to hold council with 
Butler. The latter invited Proctor to dine with him and his officers, including 
Captains Powell and Johnston. They (the English officers) spoke the Seneca 
language fluently, and advised the chiefs not to go with the commissioner then, 
but to wait for Brant, who had gone West. Red Jacket and Cornplanter used 
their influence in favor of Proctor, but Young King, Farmer's Brother, and 
the " Fish Carrier," a Cayuga chieftain, strongly opposed him. Every paper 
delivered to the chiefs was handed over to Butler for his inspection, who went 
back to Fort Erie next day. 

On the 6th of May Red Jacket announced to the commissioner that there 
would be no council held, as the honorable councilors were going out to hunt 
pigeons. Proctor makes special mention of the immense number of pigeons 
found — over a hundred nests on a tree, with a pair of pigeons in each. 



114 History of Warren County. 

On the 7th a private council was held, at which lands were granted to Indi- 
ans of other tribes, who had fled from the Shawanese and Miamis. "Captain 
Smoke," and the Delawares under his charge were assigned to the Cattaraugus 
settlement, where their descendants dwell at the present time. Several Mas- 
sasauga families at the same time had planting-grounds given them near the 
village of Buffalo Creek. 

On the iith Proctor declares that there was a universal drunk; "Corn- 
planter, and some of the elder women excepted," from which it is to be pre- 
sumed that the young women indulged with the rest. 

Finally on the 15th of May the oldest women visited the commissioner and 
declared that they had taken the matter into consideration, and that they 
should be listened to, for, said they: "We are the owners of this land, and it is 
ours;" adding, as an excellent reason for the claim, "for it is we that plant 
it." They then requested Colonel Proctor to listen to a formal address from 
the "women's speaker," they having appointed Red Jacket for that purpose. 

The alarm gun was fired and the chiefs came together, the elder women 
being seated near them. Red Jacket arose, and after many florid prelimina- 
ries announced that the women had decided that the sachems and warriors 
must help the commissioner, and that a number of them would accompany him 
to the West. 

Colonel Proctor was overjoyed at this happy exemplification of women's 
rights, and seems to have thought there would be no further difficulty. He 
forthwith dispatched a letter by the trusty hand of his interpreter, Horatio 
Jones, to Colonel Gordon, the English commandant at Niagara, asking that 
himself and the Indians might take passage on some British merchant- vessel 
running up Lake Erie, since the chiefs refused to make the journey by land or 
to go in an open boat. But Gordon, in the usual spirit of English officials on 
the frontier at that time, refused the permission, and so the whole scheme fell 
through. It was just what was to have been expected, though Proctor does 
not seem to have anticipated it, and it is very likely the whole thing was well 
understood between the British and Indians. 

While it was supposed that Red Jacket and others would go West with 
Proctor, that worthy had several requests to make. Firstly, the colonel was 
informed that his friends expected something to drink, as they were going to 
have a dance before leaving their women. This the commissioner responded 
to with a present of "eight gallons of the best spirits." Then Red Jacket 
remarked that his house needed a new floor, and Proctor offered to have one 
made. Then he preferred a claim for a special allowance of rum for his wife 
and mother, and in fact — well, he wanted a little rum for himself So the 
colonel provided a gallon for the great orator and his wife and mother. Young 
King was not less importunate, but Cornplanter was modest and dignified, as 
became a veteran warrior. But the worthy commissioner made due provision 
for them all. 



From 1791 to 1800. 115 



The projected expedition having thus fallen through, Young King made a 
farewell speech, being aided by "Fish Carrier," the Cayuga, whose "keen 
gravity" reminded Proctor of a Roman senator, and who seems to have been 
a man of great importance, though never putting himself forward as a speech- 
maker. 

The Indians must have had a pretty good time during Proctor's stay among 
them, since his liquor bill at Cornelius Winne's was over a hundred and thirty 
dollars. 

All this counciling having come to naught. Proctor set out for Pittsburgh 
on the 2 1st of May. He was accompanied as far as the New Arrow's town, a 
distance of eighty miles, by Cornplanter, Half Town, and others of the Alle- 
gheny River Indians. There he hired a canoe and two Indians to paddle him 
to Fort Franklin, where he arrived on the next morning in time to take break- 
fast with Lieutenant Jeffers. At Fort Franklin he hired another canoe and four 
Indians and pushed ofl' for Pittsburgh, which place he says was distant one 
hundred and fifty-six miles ^ by river from Fort Franklin, and was reached in 
twenty-five hours. Thus the journey from Buffalo to Pittsburgh, a distance 
of four hundred and eleven miles, according to Proctor's computation, was 
accomplished in five days and two nights of travel. 

In November of that year ( 1 791) General St. Clair's army met with a crushing 
defeat at the hands of the combined Northwestern tribes, and this disaster, 
together with the pernicious influence of the British, aroused all the worst pas- 
sions of the Iroquois. Their manners toward the Americans became insolent 
in the extreme, and some of their warriors joined the hostile savages. There 
is little doubt that another severe disaster would have disposed a large part of 
them to rise in arms, and take revenge for the unforgotten though well-mer- 
ited punishment inflicted upon them by Sullivan and Brodhead. Yet they 
kept up negotiations with the United States; in fact, nothing delighted the 
chiefs more than holding councils, making treaties, and performing diplomatic 
pilgrimages. They felt that at such times they were indeed "big Indians." 

The years 1792-93 were passed in fear and trepidation by the few Amer- 
ican families living northwest of the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania. Many 
depredations and a few murders were committed by small bands of savages, 
by many believed to be Senecas ; but when Cornplanter was questioned con- 
cerning these outrages, he declared that the Senecas were yet at peace with 
the Americans, and that the hostiles came from the West. In 1794, however, 
affairs in Northwestern Pennsylvania assumed a most threatening aspect. Gar- 
risons of American troops were, and had been for years, maintained at Forts 
Franklin - and Le Boeuf, but when it was proposed to establish a fort and lay 

1 By actual measurement the distance from,FvanUlin, then known as P'ort Franklin, to Pittsburgh by 
river, is only 121 J4 miles. 

2 The first military occupation of Northwestern Pennsylvania by the Americans was in the spring 



ii6 History of Warren County. 

out a town at Presque Isle, the Senecas, including the Cornplanter, declared 
that it should not be done. They flatly repudiated the treaties of 1784 and 
1789, and demanded that a new boundary line should be drawn. Indeed, 
some of them threatened that unless all the lands lying west of the Allegheny 
were relinquished, war would surely take place. 

Baneful British influence was now in the ascendency, and Cornplanter 
finally yielded to it, and to the clamor of his people in their demands for a 
new treat)', new stipulations, or war. In speeches in councils held at Buffalo 
and Le Boeuf, in June, 1794, and at each of which British officers were present, 
this chief was bold in his demands for a new treaty, and threatened that unless 
a vast tract should be restored to the Indians (which territory would have in- 
cluded the greater portion of the county of Warren), dire would be the 
consequences. 

At this time Colonel Andrew Ellicott, the surveyor, was at Fort Le Boeuf, 
and in a letter describing the condition of affairs he said: "The Indians con- 
sider themselves as our enemies and that we are theirs. From this considera- 
tion they never come near the garrison except as spies, and then escape as 
soon as discovered." 

Although the Cornplanter and other Seneca chiefs strenuously denied that 
they were theii acting under British advice and influence, the following extract 
from a letter written by Brant, the Mohawk, clearly proves that they were not 
telling the truth. Possessed of a fair English education, the protege of Sir 
William Johnson of colonial fame — hence thoroughly British in his instincts and 
sympathies and bitterly hostile through life to the Americans — Brant then 
cherished the idea, originated by Pontiac, of building up a great Indian confed- 
eracy, of which he was to be the principal chief, and restricting the control 
of the Americans to the country east of the Allegheny River. The letter 
referred to was dated July 19, 1794, and was addressed to Governor Simcoe, 
of Upper Canada, wherein he says: 

"In regard to the Presque Isle business, should we not get an answer at 

the time limited, it is our business to push those fellows hard 

Should those fellows (the Americans) not go off, and O'Bail, (Cornplanter) 
continue in the same opinion [meaning his recently avowed hostility to the 
Americans], an expedition against those Yankees must of consequence take 
place. His Excellency has been so good as to furnish us with a 100 weight 
of powder, and ball in proportion, which is now at Fort Erie, opposite Buffalo; 
but in the event of an attack upon Le Boeuf people, I could wish, if consistent, 
that his Excellency in addition would order a like quantity in addition, to be 

of 1787, when a comp.iny of United States troops, eighty-seven strong, under the command of Captain 
Jonathan Hart, marched from Pittsburgh to the mouth of French Creek. There he built Fort Frank- 
lin, and there a garrison was maintained (sometimes by State troops) until 1803. During the Indian 
troubles from 1791 to 1794 the troops stationed there rendered impoitant service in protecting the 
early settlers at Meadville, or, as it was then termed, the "Cussewago Settlement." 



From 1791 to 1800. 117 



at Fort Erie in order to be in readiness ; likewise, I would hope for a little as- 
sistance in provisions." 

Again, to further illustrate the position occupied by Cornplanter, and the 
condition of affairs on the Pennsylvania border at that time, the following letter 
from John Adlum (the surveyor of many tracts in Northwestern Pennsylvania) 
to Governor Mififiin is appended : 

"Fort Franklin, August 31"', 1794. 

" Dear Sir : I returned yesterday from a second trip I had to the Corn 
Planter's Town — having been sent for by him to go to the treaty said to be 
held at Buffaloe Creek, near Lake Erie. 

" When I arrived at his Town, which was the 23"' of this Inst., informa- 
tion came that it would not be held until about the 10"' day of Sep'. I, there- 
fore, concluded it best to return to this place. 

" The next day after I got to his town, a party of nineteen Chiefs & war- 
riors arrived from the Grand River, on the North Side of Lake Erie. 

" The Corn Planter had given me notice that such a party were on their way 
to protect their women and children while their chiefs were at council. 

" I told the Corn Planter that such a guard was unnecessary, as the Amer- 
icans wished to live at peace with the Indians. 

" He answered, that we could not know who were our enemies, and it was 
well to be prepared, and insinuated as much as if they feared the Western 
Indians. But, says he, they are wholly under my direction, and nothing is to 
be feared from them ; for they will hunt with my warriors until I know the 
result of Gen' Washington's answer, for they will behave themselves soberly 
and orderly until then. If the answer is favourable to us, they will return to 
their homes ; if not, times will be very bad and troublesome immediately ; 
though, says he, we mean not to make war on women and children, but on 
men, and with the men we mean to fight, and hope the white flesh, as he calls 
lis, will not set us any bad examples ; and the way that these men came to be 
sent here is this : Capt. Brandt sent to us, and desired us to move off the land, 
for that times would soon be dangerous. I answered, we are not afraid to live 
here, and as our corn &c. is planted, we intend to stay and enjoy the fruits of 
our labour. But Brandt sent again, and said that the regard he had for us 
made him very uneasy for our safety. I returned him the same answer as 
before, and added, if you have the regard for us you say you have, send us 
some people to protect us ; and in consequence of this, he sent us these men. 

" There was a M"' Rosencranz with me at the Town — an Interpreter — and 
we staid at the Corn Planter's house while we were at Town, and the General 
conversation of the Indians was about the times, and were very anxious to 
have our opinion whether their request or demand would be granted or not ; 
and the Chiefs concluded their conversation that nothing but the Lands 
required would do, and that they wished to know whether Gen' Washington 



ii8 History of Warren County. 

would grant their request or not. I told them to wait patiently, and the per- 
sons whom the Gen' had appointed would inform them when they met them 
at the treaty. I enquired if money would not do, provided they received an 
annual sum. The Cornplanter answered, it might have done some time ago, 
but at present nothing but the lands would do to make the minds of the Six 
Nations easy. 

" I told him that possibly when he had seen the Commissioners, and con- 
sidered better, that the minds of the Indians might be made easy, and then 
dropped the subject. 

" He laughs at the Idea of our keeping the posts, either at Le Bceuf or the 
Mouth of French Creek, should there be a war, for, he says, it is not possible 
for us to supply them with provisions, as they will constantly have parties along 
the River and path to cut oft" all supplies, and that we soon would be obliged 
to run away from them. 

" I don't know how far it may operate in our favour should Gen' VVaine be 
successful, to the Westward ; but it appears to me that War is inevitable, and, 
I think, Cap' Brandt has a very great hand in it, and his policy is to get the 
whole of the Six Nations on the North Side of the Lakes, as it will make him 
the more consequential, for, at present, there is but a small number of them 
there. 

" I have wrote to General Wilson of Northumberland on the subject, a copy 
of which I enclose, and intend writing to Gen' Wilkins and Col. Campbell on 
the same subject. 

"The posts along the Allegheny River, kept by the eight months' men,^ 
are a burlesque on the Military art, at least those that I have seen of them, 
(for the officers and men are generally Jack fellow alike), and I have passed 
them when the men have been lolling about without either guard or Gentry, 
and from Enquiry find it to be too generally the case, and I am certain that 
they might be surprised any day or night by an Inferior number. 

" Capt. Denny has endeavoured to keep up Military discipline at Le Bceuf, 
and has got the ill will of the men generally ; they say he is too severe, but 
from enquiry I cannot find he has punished any of them, although some of 
them deserve death, having been found asleep on their posts. 

" Some of his men mutinied some days ago, and I enclose copies of his and 
Mr. Ellicott's letters on the subject to the commanding officers of this post. 

" The Cornplanter desired Mr. EUicott should attend the treaty and I sent 
a runner to Le Bceuf for that purpose. 

" This post is commanded by an active and vigilant officer, who keeps up 
the strictest discipline, and has made great improvements in the works. It is 
wrongly situated, for should a war take place, fleets of Canoes may pass and 
repass up and down the Allegheny River, without any person being the wiser 

<r^ .-^ ''.. * These troops were Pennsylvania volunteers. 



From 1791 to 1800. 119 



for it; and the ground is of such a nature that the bank of the Creek on which 
it is situated caves in very much ; and a few days ago, after a rain, a great 
piece of the bank fell in with a part of the picketts. The Block-house is in a 
bad condition, as the logs near the foundation are nearly rotted, and the place 
is supplied with cattle instead of salt provisions ; and the cattle will only sup- 
ply the enemy, should they attack the post, and the garrison be obliged to live 
on flour alone. 

"The Cornplanter desired me to give notice that it was unnecessary to 
send any more provisions to Le Bceuf, as the garrison would soon have to 
leave it. 

" The son of the Black Chief at the Cornplanter's town made me a present 
of a hog while I was there, and the morning before I came away Half Town 
informed me he had dreamed that I made a feast and dance with it ; and as it 
is a general custom to give the Indians what they dream for, (provided they 
are not too extravagant), and I wished for an opportunity to get the senti- 
ments of the Indians generally, I told him that he must have it, and superin- 
tend the feast, and that I would buy another, that the whole Town might par- 
take. 

" It is the custom of the Indians, at such times, to set up a post and strike 
it, and brag of the feats they have done, or those they intend. Some of the 
old chiefs were very delicate, and only told of their feats against the Chero- 
kees, as they said they might injure my feelings if they mentioned any thing 
concerning the whites ; others wished General Washington would not grant 
their request, that they might have one more opportunity of shewing their 
bravery and expertness in war against us. 

"The Cornplanter bragged often, and appeared to speak as if war was cer- 
tain. In one of his brags he gave me a pair of Moccasins, saying, as he 
addressed himself to me : ' It is probable we shall have war very soon. I wish 
every person to do their duty to their Country, and expect you will act your 
part as becomes a man ; and I see your moccasins are nearly worn out. I give 
you this pair to put on when you come out to fight us.' I took them and 
thanked him, and said I would reserve them for that purpose. Du Quania, 
who headed the party of Indians from the North Side of the Lakes, in one of 
his brags, said, That he was always an enemy to the Americans ; that he 
served the King last war, and when peace was concluded he moved over the 
Lakes, which some said was through fear. ' But,' says he, ' you see it is not 
so, for I still love the King and hate the Americans, and now that there is like 
to be danger, you see me here to face it.' The Indians in General seemed to 
wish me to suppose that the British had no hand in the present business, but 
from several things they related to me, it appeared plain that they are at the 
bottom of it. 

" I think it would be but prudent to cover the frontier of this state (until 



History of Warren County. 



the event is known) with some light companies from the Counties adjoining 
the frontier Counties, and those companies of the frontier Counties that are 
not immediately on the frontier, for where attacks may be made the people 
will be obliged to turn out and defend themselves. If the Indians are not sat- 
isfied they will, I think, certainly make a stroke some time between the 25^'' 
Sep' and the Middle of October; and if they do not go to war the troops may 
return home, otherwise they will be ready to meet them ; and the settlements 
ought not to be broke up if possible to prevent it, which, I think, may be done. 
I expected to hear, with General Washington's answer to the Indians, of the 
whole frontier being covered with troops from this State, New York, &c, and 
if the Indians would not put up with reasonable terms, to march into their 
country immediately, and destroy their corn and provisions, and probably 
drive them over the Lakes, as every avenue into their country is well known, 
and we could go into it with every advantage that any people can have in 
such an enemy's Country. 

" I am. Dear Sir, Respectfully, 

" Your Most H*"''' Serv', 

"John Adlum." 

But it was destined that the treaty proposed by the Senecas should not take 
place, nor their sanguinary threats be enforced in case of a refusal to accede to 
their demands, for, eleven days prior to the date of Adlum's letter, a battle 
had been fought in the West, which, when its results became known, entirely 
changed the current of thought and conversation among those chiefly inter- 
ested — the Americans, the British on the frontier, and the Indians, including 
the Six- Nations. 

It appears that during the spring and summer of 1794 an American army 
was assembled at Greenville, in the present State of Ohio, under the command 
of General Anthony Wayne, a bold, energetic, and experienced commander 
of Pennsylvania troops during the Revolutionary War. His force consisted of 
about two thousand regulars, and fifteen hundred mounted volunteers from 
Kentucky. To oppose him the Northwestern tribes had collected their fighting 
men, amounting to nearly three thousand warriors, near a British fort erected 
since the treaty of 1783, and in violation of its obligations, at the foot of the 
Maumee Rapids. They were well supplied with arms and ammunition obtained 
at the British posts at Detroit and on the Maumee, and felt confident of defeat- 
ing Wayne. But " Mad Anthony " was a difierent kind of general from those 
who had previously commanded in the West, and when, on the 20th of Au- 
gust, the opposing forces of white men and red men met in conflict at the Mau- 
mee Rapids, or in the " Battle of the Fallen Timbers," the savages were quickly 
defeated and fled with the utmost precipitation from the field. 

Not long afterward a white trader met a Miami warrior who had fled before 
the terrible onslaught of Wayne's soldiers, and asked him : 



From 1791 to 1800. 



"Why did you run away?" 

With gestures corresponding to his words, and endeavoring to represent 
the effect of the cannon, he replied : 

"Pop, pop, pop — boo, woo, woo — whish, whish, boo, woo — kill twenty 
Indians one time — no good, by damn ! " 

Robinson, a young half-breed Pottawatomie, afterwards one of the princi- 
pal war chiefs of his tribe, was also engaged in the battle against Wayne, and 
in late years was in the habit of describing it very clearly. It appears that the 
chiefs of the allied tribes had selected a swamp for the battle-ground. They 
formed, however, half a mile in front of it, on the summit of a gentle elevation, 
covered with an open growth of timber, with no underbrush, intending, when 
Wayne attacked them, to fall back slowly, thus inducing the Americans to fol- 
low them into the swamp, where the Indians would have every advantage, and 
where they expected to gain certain victory. But " Mad Anthony " soon dis- 
arranged their plans. As explained, a large part of his little army was com- 
posed of mounted Kentuckians, and these were formed in front of his infantry. 
After a few rounds from his artillery, always very trying to the nerves of the 
red men, he ordered the mounted men to advance. The Indians had never 
seen men fight on horseback, and supposed they would dismount before reach- 
ing the top of the ridge. But instead of that they began to trot, then drew 
their sabres — those terrible "long knives" which always inspired the Indians 
with dread, then broke into a gallop, and the next moment were charging at 
the top of their horses' speed, "yelling like hell," as Robinson expressed it, 
swinging their swords, and looking like demons of wrath, as they truly were 
to the astonished red men. 

" Oh," said Robinson, " you ought to have seen the poor Indians run 
then ! " 

They gave but one random shot each, and fled as fast as possible toward 
the swamp. But it was too late. The mounted Kentuckians burst through 
them like a cyclone, and then wheeled about to cut off their retreat, while the 
infantry came up on the double-quick and barred their escape in that direc- 
tion. 

" Oh," the chieftain would continue, " it was awful ! " 

Robinson admired his conqueror so much that he named one of his sons 
" Anthony Wayne," and always expressed the most profound respect for that 
dashing soldier. 

The Senecas had runners at the scene of conflict, and it is quite probable, 
too, that quite a number of them were there in readiness to participate in the 
expected slaughter of the Americans. Hence, when they brought back the 
news of the tremendous punishment inflicted on their Western friends, all the 
Iroquois in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania resolved to be 
"good Indians." The clamor for war was no longer heard, neither did Corn- 
planter seem inclined to give away any more moccasins. 



History of Warren County. 



It was assumed, however, by the general government that the Iroquois 
had not received fair treatment at the hands of the State authorities and grasp- 
ing, unscrupulous land corporations. Therefore, in the fall of that year (1794) 
the chiefs, sachems, and warriors of the Six Nations were summoned to meet 
Colonel Thomas Pickering, the United States commissioner, in council at Can- 
andaigua, N. Y., and there state their grievances. They responded promptly 
to the summons, and a treaty was concluded with them November 11, 1794, 
by the provisions of which the United States agreed to give the New York 
Iroquois $10,000 worth of goods, and an annuity of $4,000 annually in cloth- 
ing, domestic animals, etc. It was also fully agreed that the Senecas should 
have all the land in New York west of Phelps's and Gorham's Purchase, except 
the reservation a mile wide along the Niagara. Thus were Cornplanter's 
followers in New York provided for, and to those reservations did they all go 
from Pennsylvania, except one hundred or more who remained with him at 
Jennesadaga. 

On the part of the Indians the articles of this treaty were signed by Corn- 
planter, Half Town, Red Jacket, Farmer's Brother, and fifty-five other chiefs 
of the Six Nations. It was the last council at which the United States treated 
with the Iroquois as a confederacy. William Johnston, an English adherent, 
came there and was discovered haranguing some of the chiefs. It was believed 
that he was acting in behalf of the British, to prevent a treaty, and Colonel 
Pickering compelled him to leave quite unceremoniously. 

On the 4th of July, 1796, Fort Niagara was surrendered by the British to 
the United States; Fort Ontario, at Oswego, being given up ten days later. 
This strengthened the impression made on the Indians by Wayne's victory, 
and confirmed them in the disposition to cultivate friendly relations with the 
Americans. 

During the same year Cornplanter made a rather remarkable little speech 
at Fort Franklin to an assemblage composed of both whites and Indians. He 
thanked the Almighty for permitting him and his white neighbors to meet 
together again in peace. And continuing, as if in extenuation of the hostile 
attitude assumed by him two years before, said that he had met many people, 
and that all nations were liars; that the Western Indians, as well as the whites, 
had lied to him; that he had been deceived in council and told things which 
were lies, but believing them to be true, had repeated the same to his young 
men and warriors, and thus he had been made a liar. He lamented that such 
had been the case, and hoped that honesty, truthfulness, and sobriety would 
prevail in the future in the dealings betwen his people and the whites. 

In the mean time events of a more pacific nature had taken place in, and in 
relation to, the region soon to be known as Warren county, which will here 
receive a passing notice. Thus, soon after the passage of the celebrated Actual 
Settlement law of April 3, 1792, "a company of Hollanders seeking an invest- 



From 1791 to 1800. 123 



ment of their surplus funds, purchased the claim of John Adlum and Samuel 
Wallace to a large body of lands in this part of the State. For these they had 
warrants issued and surveys made in the names of Herman Le Roy and John 
Linklain. These names were used to evade the law, which, at that time, for- 
bade aliens from holding titles to lands in this State. On these warrants most 
of the land in this county, north and west of the Allegheny River and Cone- 
wango Creek, was surveyed and appropriated and originally owned by the Hol- 
land Land Company. In January, 1794, the same company of Hollanders 
procured one thousand warrants for nine hundred acres each, and in what was 
then called the New Purchase, being for land east of the Allegheny river. A 
part of these warrants were located on and covered most of the land in this 
county east of the river." 1 

On the 1 8th of April, 1795, "in order to facilitate and promote the prog- 
ress of settlements within the Commonwealth, and to afford additional secu- 
rity to the frontiers by the establishment of towns," an act was passed by the 
State Legislature, providing for laying out towns at Presque Isle, at the mouth 
of French Creek, at the mouth of Conewango Creek, and at Fort Le Boeuf 

This act provided, so far as it related to the town to be laid out at the 
mouth of the Conewango, that the commissioners to be appointed by the 
governor "shall survey or cause to be surveyed three hundred acres for town 
lots, and seven hundred acres of land adjoining thereto for out lots, at the 
most eligible place within the tract heretofore reserved for public use at the 
mouth of Conewango Creek ; and the lands so surveyed shall be respect- 
ively laid out and divided into town lots and out lots, in such manner, and 
with such streets, lanes, alleys, and reservations for public uses, as the said 
commissioners shall direct; but no town lot shall contain more than one third 
of an acre, no out lot shall contain more than five acres, nor shall the reserva- 
tions for public uses exceed in the whole, ten acres; and the town hereby last 
directed to be laid out, shall be called 'Warren,' and all the streets, lanes, and 
alleys thereof, and of the lots thereto adjoining, shall be and remain common 
highways." 

The same act further provided that the troops stationed or to be stationed 
at Fort Le Bceuf should be used to protect and assist the commissioners, sur- 
veyors, and others while engaged in executing the provisions of the act. The 
commissioners appointed by the governor to make surveys, etc., were General 
William Irvine and Andrew Ellicott Their duty was well performed during 
the same year (1795), and in August of the following year the lots in the new 
towns of Warren, Erie, Franklin, and Waterford were first offered for sale at 
auction at Carlisle, Pa. 

At this time, too, the agents of the Holland Land Company were busily 
engaged in directing the survey of lands lying west of the Allegheny River. 



Judge S. I'. Johnson. 



124 History of Warren County. 

They offered special inducements to actual settlers, and soon after a few of the 
latter class found their way into the heavily timbered region now known as 
Warren county. The interests and necessities of the land company hastened 
occasional entries into the unbroken forests. The law of their title, as it then 
stood, required an actual resident settlement to be made on every four hun- 
dred acre tract within two years, to give it validity as against a squatter. 
While the company made no attempt at a strict compliance with this require- 
ment of the law, they adopted the policy of importing and locating settlers on 
their lands at convenient points and distances apart, both as a decoy to west- 
ern-bound emigrants and as a police to protect their other lands from the entry 
of intruders. To these men they sometimes gave settlement contracts, donat- 
ing to each settler one hundred acres upon their perfecting a settlement upon 
a certain tract, by " a residence thereon for five years, erecting a messuage for 
the habitation of man, and clearing two acres for every one hundred acres 
contained in one survey." For the supply of their surveyors and settlers, as 
early as 1795 they erected a block storehouse on the bank of the river near the 
mouth of the Conewango, which was the first building ever erected by Eng- 
lish-speaking whites within the limits of the present borough of Warren. To 
this depot they shipped supplies from Pittsburgh by keel boats. This first 
structure remained in a good state of preservation for many years, and its 
grimy roof and walls afforded shelter and protection to considerable numbers 
of the early residents during the first days passed by them in Warren. 

In 1798, by an act of Assembly, the Allegheny River from its mouth to 
the northern boundary of the State, Conewango Creek from its mouth to the 
State line, and Brokenstraw Creek from its mouth up to the second fork were 
declared to be public and navigable streams for the passage of boats and rafts. 

On the I ith of April, 1799, another act was passed requiring the governor 
to direct the surveyor-general to make actual surveys of the reserved tracts of 
land adjoining the towns of Warren, Franklin, Erie, and Waterford, which 
had not been laid out in town or outlets, and to lay off the same into lots not 
exceeding one hundred and fifty acres in each. Also that in each of the 
" said reserved tracts the quantity of five hundred acres be laid off for the use 
of such schools or academies as may hereafter be established by law in the said 
towns." Under this law Colonel Alexander McDowell, of Frankin, then dep- 
uty surveyor, was appointed to make the surveys, which dutj' he faithfully dis- 
charged in the summer of 1799. This is the origin of the reserve tracts that 
bound the town of Warren on the north, and of the academy lands that adjoin 
them on the west, and are skirted by the river. 

Soon after the organization of the county of Warren "the trustees of the 
Warren academy lands, with a surprising lack of foresight, commenced to lease 
these lands, in fifty acre lots, to settlers for ninety- nine years, upon annual rents 
that were scarcely more than nominal. By this oversight, and the negligence of 



The Era of Formation, from 1800 to 18 19. 125 



the representatives in the Legislature from this county to procure the passage 
of a law to authorize the sale of the legal title to these lands, the educational 
interests of the borough and county have lost the use of a great many thou- 
sand dollars, and the young men of the town and county desirous of an educa- 
tion, for forty years had to go without it, or go elsewhere to acquire the nec- 
essary academic education to entitle them to admission into a college, except 
during the short time the Warren Academy was kept in operation under the 
administration of Hon. R. Brown and others." 1 



CHAPTER Xni. 

THE ERA OF FORMATION, EARLY SETTLEilENTS, ETC., FROM 1800 TO 1S19. 

Formation of Warren County — Its Original Boundaries— Temporarily Attached to Crawford 
County — Crawford County Organized — Erection of Brokenstraw Township — It Becomes the 
First Election District of Crawford — Warren County Annexed to Tenango in 1805 — Broken- 
straw Still Continues as the Sole Township of Warren County— It's Taxable Inhabitants in 
1806— Who were the First Settlers— A Mooted Question— An Order to Erect New Townships 
— Early Inn-Keepers — Division of the County into Two Townships — Their Names and Bound- 
aries — Their Taxable Inhabitants in 1808— Visited by Western Indians — A Want of Confidence 
— Council Held with Cornplanter — Veterans of the War of 1812-15 — A Transfer of Lands by 
the Holland Land Company — Cornplanter as He Appeared in 1816 — The Taxables of the 
County During the Same Year — Subsequent Rapid Increase in Population. 

THE year i Boo was made memorable in the history of Pennsylvania by 
the erection of several new counties in the northwestern quarter of the 
State, from territory which had been temporarily attached to organized coun- 
ties whose seats of justice were hundreds of miles distant. Thus, by an act of 
the State Legislature passed March I2, of that year, the counties of Beaver, 
Butler, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Warren, Venango, and Armstrong were 
formed from territory previously embraced by Westmoreland, Washington, 
Allegheny, and Lycoming counties.^ Warren was formed from Allegheny 

1 Hon. S. P.. Johnson. 

2 Soon after its acquisition from the Indians, by the treaties of Forts Stanwix and Mcintosh, the 
northwestern part of Pennsylvania, as its boundaries were then described, was attached to the county 
of Westmoreland, by an act of the Supreme Executive Council, passed April 8, 17S5; it being 
referred to in the said act, as " a part of the late purchase from the Indians." On the 24th of Septem- 
ber, 1788, Allegheny county was formed from portions of Westmoreland and Washington, with bound- 
aries from the mouth of Puckety's Creek, "up the Allegheny River to the northern boundary of the 
State ; thence west along the same to the western boundary of the State ; thence south along the 
same to the River Ohio ; and thence up the same to the place of beginning," /'. c, the mouth of 
Flaherty's Run, on the south side of the Ohio River. Lycoming county was formed from Northum- 
berland, April 13, 1796, and its western boundary, for a great distance, was the Allegheny River. 



126 History of Warren County. 

and Lycoming counties, and the clause of the act relating to its boundaries 
reads as follows : 

"That so much of the counties of Allegheny and Lycoming, as shall be 
included within the following boundaries, viz. : Beginning at the southeast 
corner of Crawford county, in the north line of the sixth donation district ; 
thence the course of the said line eastwardly across the Allegheny River, until 
it shall intersect the line dividing Johnson's and Potter's districts, in the 
county of Lycoming; thence northerly along the said line to the line of the 
State of New York ; thence westwardly along the line of the said State to the 
corner of Erie county ; thence southerly by the eastern boundaries of the 
counties of Erie and Crawford, to the place of beginning." 

The same act further provided that the place for holding courts of justice 
within the county should be the town of Warren. Also, that the governor be 
empowered to appoint three commissioners to run, ascertain, and mark the 
boundary lines of the county ; that the commissioners be paid the sum of two 
dollars per day while so engaged, and that the boundaries described be run 
"on or before the 15 day of June next." William Miles, Thomas Miles, and 
John Andrews, the latter being then a resident of the county, were named in 
the act as commissioners for Warren county, but what their duties were, or 
what they did, if anything, does not appear. 

It was further provided by this act that the counties of Crawford, Mercer, 
Venango, Warren, and Erie {" until an enumeration of the taxable inhabitants 
within the aforesaid counties respectively shall be made, and it shall be other- 
wise directed by law") should form one county under the name of Crawford 
county. Meadville thus became the seat of justice for a vast, sparsely settled 
region, and people of to-day can hardly realize the vicissitudes experienced by 
the pioneers who, when obliged to visit the county seat to transact legal or 
other business, or were summoned to attend courts, etc., were compelled, in 
going and returning, to travel from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty miles 
through dense forests, and along winding, partly-overgrown Indian trails — 
providing the "trails" led in the right direction — otherwise the undertaking 
was still more hazardous. 

Only a few weeks had passed after the passage of the above-mentioned 
act ere the county of Crawford was duly organized as a separate division of the 
State, and its first oflicers installed in office. The first session of court was 
held in the upper story of William Dick's residence, on the northeast corner of 
Water street and Cherry Alley in Meadville. The record of this session begins 
as follows : " At a Court of Common Pleas held and kept at Meadville, for the 
county of Crawford, the seventh day of July, Anno Domini, One thousand eight 
luuulred, before David Mead and John Kelso, Judges present, and from thence 
continued by adjournment until the ninth day of the same month inclusive." 
Mead and Kelso were only associate judges, and not learned in the law. Their 



The Era of Formation, from 1800 to 18 19. 127 

attention at this time was chiefly directed to the admission of attorneys, to the 
erection of townships, the issuing of Hcenses, and the appointing of certain 
township officers. 

During the second session of the court of Crawford county, held at the 
place above described in October, 1800, Hon. Alexander Addison presiding, 
the first grand jury met. It was during this term, also, that the township of 
Brokenstraw (the original township of Warren county) was erected. The order 
of court respecting this subdivision reads as follows : " In pursuance to sundry 
petitions presented, the court directed the following Townships to be laid off." 
" Also all that part of Warren County situate west of River Alle- 
gheny and Conawango Creek be erected into a township and the name thereof 
to be Brokenstraw." (See Docket No. i, page 1 1, Judicial Records of Craw- 
ford County.) Judge Addison resided at Pittsburgh, and was a gentleman 
possessed of a fine mind and great attainments, but he was subsequently im- 
peached and removed from office, because of his absolute refusal to allow an 
associate judge to charge a jury after his own charge had been delivered. 

On the 2ist of February, 1801, another act was passed relating to the new 
county of Warren, by the provisions of which it was denominated the First 
Election District of Crawford County, and the electors residing therein were 
directed to hold their general elections at the house of Robert Andrews, wha 
then lived in the Brokenstraw valley, or where Pittsfield now stands. 

This arrangement continued until April i, 1805, when an act was passed 
providing for the organization of Venango county from and after September i 
of that year. By the same legislative act Warren county was detached from 
Crawford and annexed to Venango for judicial and all other purposes of gov- 
ernment ; thus becoming part of the Sixth Judicial District, of which the Hon. 
Jesse Moore was then serving as president judge. 

Venango county was duly organized in the fall of 1805, and the first term 
of court was held at Franklin, in December of that year. During the follow- 
ing year the first assessment rolls for the newly organized county were com- 
pleted. Those rolls have been carefully preserved (as seems not to have been 
the case with early papers of the same class in Crawford county), and from 
them we have obtained the most complete and authentic list of the original 
pioneers of Warren county now available, and now published for the first time. 
Brokenstraw was still the only township in Warren county, and its taxable 
inhabitants in 1806, together with the amount and kind of taxable property 
owned by each, were as follows : 

Arthur, John, 170 acres land, i cow, 4 oxen 

and i of saw-mill. 
Andrews, Robert, 900 acres land, 2 horses, 3 
cows, I saw-mill and 2 inlots in Warren. 



Addison,' Alexander, 2 outlets in Warren. 
Armstrong, George, 2 outlets and 2 inlots in 

Warren. 
Adams, William, 400 acres land, i horse. 



1 This was Judge Addison, of Pittsburgh. And here we are reminded that of those named in the 
following list of taxahles, only those who were assessed {ox personal property can be counted with cer- 
tainty as actual residents during the years mentioned. 



128 



History of Warren County. 



Andrews, James, single man, i inlot in War- 
ren. 

Andrews, John, 600 acres land, 4 horses, 2 
cows, 4 inlets and i outlot in Warren. 

Arthur, William, 70 acres land, i cow, i 
horse, 1 inlot in Warren. 

Arthur, Robert, single man. 2 outlets in War- 
ren. 

Anderson, Samuel, 1 50 acres, i cow. 

Baldwin, Jonathan, single man, 400 acres 
land, I cow. 

Brown, John, 400 acres land, i cow, 2 horses. 

Brown, James, single man, 100 acres land, i 
cow. 

Barr, John, 100 acres land, 2 cows, 2 oxen. 

Budd, Benjamin, single man. 

Biles, Charles, 400 acres land, 1 cow. 

Buchanan. Andrew, i cow. 

Bonner, Robert, 400 acres land, i cow. i 
grist-mill. 

Banjer, Mathew, 134 acres land. . 

Bell, John, 400 acres land, i cow, i horse. 

Bell, Mary. 100 acres land. 

Bell, Robert, i cow, single man. 

Cole, Benjamin, 100 acres land, i cow. 

Culbertson, James, 400 acres land. 

Crawford, John, i cow. 

Chamberlain, Stout, 200 acres land, i cow, i 
horse. 

Coneway, George. 400 acres land. 

Carpenter, William, 100 acres land, 2 horses, 
2 cows. 

Carpenter, John, single man, i horse. 

Cochran, William, I cow, i horse. 

Culbertson, James, Jr., 250 acres land, i cow, 
2 o.xen, 2 inlots in Warren. 

Corbelt, Daniel, 250 acres land, i horse, i cow, 

1 inlot in Warren. 

Corbett, William, 1 inlot in Warren. 

Corbett, Isaac, i inlot in Warren. 

Call, Daniel. 200 acres land, 2 cows, i horse, 

2 oxen. 

Call, Dennis. 200 acres land, i cow. 
Cunningham, Richard, single man, 400 acres 

land. 
Carr, David, 200 acres l.ind at mouth of the 

Brokenstraw. 
Craig, Isaac, 1,080 acres land. 
Davis, Elijah, 100 acres land, 2 cows, 2 oxen. 
Davis, Abraham, single man. 100 acres land, 

I ox. 
Davis, John, 100 acres land. 



Dougherty, Charles, single man. 

Dickson, John, 100 acres land, i cow, i horse. 

Davis, William, 150 acres land, i cow, 2 

horses. 
Davis, Thomas, 1 50 acres land. 
Eagan, William, 700 acres land, i horse, 2 

oxen, I inlot in Warren. 
Eddy, Zachariah, 400 acres land, 2 cows, 2 

o.xen, I inlot in Warren. 
Evers, Andrew, 200 acres land, 2 oxen. 
Evans, William, single man. 
Elder James, 400 acres land, i horse, i cow, 

2 oxen. 
Elder, John, 400 acres land. 1 cow, single 

man. 
Ford, Samuel, 400 acres land, single man. 
Felton, John, 100 acres land. 
Ford, William, single man. 400 acres land, i 

horse, l inlot in Warren. 
Foster, William B., single man, i horse. 
Frampton, John. 50 acres land, I cow. 
Frampton, Nathaniel, 100 acres land, I horse, 

1 cow. 

Ford, John, 100 acres land, I cow, 2 oxen. 
Frew, Hugh, 200 acres land, 3 cows. 
Fenton, George W., single man. 
Gray, Joseph, 400 acres land, i cow, i horse, 

2 inlots in Warren, 550 acres " up the 
Creek." 

Groves, Thomas W., 200 acres land, 2 cows. 

Granger, Eli, single man. 

Gibson, Samuel, 400 acres land, i inlot in 

Warren. 
Gibson, Gideon. 2 cows. 2 oxen, 2 inlots in 

Warren. 
Gilson, John, 2 cows, 1 horse, 2 oxen, 2 inlots 

in Warren. 
Gibson, Erastus, 2 inlots in Warren. 
Gibson. Jacob. 400 acres land, 3 cows, 2 oxen. 
Grippin, William, single man. 
Goodwin, Joseph, single man, i cow. 
Huffman, Philip, 400 acres land, 2 cows, 2 

horses 
Hildebrandt. (ieorge, 400 acres land, 2 cows, 

2 oxen. 
Hildebrandt, George, Jr., 400 acres land. 
Hildebrandt, Solomon, 400 acres land. 
Hicks. John, 400 acres land, 2 cows. 
Hicks, Levi, 400 acres land, 2 cows, i horse. 
Hicks. Gershom, i cow. 
Hare. Michael, 100 acres land, i cow. 
Hare, James, 100 acres land. 



The Era of Formation, from 1800 to 18 19. 



129 



Hunter, Robert, 400 acres land, i cow, 2 oxen. 
Henderson, Richard, 400 acres land, i cow. 
Henry, William, single man. 
Hunter, Garrett, 400 acres land. 
Huffman, Jacob. 100 acres land, 2 cows, I 

horse. 
Houghy, John, 400 acres land. 
Hood, John, 100 acres land, 2 cows, i horse. 
Irvine, Callender, 800 acres land east of the 

Allegheny River, 2op acres land opposite 

Warren. 
Irvin, James, 400 acres land, i cow, 2 oxen. 
Jackson, Daniel, 130 acres land, 2 cows, i 

horse, 2 o.xen, 2 inlots in Warren, i saw-mill. 
Jackson, Daniel, Jr., 400 acres land, 2 cows, 

1 inlot in Warren. 

Jackson, Ethan, 200 acres land, 2 cows. 2 

oxen, I horse, 2 inlots in Warren. 
Jackson, Elijah, 150 acres land, 2 cows. 
Jones, Isaiah, 329 acres land, 2 cows, 2 oxen. 
Jones, Daniel, 3 cows, i inlot in Warren. 
Justice, James, 250 acres land, 2 cows, i horse. 
Justice. John, 2 oxen. 
Jones, Edward, single man. 
Jobes, Samuel, single man, i horse. 
Kennedy, Thomas R., 5 outlots in Warren. 
Linn, James, 100 acres land, i cow, I horse. 
Long, George, 400 acres land, i cow, i horse, 

2 oxen, I saw-mill. 
Long. John, single man. 

Long, John, Sen'. 200 acres land. 

Lapsley, William, 400 acres land, i cow, i 

horse. 
Lynch, George, i cow. 
Miller, John, single man, 100 acres land. 
McKinney, Michael, 200 acres land, 2 cows, 

I horse. 
Marsh, Mulford, 400 acres land, i cow, 2 oxen. 
McGinty, Daniel, 400 acres land. 
Morrison, Jeremiah, 133 acres land, 2 cows, 2 

oxen, J pt. saw-mill, i inlot in Warren. 
Morrison, Samuel, 133 acres land, 2 oxen, ^ 

part saw-mill, i inlot in Warren. 
Morrison, James, 183 acres land, 2 cows, 2 

oxen, i part saw-mill. 
Morrison, John, 400 acres land, 2 cows, i 

horse, 2 inlots in Warren 
Morrison, James, Sen', 4 oxen, 3 cows. 
Morrison, William, single man, 2 inlots in 

Warren. 
Morrison, Ephraim, single man, i inlot in 

Warren. 



Murdock, Abijah, 1 1 inlots and 6 outlots in 

Warren, single man. 
McClain, Neil, 200 acres land, 2 oxen, 2 cows. 
McClain, John, 150 acres land. 
Murdock, Galen, 100 acres land, 2 cows, i 

horse. 
Murdock, Moses, 100 acres land, 2 cows. 
Miles, Robert, 1650 acres land, 2 cows, 2 

horses. 
McClav, Charles, 1 50 acres land. 
Marsh, John, 800 acres land, i cow, 2 oxen, i 

outlot and 4 inlots in Warren. 
Marsh, Hugh, 500 acres land, 2 cows, 2 oxen, 

I horse, 3 outlots and 2 inlots in Warren. 
Mead, Darius, 300 acres land, 2 oxen, 3 cows, 

1 saw-mill, ^ grist-mill. 

Mead, Joseph, 400 acres land, 3 cows, i horse, 

2 oxen, I saw-mill, ^ grist-mill, 2 inlots in 
Warren. 

McOuay, Daniel, 400 acres land, 2 oxen. 
McNair. Charles, single man. 200 acres land, 

I horse. 
Murphy, Jesse, 200 acres land, i cow. 
Maxwell. William, 400 acres land, 2 cows, 2 

oxen. 
McCue, Daniel, 100 acres land. 
Morrison, Hugh, 400 acres land, i horse, i 

cow. 
McGuire, Hugh, 400 acres land, I cow, i 

horse. 
McClain, William, 100 acres land, 2 cows, 2 

horses. 
McDowell. Alexander, 9 outlots and 4 inlots in 

Warren, 1 1 acres Reserve. 
McKinney, Barnabas, 100 acres, i cow, i 

horse, 2 oxen, \ saw-mill. 
McKinney, John, 500 acres land, 2 oxen, 2 in- 
lots in Warren. 
Miner, Allen S., single man. 
Neville. John, 400 acres land. 
Olds, Gilbert, 100 acres of land, i "stear," i 

horse. 
Peelman, Christopher, single man, 100 acres 

land, I cow, 2 oxen. 
Peelman, John, 100 acres land. 
Prosser, Daniel .Sen', single man, i cow, i 

horse. 
Prosser, William, 100 acres land. 
Prosser, Daniel Jr., 100 acres land. 
Prosser, Isaac, 100 acres land. 
Putnam, Michael, 133 acres land. 
Putnam, Nathaniel, 133 acres land. 



I30 



History of Warren County. 



Portman,' John, 800 acres land, 2 cows, 2 

oxen. 
Ross, Stephen, 400 acres land, I cow, i horse, 

1 saw-mill. 

Reese, Martin, 2 cows, i horse, 2 oxen, 117 
acres Reserve lands, i in lot in Warren. 

Reese. Martin, Jr., single man, one horse. 

Rogers, James, single man, one horse. 

Russell, John, 200 acres land, 3 cows, 2 oxen. 

Russell, Thomas, single man. 100 acres, i cow. 

Russell, Robert, 100 acres land, l cow, 2 
oxen, I inlot in Warren. 

Robertson, Jonathan, 200 acres land, 2 cows, 

2 oxen. 

Rinard, Isaac, 400 acres land, 2 cows, 2 horses. 

Stuart, John, 100 acres land, i cow. 

Stuart, James, 200 acres land, i horse. 

Stuart, William, single man, too acres land. 

Shelletto, Edward, 400 acres land, i cow. 

Shipman, James, 100 acres land, i cow, 2 
oxen. 

Stiles, John, 400 acres land, i cow, 2 oxen. 

Stage, Samuel, 50 acres land, 3 inlots and 2 
outlets in Warren. 

Slone, George, 400 acres land, 3 cows. 

Smith, John, single man. 

Swar, Jacob, 2 inlots in Warren. 

Simon, T. G. V., 200 acres land, i cow, 2 
horses. 

Stewart, James, single man. 

Sims, James, single man, 400 acres land, i in- 
lot in Warren. 

Shearer, Joseph, single man, i horse. 

Sims, William, 150 acres land, i cow, 2 horses, 
I inlot in Warren. 

Spitler, William, 2 horses, 2 cows. 2 oxen. 

Sample, John, i cow. 

Stearns, EUesus, 200 acres land. 



Sample, John, Jr., 150 acres land, i horse, 2 

cows. 
Stewart, Richard, icx5 acres land. 1 cow, 2 

oxen. 
Smith, Charles, 400 acres land, i cow. 
Tyler, Joel, single man, 200 acres land, i cow. 
Thompson, Aaron, 400 acres land, i cow, i 

horse. 
Thompson, Daniel, 400 acres land, i horse. 
Thompson, Alex;inder, 50 acres land. 
Talmage, Levi, single man. 
Welch, Samuel, 800 acres land, 2 cows, 2 

horses, 2 oxen. 
Winton, David, single man, 200 acres land. 
Watts, John, Jr.. single man. 150 acres land, 

I ox. 
Wilson, Hugh, 300 acres land, i cow, 2 oxen. 
White, Alfred, 100 acres land, 2 cows, 2 oxen. 
Wilson, William, 600 acres land, i horse, 2 

oxen, 2 cows, 2 inlots in Warren. 
Wilson, James, 200 acres. 
White, Giles, 100 acres land, 2 cows, 2 oxen. 
Wales, Moses, 400 acres l.ind, 2 oxen. 
Wilson, Samuel, 400 acres land, i cow, 2 

oxen. 
Wright, Isaiah, single man. 1 horse, 3 inlots 

in Warren. 
Woods, John, 400 acres land. 
Watts, Alexander, single man, 200 acres land. 
Watts, James, single man, 300 acres land. 
Watts, John, 2CX3 acres land, i cow, 2 oxen. 
Waldo, Frederick, 400 acres land, 2 cows. 
Young, John, 2 inlots in Warren. 
York, Amos, 100 acres land. 2 cows. 
Young, Mathew, single man, 400 acres land, 

] saw-mill. 
Young, Christopher, 400 acres land, 2 horses, 

single man. 



1 At the June term of court, 1821, John Portman, then seventy-one years of age and living with 
Hugh Marsh, made aftidavii that he enlisted in August, 1776, in a company commanded by Captain 
Moses Carson in the Eighth Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line, Continental Army. The regiment 
was commanded by Colonel Enos McCay until his death, and subsequently by Colonel D. Brodhead ; 
that he (Portman) continued under the command of Carson until he (Carson) revolted, when the com- 
pany was commanded by Captain John Findlay, with whom he served till the close of the war. The 
affidavit further states that Portman was engaged in the battles of Brandywine and Boundbrook and 
various skirmishes. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Brandywine and confined at James Island, 
S. C, but escaped the evening before the British evacuated Charleston. 

The old veteran was then (1821) an insolvent debtor, and this statement was made under oath, to 
the end that he might avail himself of a recent act of Congress, passed for the relief and immunily from 
imprisonment of old soldiers thus circumstanced. 



The Era of Formation, from 1800 to i8i§. 131 

The assessor for that year was Hugh Marsh, and the total amount of the 
tax levied upon the taxable property in the township, or county rather, was 
$441 -I si- 
Here, then, are shown the names of two hundred and six of the earliest 
residents of Warren county, the representatives of a population of nearly one 
thousand people, or a much greater number than has heretofore been supposed 
to have existed here at that time. But to determine who among them was 
the first settler, or the first dozen families to settle in the county, is an imprac- 
ticable task. It is probable, however, that if it should be asserted that the 
Andrews, Arthur, Brown, Bonner, Corbett, Call, Davis, Evers, Elder, Framp- 
ton, Frew, Gray, Gibson, Gilson, Hufi'man, Hildebrandt, Hicks, Hare, Irvin, 
Jackson, Jones, Long, McQuay, Marsh, Morrison, Miles, Mead, McKinney, 
McDowell, Prosser, Reese, Russell, Stewart, Slone, Sample, Thompson, Welch, 
Watts, Wilson, and Young families were among the very first, and that they 
became residents here during the years from 1 797 to 1 802, the assertion would 
not be far from being correct. 

It has been claimed that settlements were made in Pine Grove and Colum- 
bus townships prior to 1795, but from facts already set forth in previous chap- 
ters, viz.: that the Indians, including Cornplanter's band, were hostile until 
1795; that the British did not evacuate forts on the American side of the line 
until the following year; that this immediate region ofiered no special induce- 
ments for settlement over others situated in less dangerous localities; that this 
territory had not then been surveyed and legally opened to settlements, and 
that so far as authentically known no settlements existed in all this part of the 
State prior to 1795, other than those at the mouth of French Creek, and at 
Meadville, and those composing these settlements were glad to seek the pro- 
tection of Forts Franklin and Le Boeuf until long after Wayne's victory — we 
do not believe that any permanent settlements were effected in Warren county 
until about 1796-97. True, a block-house had been erected at Warren about 
1795, but this was intended for the storage of supplies, etc., sent here for the 
use of those engaged in surveying the lands of the Holland Company, and 
when their work was completed, or when winter came on, it is but natural to 
presume that these men returned to their homes. However, for more detailed 
accounts of early settlements the reader is referred to township histories, and 
the personal sketches to be found in other pages of this work. 

At the June term, 1806, of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Ses- 
sions, held at Franklin by the Hon. Jesse Moore and his associates, Samuel 
Dale, John Andrews, and Thomas Beard were appointed by the court as com- 
missioners to lay oft" the county of Venango and the territory annexed to it 
"into convenient districts for townships." Dale and Beard resided in Venango, 
and Andrews in Warren county. Their report was not rendered until nearly 
two years afterward. It will be referred to, however, in its proper place. 



132 History of Warren County. 

In December of the same year Daniel Jackson, of the town of Warren, and 
Giles White, of Brokenstraw township, were recommended to the governor 
by the court as suitable persons to keep houses of public entertainment. One 
year later Salmon Fuller, a millwright, was licensed to keep a public house in 
Conewango township. These were the first persons licensed to "keep tavern" 
in Warren county of whom we have authentic knowledge. 

It seems that a division of the county into two townships had been accom- 
plished as early as June, 1807, for we find Daniel Jackson and Joseph Gray 
then mentioned as the constables respectively of Conewango and Brokenstraw 
townships, but the announcement had not yet been made by court; hence the 
names of the taxable inhabitants for that year were all shown upon the lists 
made out for Brokenstraw township. 

The names appearing upon the rolls in 1807, for the first time, were those 
of Benjamin August, a tailor, James Alden, Thomas Bell, James Bonner, An- 
drew Clark, John Carpenter, jr., Joseph Cole, James Cole, George Carpenter, 
owner of one-half of saw-mill, James Dosser, Samuel Fancher, John Garner, 
Daniel Horn, John Hines, Cornelius McCue, James McLister, a shoemaker, 
Robert McNamara, Humphrey Miller, William Mead, Joseph Page, Charles 
Smith, Ezra Tillotson, Nathan Winton, and Joseph Watts. 

At March sessions, 1808, of the Court of Common Pleas, etc., held at 
Franklin, the report of the commissioners appointed in 1806 to lay out town- 
ships in the counties of Venango and Warren was acted upon, and so far as it 
related to the two Warren county townships, was promptly approved. The 
boundaries of these townships were then described as follows: 

"Beginning at the South East corner of Warren County, thence by the line 
thereof west to the west boundary of a Tract of land surveyed to the Holland 
Land Company on Warrant No. 3194, thence north to the Allegheny river, 
thence down the same to the West end of the Reserve of Warren, thence by 
the same to the north west corner, thence in a northerly direction to the south 
east corner of a tract surveyed on warrant in the name of George Lex, thence 
north to the line dividing the tracts surveyed on warrants in the name of Caleb 
and Paul Cato, thence west to the line dividing the tracts surveyed on warrants 
in the name of Stephen and Simon Nim, thence north to the northern bound- 
ary of said county, thence East by the same to the Eastern boundary, thence 
south by the same to the place of beginning, to be called Conewango Town- 
ship." 

"Beginning at the north west corner of Conewango township, thence by the 
line of Warren County west to the western boundary of said county, thence by 
the same south to the southern boundary thereof, thence by the same East to 
the south west corner of Conewango township aforesaid, thence by the same to 
the place of beginning, to be called Brokenstraw Township." 

This division, as will be noticed, placed the jurisdiction of the eastern part 



The Era of Formation, from 1800 to 18 19. 



133 



of the county under Conewango township, and the western part under that of 
Brokenstraw. The rolls for that year (1808) show that Conewango township 
then contained one hundred and thirty-nine taxable inhabitants, and Broken- 
straw one hundred and seventeen — a gain of fifty in two years. Their names, 
etc., were as follows: 



Conewango : 
Andrews, John, i outlot and 6 inlots in War- 
ren. 
Andrews, Robert, 2 inlots in Warren. 
Andrews, James, i inlot in Warren. 
Armstrong, George, 2 outlets and 2 inlots in 

Warren. 
Addison, Alexander (dec"), 2 outlets, 2 inlots 

in Warren. 
Allen, Hugh, 3 inlots in Warren. 
Arthur, Robt., i cow. 
Arthur, James, i horse. 
Arthur, William, 1 10 acres, I horse. 
Baldwin, Henr>', 43 inlots in Warren. 
Butler, Samuel, 2 inlots in Warren. 
Barr, John, too acres, i cow, 2 oxen. 
Brown, John, Sen', 300 acres, i cow. 
Brown, John, Jr., i cow. 
Brown, James, 100 acres. 
Brown, David, 200 acres, 2 horses, i cow, 2 

oxen, 2 inlots in Warren. 
Budd, Benjamin. 
Baird, James, 200 acres, 2 oxen. 
Baird, Edward, i cow. 
Biles, Charles, 400 acres, 2 oxen. 
Clemons, Jacob, 12 inlots in Warren. 
Corbett, Daniel, 3 inlots in Warren. 
Cole, John, i cow, 2 oxen. 
Cole, Benjamin. 100 acres, i cow, 2 oxen. 
Colt & Marlin, 400 acres, i saw-mill, 2 oxen, 

2 cows. 
Cole, Cornelius, 100 acres, 2 horses, 3 cows. 
Craig, Isaac, 1,688 acres. 
Campbell, John, single man. 
Campbell, Samuel, 2 horses, i cow. 
Cheeks, Nathaniel, 1,000 acres, I cow, i ox. 
Dickson, John, one inlot in Warren. 
Dougherty, Charles, 3 inlots in Warren. 
Davis, William, 2 inlots in Warren. 
Dike, Isaac, 2 inlots in Warren. 
Dale, Samuel, i inlot in Warren. 
Davis, William, 1 50 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows. 
Davis, Thomas, i 50 acres. 
Egan, William, 400 acres, i horse, l cow, 2 oxen 
Eddy, Zachariah, 400 acres, i horse, i cow, 2 

oxen, 2 inlots in Warren, asssesor for 1808. 



Ford, William, 5 inlots in Warren. 
Foster, William B., 4 inlots in Warren. 
Frew, Hugh, 200 acres, 2 cows, 2 oxen, i 

grist-mill. 
Fuller, Salmon, 2 cows, i horse, 141 inlots in 

Warren, millwright by occupation. 
Graff, Andrew, 4 inlots in Warren. 
Goodwin, Jacob, 600 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows, 

2 oxen, 2 inlots in Warren, ^ saw-mill. 
Greenwalt, Mathias, i cow, i ox. 
Gray, Joseph, 2 inlots in Warren. 
Geer, Asa, 2 cows. 
Goodwin, Joseph, 125 acres. 
Hurst, Henry, 2 inlots in Warren. 
Hill & Torbett, 10 inlots in Warren. 
Hackney, Joseph, 6 inlots in Warren. 
Harper, Elisha, 2 inlots in Warren. 
Hood, John, 100 acres of land, i horse. 
Hadley, Stephen, 66 acres, ^ saw-mill. 
Hawley, John, 1 50 acres. 
Jones, Isaiah, Esq., 329 acres, i cow, justice 

of the peace. 
Jackson, Daniel, Sen', 133 acres, 2 horses, 4 

cows, 8 lots in Warren, i saw-mill, justice 

of the peace. 
Jackson, Daniel, Jr., 400 acres, i horse, i cow, 

I inlot in Warren. 
Jackson, Ethan, 470 acres, 2 cows, 2 oxen, 2 

inlots in Warren, i saw-mill. 
Kennedy, Thomas R., 6 outlets in Warren. 
King, John, single man. 
Kerson, John, 200 acres, i cow. 
Kerson, Samuel, i cow. 
Lynch, George, i cow. 
Lapsley, William, 200 acres, 2 cows. 
McKinney, Michael, 400 acres, i horse, 2 cows, 

I ox. 
McDowell, Alexander, 3 outlets and 6 inlets 

in Warren. 
McNamara, Robert, i outlot and 12 inlots in 

Warren. 
McNair, Charles, 2 inlots in Warren. 
McKinney, John, 2 inlots in Warren 
Murdeck, Abijah, 100 acres, i cow, 4 oxen, i 

saw-mill, 18 inlots in Warren. 
Murdeck, Moses, 100 acres, 2 cows, 2 oxen. 



134 



History of Warren County. 



Murdock, Galen, i cow. 

Marsh, John, 200 acres, i horse, 3 cows, 4 
oxen, 2 outlots and 2 inlots in Warren. 

Marsh, David, 100 acres, i cow, I horse, i in- 
let in Warren. 

Marsh, Mulford, 400 acres, 4 cows, 3 oxen, 2 
outlots and 6 inlots in Warren. 

Morrison, Samuel, 133 acres, i cow, 2 oxen, 
2 inlots in Warren, f of saw-mill. 

Miles, Robert, 1,400 acres, 2 horses, 3 cows, 
2 oxen. 

McClay, Cliarles, 1,200 acres, 6 inlots in War- 
ren. 

Miles, William, 200 acres. 

Marsh, Hugh, 400 acres, i horse, 2 cows, 4 
oxen. I bull, 2 outlots and 3 inlots in War- 
ren. 

McGintv, Daniel, 100 acres, 1 cow, i saw- 
mill. 

McClain, Neal, 200 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows. 

McClain, John, 200 acres, 2 cows, 2 oxen. 

Mullen, John, 3 inlots in Warren. 

Morrison, John, 400 acres, 2 cows, 2 inlots in 
Warren. 

Morrison, Jeremiah, 400 acres, i cow, 4 oxen, 
I inlot in Warren, .| saw-mill. 

Morrison, James, Jr., 65 acres, i cow, 2 o.xen, 
I inlot in Warren, 

Morrison, James, Sen', 2 cows, 2 oxen. 

Morrison, William, 200 acres, 1 cow, 2 oxen, 
I inlot in Warren. 

Murphy, Jesse, 200 acres, 2 cows, 2 oxen. 

Neville, John, i cow. 

Owen, John, i cow. 

Powers, George, 38 inlots in Warren. 

Pastorius, William, i inlot in Warren. 

Parmlee, Lothrop S., single man. 

Phillips, Ira, 66 acres, J saw-mill. 

Peelman, Christopher, 100 acres, i horse. 

Portman, John, 100 acres, 3 cows. 

Portman, James, 100 acres. 



Russell, Thomas, 100 acres. 

Russell, Robert, 100 acres, i cow, i inlot in 

Warren, millwright by occupation. 
Russell, John, Sen', 100 acres, 2 cows, 2 oxen. 
Russell, John, Jr., 100 acres, 2 oxen. 
Ross, Stephen, 400 acres, 2 horses. 2 cows, 2 

oxen, I saw-mill, i inlot in Warren. 
Robertson, Jonathan, 275 acres, i cow, 2 oxen. 
Reilly, James, 1 inlot in Warren. 
Rason. Jacob, 2 inlots in Warren. 
Reese, Martin, Sen', i horse, 2 cows, 2 oxen, 

7 outlots and i inlot in Warren. 
Reese, Martin, Jr., 117 acres. 2 oxen. 
Reese, John, 2 inlots in Warren. 
Ramsey, Robert, 100 acres, i cow. 
Swar, Jacob, 2 inlots in Warren. 
Sherman, Elisha, i inlot in Warren. 
Stiles, John, 375 acres, 2 cows, 2 oxen. 
Stewart, William. 100 acres, i horse. 
Slone, George, 2 cows, a blacksmith. 
Shipman, James, 100 acres, i cow. 
Stuart, James, 200 acres, 2 cows. 
Stuart, John, 100 acres, i cow. 
Smith, John, 4 inlots in Warren. 
Sims. William, Jr., i inlot in Warren. 
Simons, Titus A., i inlot in Warren. 
Simons, David S.. i inlot in Warren. 
Stage, Samuel, 300 acres, 2 horses, i inlot in 

Warren. 
Schoonover, Christopher, 400 acres, i horse, 

2 cows. 
Thompson John, 3 inlots in Warren. 
Tyler Joel, 200 acres, i cow. 
Uppenhouser, Hendrick, i horse. 
Wright, Azariah, 4 inlots in Warren. 
Work, Edward, 4 inlots in Warren. 
Wilson. Hugh, i inlot in Warren. 
Woodworth, Joseph, 200 acres. 2 oxen. 
Woodworth, Isaac, 200 acres. 
Waldo, Frederick, 200 acres, 2 cows. 
Young, Jotham, single man. 
York. Amos, 100 acres, 2 cows. 

The rate per cent, on real and per- 



Reed. James, i inlot in Warren. 

Single men were taxed 75 cents each 
sonal estate was six mills on the dollar. 

The total amount of valuation was $75,140.80-^, and the court of appeals 
was ordered to be held at the house of Daniel Jackson. 



Brokenstraw : 
August, Benjamin, tailor, i cow. 
Andrews, James, 100 acres. 
Andrews, Robert, 300 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows, 

I .saw-mill, and justice of the peace. 



Andrews, John, 600 acres. 2 oxen, i horse, 4 

cows, 2 stills. 
Arthur, John, 1 50 acres. 4 saw-mill, 2 oxen, 2 

cows. 
Adams, William. 100 acres, 2 horses. 



The Era of Formation, from 1800 to 18 19. 



135 



Adkins. James, i horse, single man. 
Buchanan, Andrew, blacksmith, lOO acres, 2 

oxen, 2 cows. 
Bonner, Robert, 400 acres, i grist-mill, i saw- 
mill, I cow, 1 horse. 
Berry, George, 100 acres. 
Bell, Robert, single man. i yoke oxen. 
Bell, John, 500 acres. 
Bonner. Francis, single man. millwright. 
Bonner. James, single man. 
Chamberlain, Stout, 250 acres. 
Campbell, James, i horse. 
Campbell, Samuel, i horse, i cow. 
Crawford, John, 200 acres, 2 oxen. 
Culbertson, James, 450 acres, i saw-mill, 2 

oxen, 2 cows, i horse. 
Cover, George, single man, i horse. 
Corbett, Daniel, 350 acres, i saw-mill, 2 yokes 

oxen, 2 horses, i cow. 
Call, Daniel, 200 acres, 2 oxen, i cow. 
Call, Dennis, 150 acres. 
Call, John, 150 acres. 
Cochran, William, 2 oxen, i cow. 
Carpenter. William, Sen', 250 acres, 2 cows, 

I horse. 
Carpenter. John. 1 50 acres, i saw-mill. 2 oxen. 

I horse. 
Carhart, Stophel, single man. 
Cunningham, Richard, 200 acres. 
Collins, Jonathan, 100 acres, i cow. 
Davis, Elijah, 100 acres, 2 oxen, i cow. 
Davis, John. 100 acres. 
Davis, Abraham, 100 acres, 2 oxen. 
Evers, Andrew, 200 acres, 2 oxen, i cow, i 

horse. 
Elder, James, Jr., i horse, i cow. 
Elder, John, 100 acres. 
Frampton, John, 250 acres, 2 oxen, 3 cows, i 

horse. 
Ford. William. 200 acres, i ox, i cow. 
Fancher, Samuel, 100 acres, i horse, i cow. 
Ford, Obediah, single man. 
Groves, Thos. W., 400 acres, 2 oxen, i cow. 
Gray, Joseph, 600 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows, 2 

oxen. 
Green, James, 2 oxen, I cow. 
Hare, James, 100 acres. 
Hare, Michael, 100 acres, i cow. 
Henry, William, cabinet maker, i cow. 
Huffman, Jacob, 200 acres, 4 oxen, i horse, 

I cow. 
Henderson, Richard, 400 acres, 2 oxen. 



Hunter. Robert, 4 acres, i cow. 

Hinds, John, blacksmith, 400 acres, 2 oxen. 

Hildebrandt, George, Jr., 100 acres. 

Hildebrandt, Solomon, 100 acres. 

Hildebrandt, George, Sen', 100 acres, 2 oxen, 
I cow, millwright by trade. 

Hicks, Levi, 100 acres, 2 cows, i ox, i horse. 

Hicks, John, 100 acres, 2 horses, i ox, i cow. 

Horn, Daniel, 100 acres, i horse. 

Pluffman, Philip, 395 acres, 3 horses, i cow. 

Justice, John, 1 horse, 2 oxen. 

Justice, James, 200 acres, i cow. 

Irvin, James, 200 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows. 

Irvin. George, 100 acres. 

Jackson. Elijah, 150 acres, 2 oxen, i horse. 

Jones, Daniel, 100 acres, 2 cows. 

Jones, Edward, single man. 

Long, John, Jr, 200 acres, 1 cow, 2 oxen. 

Long, John, Sen', 160 acres. 

Cover & Horn, 400 acres, I saw-mill. 

Long, George, 2 oxen, i horse, i cow. 

Linn, James, 100 acres, i horse, i cow. 

McQuay, Daniel, 400 acres, 2 o.xen. 

Miller, Humphrey, 2 cows, i horse. 

McKinney, Barnabas, 4 oxen. 

NcNair, Charles, 700 acres. 

Maxwell, William, 400 acres, i horse, 2 cows. 

Mead, Joseph, 400 acres, 4 oxen, 3 cows, i 
horse, I saw-mill. 

Mead, Darius, 500 acres, i grist-mill, i saw- 
mill, 6 oxen, 3 cows, 2 horses. 

McClain, William, 100 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows. 

McGuire, Patience, 400 acres, 2|oxen, 2 cows. 

Miller, John, 100 acres, i horse, i cow. 

McGahan, William, 2 oxen, I cow. 

McKinney, John, 200 acres, 3 oxen, 2 horses, 
3 cows, i saw-mill. 

Mead, William, too acres, i horse. 

McLister, James, shoemaker, 100 acres, 2 
cows. 

McCullough, Robert, single man. 

Mead, John, single man. 

Olds. Gilbert, shoemaker. 

Prosser, William, 100 acres, 2 oxen, i cow. 

Prosser, Daniel, 100 acres. 

Prosser, Isaac, 100 acres. 

Putnam, Nathaniel, 266 acres, 2 oxen, i cow, 
I horse, f of saw-mill. 

Porter, Andrew, 100 acres. 

Page, Joseph, 100 acres, i cow. 

Rhinehart, Isaac, 100 acres, 3 cows, i horse. 

Sims, James, 400 acres. 



136 History of Warren County. 



Sims, Catharine, 2 oxen, 2 cows, i horse. 
Sample, John, 150 acres, 2 horses, 1 cow. 
Siggins, William, i yoke of o.xen. 
Sample, John, Sen', i cow. 
Smith, Charles, 100 acres, i cow. 
Stewart, Richard, 100 acres. 
-Tuthill, Francis, 200 acres, i cow. 
Thompson, Daniel, 100 acres, 2 horses. 
Thompson, Thomas, single man. 
Wilson, Samuel, 400 acres. 2 oxen, i cow. 
Wilson, William, 400 acres. 
Watts, James, 300 acres, 2 oxen, i horse. 



Watts, Alexander, 500 acres. 

Winton, Nathan, 2 oxen, 2 cows. 

Winton, David, 133 acres, 2 oxen, i saw-mill. 

White, Alfred, 100 acres, 3 cows. 

White. Giles, 100 acres, 4 oxen, 3 cows, 2 

horses. 
Watts, John, too acres, i horse, i cow. 
Williams, John L., 50 acres. 
Willison, James, 100 acres, i cow. 
Welch, Samuel. 500 acres, 3 horses, 2 cows. 
Wilson, Hugh, 300 acres, i cow, i horse. 
Young. Mathew. 400 acres, J saw-mill. 



Hugh Wilson was the assessor. The tax upon single men and the rate per 
cent, upon real and personal estate were the same as in Conewango township. 
The total valuation of taxable property in the township was $58,766.99, and 
the house of Robert Andrews was named as the place for holding a court of 
appeals. 

In June, 1808, a delegation of Wyandot and Seneca Indians from San- 
dusky River passed through Warren and up the Allegheny River, on their way 
to a council with the Seneca nation. They were bringing a friendly message 
from the Ohio tribes, to allay any fears of an Indian outbreak in that locality. 
During the same summer some twenty or thirty Senecas, from their reservation 
on the Allegheny, went to Sandusky, where a council was held with the West- 
ern tribes. They also passed over the same route going and returning, and it 
was learned that the council's deliberations related principally to the existing 
differences between the United States and England, and in the event of a war 
they had decided to observe a strict neutrality. This decision, however, proved 
of very little stability, as the Senecas sided with the United States, while most 
of the Western Indians, through the influence of Tecumsch, assisted by British 
gold, went with England. 

When the War of 18 12-15 broke out, a want of confidence began to be 
manifested between the inhabitants of Northwestern Pennsylvania and the In- 
dians on the Allegheny River, which excited some uneasiness, lest disagreeable 
consequences might result from it. To quiet all apprehensions, the citizens of 
Meadville held a meeting, and deputized General David Mead, Colonel Joseph 
Hackney (afterwards for many years a well-known citizen of Warren), and 
Major Patrick Farrelly to visit the Indians and ascertain their disposition in 
the coming war with England ; also to make what explanations might be 
deemed necessary to continue the good understanding that had hitherto exist- 
ed with these tribes. A council was held at Jennesadaga, Cornplanter's village 
on the Allegheny, at which were present a number of chiefs and warriors of 
the Seneca nation, among whom were Cornplanter, Silver Heels — the old 
prophet, who, it has been stated, was a brother of Cornplanter — Joseph Beads, 
John Purfer, Major Henry O'Bail and Charles O'Bail, sons of Cornplanter. 



The Era of Formation, from 1800 to 18 19. 137 

When the council assembled Cornplanter welcomed the delegates and wished 
to hear from them. Major Farrelly explained the object of their mission, viz., 
to preserve the peace and friendship heretofore existing between the whites 
and Indians. After a short consultation with the other chiefs Cornplanter 
replied, reciprocating the sentiments expressed by Major Farrelly, whereupon 
the council broke up with the best of feelings. 

At this period a treaty existed between the Senecas and the United States 
government which provided that if a white man should kill an Indian, or vice 
versa, the culprit would have to pay $200 to the friends or heirs of the mur- 
dered man. Though this might now be regarded as very questionable justice, 
yet it helped to establish a feeling of confidence among the Senecas, which 
made them the allies of this nation in the War of 1812— 15, though every effort 
was made by the agents of the British government to seduce them from their 
allegiance to the American cause. To Cornplanter's influence was due this 
happy result, as after the Revolutionary War (with the exception of the year 
1794) he was always the steadfast friend of the young republic in her struggle 
against English arrogance, which was exhibited on every occasion, until the 
War of 1 81 2-1 5 taught her to respect the rights of American freemen. Corn- 
planter, then an old man of about four score years, took no active part in that 
war, but many of the Senecas, including his son. Major Henry O'Bail, and his 
half-brother, Half- Town, were conspicuous in the last struggle against English 
tyranny. 

Of the white residents of Warren county who served in the last war^ 
against Great Britain but little can be said, since it is an impracticable matter 
to ascertain who they were, how many there were, or where they served. But 
there is no room for doubt that the two townships furnished their full quota of 
soldiers and that the men who marched to the scene of conflict well performed 
the duty assigned them. 

During the year 18 13 "the Holland Land Company sold to the Lancaster 
Land Company one hundred and seventy thousand acres of land, mostly situ- 
ated in Warren county and covering the territory now included in Mead, 
Pleasant, Kinzua, Cherry Grove, and Sheffield townships. The latter com- 

1 On the 15th of June, 1869, a number of the surviving soldiers of the War of 1812-15 met in 
Warren. Hon. William Siggins was chosen president of the meeting and Robert Miles secretary. 
They passed resolutions regarding the granting of pensions to soldiers of the last war with England, 
and were hospitably entertained by L. L. Lowry, Esq., at the Carver House, with a dinner sumptuous 
in its appointments. The veterans present were as follows : Zachariah Eddy, of Warren, aged ninety 
years ; Robert Miles, of Warren, aged seventy-si.\ years ; Stephen Olney, of Warren, aged seventy- 
eight years ; John Geer, of Glade township, aged seventy-eight years ; Emanuel Crull, of Tidioute, 
aged eighty years ; Caleb Thompson, of Pine Grove township, aged eighty-four years ; Isaac Davis, 
of Brokenstraw township, aged seventy-seven years ; John Brown, of Brokenstraw township, aged 
seventy-three years ; William Siggins, of YoungsviUe, aged eighty years ; Isaac Lopus, of Pittsfield, 
aged seventy-seven years ; Elisha Sterling, of Limestone, aged eighty-one years. Ira Badger, of Pine 
Grove, aged seventy-four years, and Joseph Ackley, of the same township, aged seventy-nine years, 
were also veterans of the same war, and living at that time, but were unable to attend the meeting. 



138 History of Warren County. 

pany immediately employed Samuel Dale, of Franklin, to re-survey and sub- 
divide the original surveys into small lots of one hundred and sixty-five and 
two hundred and twenty-five acres each. This work was performed in 1814, 
numbering them anew from one to seven hundred and seventy. These lands 
have ever since been bought and sold, taxed and mapped, by these subdivision 
numbers. In 18 16 these lots were partitioned among the several members of 
the company and the titles made to each in severalty. 

"The hard times which followed the close of the War of 1812-45 seems to 
have crushed the ability or the spirit of these Lancaster gentlemen for further 
land speculation. Commencing with 1816, those lands began to be sold for 
taxes, and soon a great portion of them were in the tax market, .sold and 
resold many times for unpaid taxes, for thirty years and upward, before their 
value was properly appreciated. Many other lands in the county, especially 
those in the northwestern part, between the river and Conewango Creek, have 
passed through the unseated tax mill and are now held by treasurers' deeds. 
It is proper here to say, for the benefit of outsiders and new-comers, that the 
tax titles by which so large a portion of the land in the county is now owned, 
are generally very reliable and safe ones to deal in. They are free from com- 
plication, and it has been the policy of the law and the courts to sustain them, 
when not vitiated by gross irregularities." ' 

In the summer of 1816 Rev. Timothy Alden, before mentioned as the 
founder of the Allegheny College, set out on a brief missionary tour among 
the Indians residing on the upper waters of the Allegheny, and spent some 
days at the village of the venerable chieftain, Cornplanter. Upon his return 
to Meadville he wrote a letter to the Rev. Joseph McKean, of Harvard Uni- 
versity, giving an account of his labors, etc., wherein he says : " Cornplanter, 
as soon as apprised of our arrival, came over to see us, and immediately took 
charge of our horses. Though the chief Sachem of his tribe, and having many 
around to obey his commands, yet, in the ancient patriarchial style, he chose 
to serve himself, and actually went into the field, cut the oats, and faithfully 
fed our beasts from time to time, while we continued in the place, in ipsa per- 
sona propria 

" Cornplanter has been the greatest warrior the Scnecas have ever had ; 
yet he has always been remarkable for his humane treatment of the women 
and children of his enemies, who at any time have fallen into his hands. He 
is a man of strong mind and masterly eloquence. At the treaty of Fort Stan- 
wix, he greatly distinguished himself by his talents and address, insomuch that 
by general suffrage he has ever since held the first place of power among the 
chiefs of his nation. 

" He appears to be about si.xty-eight years of age." [Mr. Alden was mis- 
taken as to Cornplanter's age. He was born about 1732, and in i8i6was 

I Hon. S. P. Ji)linson. 



The Era of Formation, from 1800 to 18 19. 139 

eighty-four years old.] " His countenance is strongly marked with the lines 
of intelligence and reflection. Contrary to the aboriginal custom, his chin is 
covered with a beard three or four inches in length, and upon his head are 
many of the blossoms of age. His house is of princely dimensions compared 
with the generality of Indian huts, and has a piazza in front. He is the owner 
of about 1,500 acres of excellent land, 600 of which encircle the ground-plot 
of his little town. From the United States he receives, annually, according to 
stipulation, $250, besides his proportion of $9,000 equally divided, one half 
in goods and one half in money, among those of every age and condition in 
the tribe." 

At this time (18 16) the tax-paying inhabitants of the county were as 
follows : 

Coiicivaiigo Toivnsliip. — Samuel Anderson, James Arthur, who owned a 
saw-mill, Robert Arthur, Sen"', Boon Arthur, James Akin, Adam Acker, John 
Brown, John Brown, Jr., John Barr, David Brown, a tanner, and justice of the 
peace as early as 1 8 1 1 , Andrew Buchanan, Ozias Barrett, Joseph Bailing, 
John Cole, James Cole, Benjamin Covel, Isaiah Cole, Cornelius Cole, Samuel 
Campbell, Josiah Chandler, Charles Chandler, John Chandler, Charles 
Dougherty, William Davis, Thomas Davis, Ezra Devereaux, Henry Dunn, 
Levi Doan, who owned a saw-mill, Zachariah Eddy, Randall Evans, Daniel 
Faulkner, Stephen Frank, who owned a grist-mill, Robert Falconer, Luther 
Freeman, Joseph Fitch, Eli Granger, Widow Gilson, Joseph Gray, Asa Geer, 
Joseph Goodwin, Hackney & Harriott, owners of a saw-mill, Jacob Hook, who 
owned a saw-mill, John Hood, Samuel Hunter, owner of a grist-mill and saw- 
mill, William Hodge, Ebenezer Jackson, Daniel Jackson, David Jackson, 
Isaiah Jones, justice of the peace, Jehu Jones, Edward Jones, John King, 
John Littlefield, Levi Morrison, Hugh Marsh, John Marsh, Webster Marsh, 
Jesse Murphy, owner of a grist and saw-mill, John Marsh, Jr., Michael McKin- 
ney, Joseph Mead, Ephriam Morrison, Samuel Morrison, owner of a saw-mill, 
Elisha Morrison, James Morrison, Sen", William Morrison, John Morrison, 
Robert Miles, Widow Miles, John Miles, James Morrison, Jr., William Mile^ 
Samuel Magee.i John McClain, John Neville, Joseph Northrup, Abraham Os- 
born, Eben Owen, a blacksmith, James Portman, Squire Phillips, John Rus- 
sell, Jr., Thomas Russell, Martin Reese, Jr., John Reese, Robert Russell, 
Michael Reese, John Russell, Sen^ Stephen Rogers, Rankin & Cochran, owners 
of one-half of a saw-mill, Martin Reese, Sen', Christopher Schoonover, James 
Stanton, Simeon Scowden, James Stewart, Jr., Robert Stewart, William Stew- 

1 At the Tune term of Court of Common Pleas, 1821, one James Magee, an insolvent debtor, then 
eighty-six years of age, mnde statement under oath that early in 1776 he enlisted in the State of Dela- 
aware in a company commanded by Captain Lattimore, called the "Wilmington Greens," for a term 
of fifteen months. Subsequently he re-enlisted in the same State in a company commanded by Captain 
Mitchell. His company was attached to Colonel Grayson's regiment of the Virginia Line, and served 
till 17S0. Mr. Magee participated in the battles of Brandywine, Paoli, Germantown, and Monmouth. 



I40 History of Warren County. 

art, Thomas Stewart, James Shipman, David Sturdevant, George Sweet, 
Jonathan Thompson, Caleb Thompson, and Asa Winter, owner of grist 
and saw-mills. 

Brokenstraw Township. — Robert Andrews, justice of the peace, Arthur 
Andrews, James Andrews, William Arthur, Robert Arthur, owner one-half of 
saw-mill, Thomas Arthur, John Arthur, James Arthur, Richard Arthur, Na- 
than Abbott, George Berry, James Bonner, owner of a grist-mill and saw-mill, 
Samuel Burnett, Peter Burgett, owner of saw-mill, Robert Bell, Isaac Bucka- 
lew, Thomas Boyd, James Benson, Thomas Burbank, George Carpenter, James 
Culbertson, owner of a saw-mill, Alexander Clantz, Luther Chase, Daniel 
Corbett, owner of a saw-mill, John Courson, Stephen Carhart, George Cover, 
Henry Catlin, John Campbell, David Courson, John Camp, a millwright, Sam- 
uel Cole, David Dalrymple, Mark Dalrymple, Clark Dalrymple, David Dal- 
rymple, Jr., Robert Donaldson, Abraham Davis, John Davis, Isaac Davis, Eli- 
jah Davis, Abraham D. Ditmars, Benjamin Davis, Thomas Duprey, a black- 
smith, Richard Duprey, John De France, James Darling, owner of saw-mill, 
John Elder, James Elder, Andrew Evers, Nathaniel Frampton, Obediah Ford, 
Samuel Ford, Isaac L. Fitch, John Gardner, Joseph Grant, Jacob Goodwin, 
who owned a saw-mill and one-half of a grist-mill, Joseph Gray, owner of a 
saw-mill, John Gillespie, merchant at Youngsville, John Gregg, Samuel Gregg, 
Nehemiah Gray, John Gibson, James Green, Daniel Horn, owner of saw-mill, 
John Hamilton, a blacksmith, William Hunter, Poland Hunter, William Hare, 
James Hamilton, Robert Hunter, Richard Henderson, Joel Hill, Daniel Hough- 
wout, a joiner, Paul Huffman, Jacob Huffman, James Irvin, John Irvine, a mer- 
chant, Callender Irvine, Septimus King, Henry Kinnear, a merchant, Elijah 
Jackson, George Long, Cookson Long, owner of saw-mill, Hewlett Lott, Har- 
monious Lott, a merchant, William McClain, Solomon Miles, Richard Miller, 
William McGee, Patience McGuire, William McGuire, David Matthews, Arthur 
McGill, Samuel McGuire, Thomas McGuire, Samuel Moore, John McKinney, 
owner of saw-mill, Barnabas McKinney, John Mead, William Mead, Anna 
Mead, owner of one-half grist-mill and one-half saw-mill, Daniel McQuay, 
Charles McNair, Ephraim Miles, Humphrey Miller, Nathaniel Norris, Stephen 
Norris, James Phillis, Robert Prather, owner of saw-mill, Samuel Peoples, John 
Peoples, Leonard Pike, Thomas Page, Jonathan Rute, James Sturdevant, James 
Sturdevant, Jr., Peter Simons, George Shultz, Jesse Sims, Charles Smith, 
Adam Shultz, David Stillson, Abraham Strickland, Thomas Sims, Richard 
Stewart, John Sample, Jr., George Siggins, Samuel Sprague, William Siggins, 
Stephen Sweet, William Smith, Robert Thompson, John Thompson, John Tut- 
tle, Thomas Tubbs, James Williams, James Watts' heirs, William White, Henry 
White, Samuel White, James White, Parsons Wetmore, Lansing Wetmore, Will- 
iam C. White, Canvas B. White, Hugh Wilson, Joshua Whitney, Alexander 
Watts, Amos York, Nehemiah York, Christopher Young and Mathew Young. 



From the Organization ok the County until 1830. 141 

This is a remarkable showing, as compared with the list of taxables of eight 
years before, and clearly proves that hard times, cold seasons, litigations con- 
cerning land titles, and the War of 18 12-15 h'^d proved disastrous to the new 
settlements in Warren — had discouraged many and caused them to migrate 
to more congenial parts farther West ; for, although this list discloses many 
new names, yet the number of tax-paying inhabitants in 18 16 is exactly the 
same as that of 1 808 — two hundred and fifty-six. During the next four years, 
however, a rapid increase in population took place ; for when the county was 
organized in 18 19 it contained nearly two thousand inhabitants. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY UNTIL 18.30. 

Onerous Duties Imposed Upon Early Inhabitants — Passage of the Ai-t of Organization — 
Its Provisions — Initial Proceedings of County Commi.ssioners — The First Term of Court — 
Its Officers — Jurors — Attorneys — Early Inn-keepers — Reminiscences Concerning the First 
Term of Court — Population of the County in 1820 — New Townships formed in 1821 — The 
Attempts to Collect Taxes from Cornplanter — The Old Chief Victorious — The Hook Murder 
Trial — Incidents Connected Therewith — Results — Other Early Events. 

FOR five years the inhabitants of Warren county had plodded their weary 
way from their log cabins in the wilderness, over the hills to Meadville, 
when it was necessary to transact public or legal business, and for fourteen 
years more had they made toilsome journeys to Franklin, a distance of sixty- 
five miles from the then hamlet of Warren, when business of the same nature 
imposed its duties upon them. This condition of affairs at last became too 
onerous and irksome to be longer borne without an effort being made to effect 
a change. Hence in the winter of 1818-19 Colonel Joseph Hackney, of the 
town of Warren, then representing Venango county in the State Legislature, 
introduced a bill providing for the separate and independent organization of 
the county of Warren. His efforts were crowned with almost immediate suc- 
cess, and on the i6th day of March, 18 19, an act containing the legislation de- 
sired was passed 

This act provided that Warren should be organized as a separate county 
from and after October i, 1819, and be attached to the Sixth judicial district. 
Also, that the legal electors should choose county officers at an election to be 
held on the second Tuesday of October of that year, whose duties were to be 
considered as commenced from the first day of October, 18 19. We have no 
evidence, however, that such an election was held, and from the fact that 



142 History of Warren County. 

Lansing Wetmore's commissions as prothonotary, clerk of courts, register and 
recorder, etc., were signed by the governor, September 25, 18 19, it is believed 
that all the chief officers of the county at the beginning were appointed by the 
same authority. 

The county commissioners, viz., James Benson, Asa Winter, and Henry 
Kinnear, appear to have been the first officials of the county to make use of the 
power and priviliges vested in them. Their first meeting was held October 
16, 1 8 19, at the house of Ebenezer Jackson, which stood on the west, or rather 
northwest, corner of Water and Hickory streets. Messrs. Benson and Winter 
only were present at this meeting. They appointed John Andrews as their 
clerk. They also hired a room from Jackson at a rental of two dollars per 
month, to be used and known as the county commissioners' office. The next 
meeting was held on the 28th day of the same month, all of the members 
being present, when Henry Dunn, of Conewango, and Isaac Connelly, of Bro- 
kenstraw, were appointed township assessors for the ensuing year. 

On the 8th day of November Charles O'Bail, a son of Cornplanter, pre- 
sented a claim for bounty on two full-grown wolf scalps. A room in which to 
hold the first term of court was rented from Ebenezer Jackson at a rental of 
$15 for the term, on the loth of the same month, and five days later, or 
November 15, 18 19, Archibald Tanner was appointed county treasurer for the 
term of one year. 

Preparations having been completed for the proper observance of such a 
grand event, the first Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace and Common 
Pleas, to convene in the newly-organized county of Warren, began its sessions 
on Monday, November 29, 18 19, in an unfinished room of a house then being 
built by Ebenezer Jackson. This house of Jackson's, as before described, 
stood on the corner now occupied by the Carver House. There were present 
as officials Hon. Jesse Moore, president judge; Joseph Hackney and Isaac 
Connelly, associate judges; Andrew Bowman, sheritiof Venango county, act- 
ing, and Lansing Wetmore, prothonotary, clerk of courts, etc. 

The grand jurors summoned to attend at this term, all of whom answered 
to their names with the exception of Emanuel Crull, were Richard B. Miller, 
foreman, Alexander Watt, James Sturdevant, Henry Catlin, John Long, Joseph 
Gray, David Sturdevant, Philip Mead, William Bingham, John Portman, 
Samuel Trask, David Miles, Orange Owen, Jesse Tarbox, Samuel Gilson, John 
Dixon, Levi Doane, Squire Phillips, Thomas McGuire, Zachariah Eddy, John 
Tuttle, Emanuel Crull, Arthur Andrews, and Peleg Cranston. While of the 
traverse jurors summoned there were present John Geer, William Siggins, 
Abraham Strickland, James Wilson, John Gilson, Henry Myers, John Rogers, 
Cook.son Long, Levi Morrison, Ebenezer Jackson, Enoch Gillam, Eli Granger, 
Samuel Gregg, James Follett, John Sample, Ethan Owen, Cephas Holbert, 
Walter Seaman, John McKinncy, and Philip Huffman. 



From the Organization of the County until 1830. 143 

These jurymen had been summoned by Andrew Bowman, sheriff of Ve- 
nango county, to whom had been directed the precept. He also cited the grand 
and traverse jurors who assembled at March term in 1820, by reason of the 
fact that Mark C. Dalrymple, the first sheriff of Warren county, was not com- 
missioned until about the time of holding the second term of court above 
mentioned. 

During the first day of the first term Ralph Marlin, of Meadville, Thomas 
H. Sill, of Erie, John Galbraith, of Frankhn, and Patrick Farrelly, of Mead- 
ville, were admitted to practice as attorneys at law in the various courts of the 
county. During the same day, also, David Stillson and George Stoolfire were 
granted license' to sell liquors and keep houses for public entertainment. For 
other interesting details relating to this first term of court held in Warren 
county, our readers are referred to the following accounts, written for publica- 
tion years ago by two of Warren's early citizens — Hon. Lansing Wetmore and 
Hon. Abner Hazeltine. True, these statements are somewhat contradictory, 
especially in describing the fight between the lawyer and the grand juror; but 
both are very readable, and only prove, for the millionth time or more, how 
easy it is for two men, in speaking of one and the same incident, to tell two 
entirely different stories. 

"This first term of court," says Judge Wetmore, "went off rather as a 
jubilee and jollification than the sober business of administering justice to par- 
ties, and trial of cases. Every body drank liquor then and almost every body 
got drunk, or, as Mr. Farmlee used to have it 'Gentlemanly gay.' Temper- 
ance Societies were unknown then. There were but two cases tried, and they 
were in the sessions. They originated in a fight on Monday evening of court 
week, between one of the grand jurors and an attorney at the bar from Mead- 
ville. The attorney had been a Colonel of the Militia in the War of 18 12, and 
the juryman a soldier. He, the colonel, was telling in rather a boasting way 
of his exploits while on the frontier. The juryman listened to him for some 
time, when he asked him if he was the officer who dodged behind a tree when 
there was an alarm of an attack by the British. The gallant colonel replied 
by a blow on the head of the grand juryman. It was promptly returned, 
when a general melee ensued. It resulted in some bloody noses and black eyes, 
but no serious injuries; all being a little more than 'gentlemanly gay.' The 
colonel was indicted and convicted of an assault and battery; a motion was 
made in arrest of judgment, which still remains unargued and undisposed of; 

1 Others to whom licenses were granted for the same purpose during the ne.\t four years were John 
Thompson, place not stated ; Robert Miles, Thomas Slone, and Marshall Jones, of I'inc Grove ; 
Ebenezer Jaclcson, David Jackson, Henry Dunn, Rufus Olney, |and King & Jackson, of the town of 
Warren ; Ambrose L. Pratt, John Langley, Oldham & Gilman, John Reese, Jacob Wells, Mark C. 
Dalrymple, and Philo Brown, places not stated; John I. Willson, Samuel Hall, James Seaman, and 
Artemus Buel, of Sugar Grove; Alfred Vanornam and William Siggins, of Brokenslraw ; Samuel 
Magee, of Deerfield, and Isaac Williams, of Kinzua. 



144 History of Warren County. 

the colonel has long since gone to his final account. The grand juryman was 
also indicted and tried, but was acquitted on the plea of se defaidendo." 

Judge Hazeltine, in his graphic description of the opening of the first term 
of court, and subsequent proceedings, says : "As all our county officers were 
wholly without experience, the prothonotary and sheriff of Venango county 
came up with Judge Moore, the president, and brought the Venango court 
crier, a Mr. Morrison, a dapper little man of wonderful volubility of speech, 
and certainly a great curiosity. There was no show of carriages in the streets. 
The attendants upon the court came either on horseback or on foot. I recol- 
lect that Richard B. Miller, the foreman of the grand jury, and Guy C. Irvine, 
who then lived on the Little Brokenstraw, came on foot by the way of Chan- 
dler's Valley, over the hills then a wilderness, with knapsacks on their backs, 
A rude bench for the judges, with seats for the other members of the court, 
were hastily improvised in the spacious and rather open court room. 

" On the arrival of the hour Crier Morrison blew his horn, bells being then 
unknown, and the court assembled, Sheriff Bowman, of Venango, accom- 
panied by Sheriff Dalrymple,i of Warren, leading the way. Judge Moore, a 
large, venerable-looking man, took his seat on the bench, wearing as large a 
beaver as ever graced the head of William Penn. The associate judges, Hack- 
ney and Connelly, then took their seats, one on the right and the other on 
the left of the president, they also wearing their hats. Crier Morrison, in a 
very audible manner, then made proclamation that the court was opened, and 
that all persons having any business with the Court of Oyer and Terminer, 
Court of Quarter Sessions, Common Pleas, and Orphan's Court, might draw 
near, give their attention, and they should be heard ; ending with what Daniel 
McQuay, a witty Irishman, used to call a bit of a prayer, viz.: ' God save the 
Commonwealth and this Honorable Court.' 

" The next business in order was administering the oath of office to such 
members of the bar as were present from other counties in the district. There 
was no attorney living in the county but myself, and I was then a foreigner. 
There were present Messrs. Marlin, Farrelly, Sill, and Galbraith, and they 
were severally admitted to the Warren Bar, and sworn according to seniority. 
The first sworn was Colonel Marlin. The oath was administered by Judge 
Moore to each orie separately ; and in doing it he rose from his seat, laid aside 
his hat, and repeated the words of the oath in a very solemn and impressive 
manner. The grand jurors were then called and sworn, the oaths being ad- 
ministered by the Hon. Alexander McCalmont, prothonotary of Venango 
county, who assisted Judge Wetmore, then the prothonotary of Warren; Mor- 
rison, the crier, ejaculating sivoni at the conclusion of each oath very emphat- 
ically. Judge Moore, then in a sitting posture, but with his hat removed, 



1 This is an error. There was no Sheriff Dalrymple at lliat time. See " Commission Books," in 
register and recorder's office. 



From the Organization of the County until 1830. 145 

charged the grand jury from a large roll of manuscript showing considerable 
age. 

" This was a novelty to me, as I had always seen that duty performed 
without the aid of manuscript, the judge and the jurors all standing. To those 
who were acquainted with Judge Moore and the courts in Western Pennsyl- 
vania, it of course appeared all natural and in order. The traverse jurors were 
then sworn. After calling over the docket, which then consisted of only a few 
suits that had been transferred from Venango county under the act organizing 
Warren county for judicial purposes, and the transaction of some routine busi- 
ness, the court adjourned to the next day to await the action of the grand 
jury. 

" During the evening of the first day Counselor Marlin, who was not a total 
abstinence man, was approached rather incautiously, as he thought, by one of the 
grand jurors named Dickson, who, like the colonel, had imbibed pretty freely. 
Colonel Marlin had been some years previous to that time engaged in lumber- 
ing on the Conewango and the Allegheny, and Dickson, who claimed to have 
been employed in some capacity about that business, was disposed to be more 
familiar with the colonel than was agreeable to him, and he put himself upon 
his dignity, which greatly irritated Dickson, who being a grand juror sup- 
posed himself the peer of any one. The result was a free fight ensued, in which 
the colonel was rather roughly handled. As several of the grand jurors were 
witnesses of the aff"ray, they thought it their duty to indict them both. My 
recollection is, that Mr. Sill, of Erie, officiated as prosecuting attorney and 
drew the bill. The next day the bills were presented in court and the defend- 
ants arrested. That day, or the next, Dickson was put upon his trial. That, 
I suppose, was the first trial before a jury ever had in this county. That cir- 
cumstance and the character of the parties concerned, interested the public 
and caused a large attendance. The evidence in the case was brief; only two 
or three persons who saw the aftray were sworn. One, I think, was Mr. 
Miller, the foreman of the grand jury. Mr. Sill appeared for the Common- 
wealth, and as was his wont, made a very eloquent speech, speaking in high 
terms of Colonel Marlin and alluding to his services in the then recent war with 
Great Britain, in which the colonel had served with distinction. Dickson was 
defended by Mr. afterwards Judge Galbraith, then a very young man. The 
jury, after receiving a very brief charge from the court, consisting mainly of a 
definition of the crime of assault and battery, retired to a room provided for 
them by the sheriff" in another building. They soon returned and rendered a 
verdict of guilty against the prisoner. A motion was then made to postpone 
the trial of Colonel Marlin to the next term, which was granted. The sentence 
of Dickson was also postponed. According to my recollection neither case 
was ever moved again, but what the records show in the matter I am unable 
to say." 



146 History of Warren County. 



Since both gentlemen — Messrs. Wetmore and Hazeltine — depended upon 
their memory alone in reciting events connected with this term of court, tliey 
have quite naturally failed to state things just as they were, particularly in 
relation to the trial of Marlin and Dixon for assault and battery, the results, 
etc. Therefore we furnish the reader the following information derived from 
the docket : 

In the case of the "Commonwealth Z's. R. Marlin, Esq.," which was first 
called, the witnesses for the Commonwealth were John Dixon, Samuel Gilson, 
Henry Dunn, Alfred Ayers, and Jonathan Andrews ; the witnesses for the 
defendant being Richard B. Miller, James Wilson, William Siggins, Alfred 
Vanornam, Charles O'Bryan, and Barnabas McKinney. The trial came off 
November 30, 18 19, the second day of the term, before the following jurors : 
Cookson Long, Enoch Gillam, Cephas Hulbert, Samuel Gregg, Eli Granger, 
Levi Morrison, Ethan Owen, James Follett, Walter Seaman, John Sample, 
John Gilson, and Henry Myers. Defendant was found not guilty, but ordered 
to pay the costs of prosecution. On December i, 18 19, mf)tion for a new trial 
was granted. 

"Commonwealth vs. John Dixon." In this case thu witnesses for the 
Commonwealth were Alfred Vanornam and William Siggins ; for the defend- 
ant, Alfred Ayers and Jacob C. Boardman. The trial came off the same day 
as that of Marlin's, before a jury composed of the following members : Barna- 
bas Owen, Eben Owen, Philip Huffman, Abraham Strickland, James Willson, 
John Rogers, Eben Jackson, George Morrison, Michael McKinney, Johnson 
Wilson, Barnabas McKinney, and Robert Miles. The defendant was found 
guilty and sentenced to pay a fine of $6 and all the costs of prosecution. 

In 1820 the two townships of the county — Brokenstraw and Conewango — 
contained, according to the United States census, one thousand nine hundred 
and seventy-si.\' inhabitants, three of whom were deaf and dumb. The follow- 
ing year five hundred and twenty-four taxables were reported to the State 
authorities. 

In March, 1821, the two old townships were divided and reduced to but a 
fraction of their former great extent. Ten others were erected, making twelve 
in all, as follows : Brokenstraw, Conewango, Spring Creek, Sugar Grove, Pine 
Grove, Kinzua, Deerfield, North West (now Columbus), Limestone, Tionesta 
(now obsolete). Elk, and South West. Of these seven only, viz., Brokenstraw, 
Conewango, Spring Creek, Sugar Grove, Pine Grove, Kinzua, and Deerfield, 
were organized, the remainder being attached to the organized townships for 
a number of years. Full particulars, however, relating to these and all other 
townships in the county will be found in a subsequent chapter of this work, 
devoted exclusively to the topic. 

On the 2d of April, 1822, an act was passed by the State Legislature which 
declared that the lands held by Cornplanter and his tribe should be exempt 



From the Organization of the County until 1830. 147 

from taxation so long as he or they " hold and occupy them in their own right." 
The same act further provided that all notes, moneys, etc., given by Corn- 
planter for taxes should be returned to him. 

It seems that a year or two prior to the passage of the above-mentioned 
act, the county authorities imposed a tax upon Cornplanter's lands which he 
refused to pay, declaring that it was levied without authority. A deputation 
was dispatched to inform him that the collection would be made forcibly if he 
persisted in his refusal. Cornplanter, who was then surrounded by several of 
his warriors, invited the deputation of whites into the council-house, and, 
pointing to a large collection of guns which were standing in one corner of the 
room, told them that the cause of the Indians was just, and there was their 
defense. 

An armed force, headed by the sheriff, was already assembled in Warren 
to put their threats in execution, but after some consultation the movement 
was considered premature and injudicious, and was abandoned. The matter 
was then submitted to the Legislature and decided in favor of the Indians, by 
the enactment above referred to. 

On the 6th of July, 1822, Cornplanter visited Warren by appointment, to 
confer with the county commissioners. He was firm and dignified in his bear- 
ing. His conduct had been justified by the State ; hence the commissioners 
could not do otherwise than to adjust all differences, and restore to him the 
moneys, notes, etc., which had been unlawfully obtained. 

During the year 1824 occurred the celebrated Hook murder trial. In 
relating the incidents connected with this case Judge Lansing Wetmore, in his 
"Reminiscences" of olden times, published in a newspaper in 1853, said: 
"There has been but one trial for a capital offense since the organization of 
the county. That was the Commonwealth vs. Jacob Hook, for the murder of 
Caleb Wallace in 1824. Mr. Hook came to this county in 18 12, and entered 
extensively into the lumbering business; built the mills which his brother Orin 
now occupies on the Allegheny, five miles above Warren. He was a man of 
strong mind, great energy of character, inflexible in his pursuits, unyielding in 
his opinions and purposes, but, withal, uncultivated. He had rapidly accumu- 
lated a large property for those times, and was using it to accumulate a still 
larger. He got into a quarrel with one of his hired men on account of a small 
balance of wages, claimed as due from Hook. Both were unyielding. The man 
applied to an attorney for redress, who, also being on bad terms with Hook, 
espoused the quarrel and brought a suit against Hook. Several other suits for 
trivial matters were brought against him the same week. 

"Having exhausted everything on the civil list, on searching the records of 
court an affidavit was found made by Hook, to ground a motion on to set aside 
an award of arbitration, something was discovered on which to found the 
charge of perjury. The oath was made to that effect by Perry Sherman, 



148 History of Warren County. 

and a warrant issued. This was on Saturday. Hook had been to Warren 
every day that week to answer to some legal process. Sheriff Littlefield being 
sick, Asa Scott, his deputy, went to serve the writ. He went up in the morn- 
ing and made known his business. Hook told him he had been to Warren 
often enough on trivial, trumped-up matters, and should not go down that 
day; that he should be down the next week, and would answer to the charge. 
Scott returned and reported progress to complainant and his attorney, who 
directed him to return with ^ posse and bring Hook down. Scott, accordingly, 
called to his assistance the complainant, Caleb Wallace, James Arthur, and 
perhaps one or two more. They arrived at Hook's about dark, went into a 
house some ten or twelve rods from Hook's, and waited till some time after 
dark. Mr. Arthur, being on friendly terms with Hook, went to his bed-room 
window and attempted to persuade him to go with them peaceably; but he 
was inflexible, and told him he should not go to Warren that night a live man, 
and warned him if they entered his house it was at the peril of their lives. 

" Finding importunities fruitless, Scott, with Wallace and Sherman, went 
into the stoop at the front door; finding it fastened, Scott stepped back a few 
paces, and rushed against the door with his shoulder; it flew open suddenly, 
and he fell sprawling his length on the floor. At that moment a gun was 
discharged from within. Wallace being immediately in Scott's rear received 
the charge of slug shot in the breast, and fell dead. Sherman being at his side 
received four of the slugs in his left arm, above and near the elbow. The posse 
withdrew. Hook came down on Monday morning following, surrendered 
himself, and was committed to prison. He was taken before Judge Moore, 
at Meadville, on a habeas corpus, and admitted to bail in $3,000.' Henry 
Baldwin, with Pat. Farrelly, Sill, and Hazeltine, defended him on the trial. 
He was acquitted, mainly on the ground that the deputation to Scott was not 
under seal and void, placing the posse in the same situation as trespassers 
breaking into a house without any authority. Hook died at Pittsburgh a year 
or two subsequent to his trial, from the effects of a swelling on his neck, at the 
age of about forty years." 

Hook shot Wallace with a musket, March 25, 1824. He was acquitted June 
2, 1824, by a jury, selected from a panel of fifty-six men, composed as fol- 
lows : Daniel Chapin, Horace Watkins, Thomas Gilson, Alexander Stewart, 
Stephen Williams, Joseph H. Marsh, Jeremiah Dunn, Robert Donaldson, 
Martin Reese, jr., Jesse Tarbox, Asa Winter, and Walter Seaman. 

The acquittal of Hook was severely criticised by the faction led by Josiah 
Hall, the lawyer who was so active in the prosecution of the defendant both 
before and after the death of Wallace. These criticisms so preyed upon the 
nerves of Jeremiah Dunn, one of the jurymen, as to produce temporary 

•The records state that Hook was held in $6,0<X) bail, and his surelie.s, James Morrison and Hugh 
Marsh, jointly in $2,000. 




.J^c^V/l 



/l/2^/^^^^^ 



From 1830 to 1861. 149 



insanity, and the next day he hung himself. For several years this trial and 
its results was the great event of the county. 

In 1824, also, Warren's first newspaper, the Conewango Emigrant, was 
established. The first court-house was commenced in 1825.1 During the 
same year North West township was organized as Columbus. The court- 
house was completed in 1827. Limestone was organized in 1829, taking in 
the territory to that time known as Tionesta, when the latter term, as the name 
of a township, disappeared from view. 



CHAPTER XV. 

FROM 1830 TO 1861. 

The First Steamboat on the Upper Waters of the Allegheny — An Account of the Trip — 
Cornplanter a Passenger — Merchants and Inn-keepers in 1830 — National Character of Early 
Settlers — The Scotch-Irish at First in the Ascendency — Origin of the Term Scotch-Irish — 
Those of English Descent in Final Control — Early Routes of Travel — A Remarlcable Journey 
— Barefooted in Midwinter — An Influx of Alsatians — Death of Cornplanter — Incorporators 
of Various Associations — Lumbering — River Navigation — Store Goods — Prices — Routes 
Pursued in Transit — Part of McKean County Annexed to Warren — The Whigs and Demo- 
crats — The First Telegraph Line — Merchants of the County in 18.50 — The Whigs Disband — 
Organization of the American Party — Temporary Success — Causes Leading to the Formation 
of the Republican Party — An Incident in the Career of Jeff. Davis — Republicans Gain Control 
of the County in 1856 — New County Scheme — Petroleum Discoveries — Titusville to the 
Front — Warren Men Also — Railroad Completed from Erie to Warren — Tidoute Oil Field — 
Election in 1860. 

IN 1830 the steamboat Allegheny, built chiefly by Archibald Tanner, of 
Warren, and David Dick, of Meadville, opened steam navigation on the 
upper waters of the Allegheny River. This boat made one and the only trip 
ever accomplished by a craft propelled by steam to Olean, N. Y., to the great 
amusement of such of the four thousand six hundred and ninety-seven white 
inhabitants of the county as witnessed the spectacle, and the utter astonishment 
of the native Senecas. James and Lewis Follett, of Warren, ofiiciated as pilots. 
In a published account of this trip we find the following : 

" On the evening of the 20th of May we departed from Warren for Olean, 
in the State of New York, seventy-five miles above (by water), with freight and 
passengers from Pittsburgh. At 9 o'clock next day we arrived opposite the 
Indian village of Cornplanter, seventeen miles up. Here a deputation of gen- 

1 In 1825 an Indian named " Blue Throat " died on the Allegheny River Reservation, who it was 
claimed had attained the age of one hundred and sixty years. 



150 History ok Warren County. 



tlemen waited on the well-known Indian king or chief and invited him on board 
this new and, to him, wonderful visitor, a steamboat. We found him in all his 
native simplicity of dress and manner of living, lying on his couch, made of 
rough pine boards, and covered with deer skins and blankets. His habitation, 
a two-story log house, is in a state of decay, without furniture, except a few 
benches, and wooden spoons and bowls to eat out of, which convinced us of his 
determination to retain old habits and customs. This venerable chief was a 
lad in the French war, and is now nearly one hundred years of age. He is a 
smart, active man, seemingly possessed of all his strength of mind, and in per- 
fect health, and retains among his nation all the uncontrolled influence of by- 
gone days. He, with his son Charles, who is si.xty years of age, and his son- 
in-law, came on board and remained until the boat passed six miles up, and 
then after expressing great pleasure with their novel ride, returned home in 
their own canoe. His domain is a delightful bottom of rich land two miles 
square, nearly adjoining the line between Pennsylvania and New York. On 
this his own family, about fifty in number, reside in eight or ten houses." 

The merchants engaged in business in the county at this time (1830) were 
N. A. Lowry, Lothrop S. Parmlee, Daniel Chase, Archibald Tanner, Robert 
Falconer, Orris Hall, and Samuel D. Hall, dealers in general merchandise ; O. 
Stanton & Co., grocers, and Milton Ford, grocer and druggist, in Conewango 
township ; William P. McDowell and L. Risley & Co., in Pine Grove township ; 
Richard Crocker, in Sugar Grove township ; Amos Patterson, in Klk township ; 
William Jackman and William L. Barber, in Columbus township, and Charles 
Whitney, in Brokenstraw. 

A year or so later the inn-keepers were Joseph C. Gordon and Alvin Hood, 
in Warren borough ; Luke Turner, in Conewango township ; Porter R. Webber 
and Reuben Parsons, in Columbus township ; Samuel McGuire, Anthoiiy Cour- 
son, and Benjamin Clark, in Deerfield township ; Warren H. Reeves, in Elk 
township ; Alfred Vanornam and Adoniram Smith, in Brokenstraw township ; 
George Mosher, in Pine Grove; and John I. Willson and Samuel Brown, in 
Sugar Grove. 

Thus far in the history of the county its inhabitants had been, almost to a 
man, composed of those of English and Scotch-Irish origin, the few excep- 
tions being men of equally as proud an ancestry, that is, descendants of the 
good old Knickerbockers, or Holland Dutch. The Scotch- Irish, who for a 
decade or more were in the ascendency, came in chiefly from the south, an 
overflow, as it were, from Venango, Butler, and other counties in that direction, 
which had been largely peopled by those of that nationality or descent. They 
were fair representatives of a hardy race, were strong men, mentally as well as 
physically, and, what is equally as remarkable, many prominent old-world char- 
acteristics in form, face, and custom have been perpetuated, and arc plainly 
observable in their descendants of to-day. 



From 1830 to 1861. 151 



The term " Scotch- Irish " is one so frequently used, particularly in Penn- 
sylvania, and is so little understood, even by those who claim such relationship, 
that it is considered appropriate in this place to explain its derivation. It 
appears that in the time of James I, of England, the Irish earls of Tyrone and 
Tyrconnell conspired against his government, fled from Ireland, were pro- 
claimed outlaws, and their estates, consisting of about five hundred thousand 
acres of land, were seized by the crown. The king divided these lands into 
small tracts and gave them to persons from his own country (Scotland), on the 
sole condition that they should cross over into Ireland within four years and 
reside upon them permanently. A second insurrection soon after gave occa- 
sion for another large forfeiture, and nearly six counties in the province of Ul- 
ster were confiscated and taken possession of by the officers of the govern- 
ment. King James was a zealous sectarian, and his primary object was to root 
out the native Irish, who were all Catholics, hostile to his government, and 
almost constantly plotting against it, and to repeople the country with those 
whom he knew would be loyal. 

The distance from Scotland to County Antrim, in Ireland, was but twenty 
miles. The lands thus offered free of cost were among the best and most pro- 
ductive in the Emerald Isle, though blasted and made barren by the troubles 
of the times and the indolence of a degraded peasantry. Having the power of 
the government to encourage and protect them, the inducements offered to the 
industrious Scotch could not be resisted. Thousands went over. Many of 
them, though not lords, were Lairds, and all were men of enterprise and energy, 
and above the average in intelligence. They went to work to restore the land 
to fruitfulness, and to show the superiority of their habits and belief compared 
with those of the natives among whom they settled ; they soon made the 
Counties of Antrim, Armagh, Caven, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, London- 
derry, Monaghan, and Tyrone — names familiar to Pennsylvanians — to blossom 
as the rose. 

These, the first Protestants introduced into Ireland, at once secured the 
ascendency in the counties which they settled, and their descendants have 
maintained that ascendency to the present day against the eftbrts of the gov- 
ernment church on the one hand and the Romanists on the other. They did 
not intermarry with the Irish who surrounded them. The Scotch were Saxon 
in blood and Presbyterian in religion, while the Irish were Celtic in blood and 
Roman Catholic in religion, and these were elements that would not readily 
coalesce. Hence the races are as distinct in Ireland to-day, after a lapse of 
more than two hundred and fifty years, as when the Scotch first crossed over. 
The term Scotch-Irish is purely American. It is not used in Ireland, and 
here it was given to the Protestant emigrants from the north of Ireland, simply 
because they were the descendants of the Scots who had in former times taken 
up their residence there. 



152 History of Warren County. 

Subsequently, under Catholic governments, the descendants of the Scots in 
Ireland were bitterly persecuted, and prior to 1764 large numbers had immi- 
grated and settled in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Caro- 
lina. In September, 1736, alone, one thousand families sailed from Belfast 
because of their inability to renew their leases upon satisfactory terms, and 
the most of them settled in the eastern and middle counties of Pennsylvania. 
They hoped, by a change of residence, to find an unrestrained field for the 
exercise of their industry and skill, and for the enjoyment of their religious 
opinions. They brought with them a hatred of oppression, and a love of free- 
dom in its fullest measure, that served much to give that independent tone to 
the sentiments of the people of tlje province, which prevailed in their con- 
troversies with the home government years before they seriously thought of 
independence. 

They settled the Cumberland valley and brought its fair lands under culti- 
vation. They fought the savages and stood as a wall of fire against their 
further forays eastward. It is said that between 1771 and 1773 over twenty- 
five thousand of them, driven from the places of their birth by the rapacity of 
their landlords, located in that valley and to the westward. This was just 
before the Revolutionary War began, and while the angry controversies that 
preceded it were taking place between the colonists and the English govern- 
ment. Hence these immigrants were in just the right frame of mind needed 
to make them espouse, to a man, the side of the patriots. A Tory was 
unheard of among them. They were found as military leaders in all times of 
danger, and were among the most prominent law-makers, through and after the 
long struggle for freedom and human rights. They have furnished presidents, 
United States senators, congressmen, judges, and many others prominent 
in all stations of life. In short, the names of these patriots and wise men, as 
well as the names of their descendants, are familiar words, not only in Penn- 
sylvania, but throughout the Union. 

Other early settlers of Warren — the New Yorkers and New Englanders, 
which element, by the way. has controlled here for the last sixty years or 
more, — came in, by following rough roads leading westward, until the upper 
waters of the Allegheny were reached, and then floating, by the aid of canoes 
and flat-boats, their wives, children, and household goods down that stream, 
while their horses and cattle were being driven or led along its banks. Olean 
was then famous as the usual place of embarkation for a trip down the river, 
for thousands, even, who did not propose to stop in Warren or at any other 
point along the Allegheny River, but who continued on their way to more 
fertile lands and a milder climate in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Occasionally, 
however, the population of Warren county was increased by small parties who 
ascended the West Branch of the Susquehanna and Sinnamahoning Creek as far 
as navigable by canoes, and thence striking boldly across the country to the 



From 1830 to 1861. 153 



Allegheny. One of the most remarkable journeys ever made in coming to 
this county, by this or a similar route, has been described by Hon. Lansing 
Wetmore as follows: 

"The favorable reports of the Allegheny country having reached the 
Wyoming Valley, one John Chapman started in November, 1797, on foot and 
alone, to come here by the 'overland route'. He was a tall, stalwart Yankee, 
who was inured to the perils and hardships of the first settlers of Wyoming. 
He also was a God-fearing man, and he feared nothing else. He was withal a 
devotee of Pomona, and made it an object wherever he went to introduce the 
seeds of the choicest fruit, which in those days, however, did not extend beyond 
the common apple or pear. John, accordingly, with his other 'fixin's,' with 
which he stored his knapsack, put in a sack of choice apple seeds; with his 
blanket, rifle, and tomahawk, the usual appendages of the woodsman, bare-foot 
and alone, he started on his journey. When he arrived on the head waters of 
the Allegheny, one hundred miles from where he started, and about the same 
distance from his place of destination, a snow storm came on and continued 
until it fell full three feet deep on the level. Here he was, one hundred miles 
from the habitation of man, with barely provisions enough to last him through 
without detention, with ' none to direct and Providence his guide.' To retreat 
was perilous — to advance seemed impossible, as at every step he sank above 
his leggins in the snow. He first cast about for something to cover and pro- 
tect his bare feet. This he accomplished by tearing the skirt from his blanket 
coat, and sewing it together made it answer the double purpose of shoes and 
stockings. These, although they rendered his feet comfortable, did not enable 
him to proceed on his journey. The deep snow was before and around him. 
The same kind mother, necessity, which prompted him to invent his shoes and 
stockings, suggested the means to bear his ponderous weight above the deep 
snow. He had heard of snow-shoes, and perhaps had seen them, made of 
hickory bows and the sinews of the moose or deer; but these materials he had 
not, and the idea of wearing snow-shoes, to one who never wore any shoes at 
all, was quite novel. He cut a small quantity of small beech brush or twigs, 
heated them in a fire until they became pliable, and commenced, to him, 
the most dubious and difficult task he had ever performed. 

The solicitude of the Hebrew mother, while weaving the ark of bulrushes 
which was to bear the body of the infant Moses on the turbid waters of the 
Nile, could not have surpassed that of this bold adventurer ; and, like her, 
' with invocations to the living God, he twisted every tender twig together, 
and with a prayer did every osier weave.' It was with him a matter of life or 
death. He was preparing the means to save him from perishing in the snow, 
far away from friends or home. Having finished his snow-shoes, he fastened 
them to his feet with the bark of the moose wood, and finding them to answer 
the desired purpose after a little practice, pursued his lonely journey through 



154 History of Warren County. 

the wilderness of Potter and McKean counties, and arrived at Warren about 
the first of December. The following spring he selected a spot for his nursery — 
for that seemed to be his primary object — near White's, on the Big Brokenstraw, 
and sowed his seed. The waters have long since washed away a portion of the 
ground, and took some of his trees to a bar below, which is still known as Ap- 
ple-tree Bar. This nursery furnished the trees for most of the old orchards on 
the Brokenstraw. The demand for fruit trees being quite limited, and unable 
to obtain a livelihood by his favorite pursuit, he went to Franklin, where he 
established another nursery. Subsequently he removed to Indiana." 

As before intimated, until the beginning of the fourth decade of this cent- 
ury, or a little more than fifty years ago, the inhabitants of the county were 
chiefly of English and Scotch-Irish origin. But a new element now began to 
assert itself in the body politic, in the persons of natives of Alsace, France. It 
seems quite appropriate that natives of France should at last become occu- 
pants and owners, in part at least, of a region which was first explored and 
occupied by Frenchmen ; but, indeed, in personal appearance and in the spelling 
of their names, the Alsatians who have established themselves so strongly in 
Warren count/ seem more like Germans than French. Nevertheless, whether 
Germans or Frenchmen, they are good and honored citizens, and when Amer- 
icanized compare favorably with those who came before them and since. 

John Reheim, Jacob Escher, Martin Escher, and Francis Louis Rinck were 
the first Alsatians to make declaration of their intention to become citizens of 
this State and county, and such declarations were placed on file July 13, 1832. 
The next to appear were Jacob Leonhart, Jacob Lesser, Henry Sechrist, Lewis 
Arnett, George Strubler, Laurent Ott, and Jacob Wirt, who made similar dec- 
larations in November, 1834. These were followed during the next dozen 
years or more, and in the order named, by Charles Weaver, Andrew Fisher, 
Frederick Strubler, Philip Sechrist, Henry Reich, George Sechrist, George 
Trier, Henry Trier, Philip Baldensperger, Jacob Shuler, John Reicker, John 
Simmerly, Joseph Hauser, Adam Hannan, Samuel Grosenberg, Jacob Schmick, 
Philip Lesser, Lawrence Snavely, George Arnold, Mathias Leonhart, Christian 
Smith, Philip Trushel, William Messner, Theophilus Messner, Christian Gauder, 
Andrew Haas, Jacob Huntsinger, Christian Keller, Marcus Holtz, George 
Leonhart, Philip Leonhart, George Amann, George Zimmcrlie, John Shuler, 
John Arnold, Christian Smith, jr., Philip Shuler, Mathias Shuler, Joseph Arird. 
John Reig, Martin Shafier, John Hanhart, Martin Hartwig, Jacob Jahl, George 
Oflerlee, Jacob Fahlman, Michael Gesselbrecht, and Jacob Offerlee, all of Al- 
sace, France. Meanwhile Christian Gross, Henry Knoph, Paul Bunn, Michael 
Frietzch, and John Matthies, of Brye, Germany, besides numerous other 
natives of Germany, England, Scotland, and Ireland, had declared their inten- 
tion of becoming citizens. 

On the 1 8th of February, 1836, the celebrated Chief Cornplantcr died at 



From 1830 to 1861. 155 



his residence at the age of about one hundred and four years. Thus after 
nearly half a century passed in strife and danger, bravely battling for the her- 
itage of his people, the declining years of his eventful life were peacefully spent 
on the banks of his own beloved Allegheny, where at last he was laid to rest 
in a grave which, in accordance with his wish, was left unmarked. Notwith- 
standing his friendship for all missionaries and ministers of the gospel who 
called upon him and his people, Cornplanter was very superstitious, and 
whether at the time of his death he expected to go to the happy hunting 
ground of the Indian, or to the heaven of the Christian, is not known. " Not 
long before his death," said Mr. Foote, of Chautauqua county, N. Y., "he 
said the Good Spirit had told him not to have anything more to do with the 
white people, or even to preserve any mementoes or relics that had been given 
to him from time to time by the pale-faces; whereupon, among other things, 
he burned up his belt and broke his elegant sword." 

Others have asserted that the reason why Cornplanter destroyed certain 
articles presented to him by the whites, and during the last years of his life 
sought to keep apart from his white neighbors as much as possible, and to dis- 
countenance all attempts to educate his descendants, arose from the fact that 
he had given his eldest son a good education, which he used for the basest pur- 
poses of fraud, involving often the interests of his father, who appears to have 
attributed all to his son's education. The work of destroying relics, etc., was 
repeated more than once ; and these incidents in the life of Cornplanter gave 
rise to a strong prejudice in his family against education, which for a time 
thwarted all efforts to establish and maintain schools among them. 

Cornplanter's idea of a Deity may be inferred from the following : 

"The Great Spirit first made the world, and next the flying animals, and 
found all things good and prosperous. He is immortal and everlasting. After 
finishing the flying animals he came down on the earth and there stood. Then 
he made different kinds of trees and woods of all sorts, and people of every 
kind. He made the spring and other seasons, and the weather suitable for 
planting. These he did make. But Stills to make whiskey to give to the In- 
dians, Jic did not make." 

At about this time (1836 to 1840), " The Warren Mutual Insurance Com- 
pany," "The Warren and New York State Line Turnpike Road Company," 
and other associations were incorported by acts of the State Legislature, but 
all or most of them came to nought. Among those, however, who were 
named as incorporators and promoters of the different enterprises, were Henry 
Sargent, Archibald Tanner, Obed Edson, J. D. Summerton, Francis Hook, 
Archibald Skinner, Hiram Gilman, George Smith, E. N. Rogers, Cornelius 
Masten, jr., James O. Parmlee, Thomas demons, Abijah Morrison, Abraham 
Hazeltine, Darius Mead, John F. Davis, Thomas Struthers, Robert Miles, 
John King, Samuel P. Johnson, Timothy F. Parker, Robert McKinney, An- 



156 History of Warren County. 

drew H. Ludlow, Oilman Merrill, Joseph W. Hackney, Aaron S. Parmlee, 
Robert Falconer, John Andrews, Lansing Wetmore, Milton Ford, Andrew Mc- 
Nett, Orrin Hook, William Culbertson, John Hackney, Jonathan Marsh, An- 
drew Irwin, Benjamin Marsh, Enoch Oilman, William Marsh, and Orris Hall. 

The lumber business, also, was at its height during these years. In the 
spring time the principal streams of the county would be almost covered 
with rafts of manufactured lumber owned by the Meads, McKinneys, Da- 
vises, Horns, Whites, Hook, Berry, Marsh, the Morrisons, Guy C. Irvine, 
Rufus Weatherby, Robert Russell, Robert Miles, and others. Steamboats, 
likewise, navigated the Allegheny between Pittsburgh and Warren, when the 
rocks and shoals were covered with a sufficient depth of water ; but as this 
could be expected only in the spring and fall, long intervals of an entire sus- 
pension of navigation were of yearly occurrence, and then Dunkirk, on Lake 
Erie, was depended upon as the place for obtaining supplies. As a result, 
store goods, whether obtained at Pittsburgh or Dunkirk, were marked up to 
exorbitant prices when exposed for sale in the then dingy little stores of 
Warren. By one route charges had been paid for transporting them from 
Philadelphia, along the line of the State canal to Hollidaysburgh, thence over 
the Allegheny mountains via the Portage incline railway (boats being placed 
on trucks and pulled by stationary engines over to Johnstown without break- 
ing cargo) and by canal again to Pittsburgh, thence by steamboat, and fre- 
quently by pushing keel boats, were the goods finally landed at Warren. By the 
other route goods were shipped from New York via the Erie canal to Buffalo, 
then transferred to lake steamers and landed at Dunkirk, and finally hauled by 
wagons over roads seldom in good condition, from the latter place to Warren. 
It was an immaterial matter with the dealers, however, whether the goods 
came by the way of Dunkirk or Pittsburgh, since their esteemed customers had 
to pay first cost, charges in transit, and dearly for the privilege of being waited 
upon by such models of politeness and probity as characterize the average 
retailer everywhere. Subsequently, by the completion of the Erie Railroad, 
and the Oenesee Canal from Rochester to Olean, many additional advantages 
were ofilered to Warren's residents, which were fully utilized. 

Truly, the men who represented the nine thousand two hundred and sev- 
enty-eight inhabitants of the county in 1840 were active, hard-working cit- 
izens and equal to the tasks imposed upon them. Large numbers of them still 
lived in log houses, and none yet loomed prominently above their fellows in 
the possession of worldly wealth. 

By an act of the Legislature, passed April 16, 1845, Andrew H. Ludlow, of 
Warren, and John Williams and Jonathan Marsh, of McKean county, were 
named as a commission with authority to establish a new boundary line be- 
tween the two counties. It was proposed that the new line should commence 
" on the north and south line on the east side of tract No. 3,740 in Corydon 



From 1830 to 1861. 157 



township, McKean county, and run as near as may be, in order to make the 
line reasonably straight, along the back line of the river tier of tracts, so as to 
intersect the line dividing the said counties of Warren and McKean, within one 
mile of the western side of the Kinzua Creek ; and the voters in that part of 
Corydon township which shall fall within Warren county shall hold their 
elections at the school house in Corydon village." Thus did part of Corydon 
township of McKean county, become the township of Corydon in Warren 
county. The line between the counties was established during the following 
summer and in March, 1846, the new township was organized. 

From the organization of the county until the formation of the Republican 
party, in the fifties, the political battles had been mainly fought out between 
the Whigs and the Democrats ; the latter being uniformly successful in con- 
tests resulting in the election of State and national officers, and usually suc- 
ceeded in elevating to office their local candidates. In the election for State 
officers held in 1848, the Democratic candidate for governor received eleven 
hundred and forty-five votes, while his Whig opponent received but nine hun- 
dred and forty-seven votes ; yet John F. McPherson, the Whig candidate for 
county register and recorder, was elected, and was the first to hold that office 
after it passed from the control of the prothonotary. 

During the first week in March, 1849, the first telegraph line to enter the 
county was completed from Fredonia, N. Y., to Warren. W. P. Pew, of Ithaca, 
N. Y., was the leader in the enterprise, and a Mr. Risley, of Dunkirk, N. Y., 
the first operator. It was a poor investment for the stockholders, however, 
since every dollar invested was lost. The following year the line was com- 
pleted through to Pittsburgh ; and this was only five or six years after the 
electric telegraph had been first brought into use in the United States — on an 
experimental wire stretched from Baltimore to Washington, D. C. 

In 1850 the county contained thirteen thousand, six hundred and seventy 
inhabitants, and its dealers in merchandise, liquors, etc. at that time were as 
follows : Warren borough : Orr & Henry ; Summerton & Eddy, liquors ; Wat- 
son & Davis ; Carver & Arnett ; Parmlee & Gillman ; William Messner, 
liquors ; J. D. Summerton ; H. & H. G. Mair, liquors ; D. M. Williams ; 
Baker & Benson ; John Honhart, liquors; Seneca Burgess, liquors; O. H. 
Hunter; C. W. Rathbun, liquors; Frederick Bartch ; Rogers, Miles & 
Hodges ; Oilman Merrill ; Fisher & Owens, liquors. Youngsville borough : 
J. B. Phillips; Chauncey Smith; James S. Davis, liquors; W. F. Siggins; 
John Siggins ; Carter V. Kinnear. Brokenstraiv : William A. Irvine. Co- 
luvtbiis : Leach & Willoughby, liquors; Jones & Hewitt; Atherly & Dewey; 
Milo P. Osborne; Dwight C. Eaton; D. A. Dewey. Corydon: J. S. McCalJ. 
Dccrficld : William A. Irvine; Grandin & Green; Charles Brawley, liquors; 
M. McCullough, jr., liquors; Daniel S. Boughton, liquors; Thomas Mullen; 
Warner & McGuffey ; J. S. Tuthill ; George B. Scott. Elk: Calvin Webb. 
11 



iS8 History of Warren County. 

Freehold : Lester Wright, liquors ; C. D. Chandler ; James L. Lott ; J. C. 
Gifford; H. H. Gifford ; E. Bordwell ; B. Woodin. Pine Grove: Nelson Par- 
ker, liquors; Lane & Fisher; George Sloan. Pittsfield : Dalrymple & 
Mead ; Gray & Mallory ; George W. Lopus, liquors ; James L. Acocks. 
S'leffield : Erastus Barnes. South West : T. V. S. Morian, liquors ; Grandin 
& Bestman ; E. G. Benedict ; M. F. Benedict. Sugar, Grove : Willson & 
Hiller; William O. Blodgett; Patterson & White. Spring Creek: Abram 
Woodin. Kinzua : John H. Brasington. Andrew Ruhlman, of Glade town- 
ship, was then the brewer of the county. 

The Whigs fought their last battle as a national party, with General Win- 
field Scott as their standard bearer, in 1852. They were signally defeated, 
and (though proud in the possession of such leaders as Webster, Clay, Seward, 
and others almost as prominent), under the baneful influences of pro-slavery 
demagogues, the party which had polled 1,386,578 votes for its last presidential 
candidate, in fact several thousands more than were sufficient to elect General 
Taylor four years earlier, soon after melted away as completely and noiselessly 
as the last snows of winter under a vernal sun. Hence here in Warren, as well 
as elsewhere throughout the land, matters political were in a state of chaos for 
two or three years. 

About 1854 the secret political organization known as the " Know Noth- 
ing," or " American," party sprang into existence, and for a year or two made 
things exceedingly lively in many localities. Thousands of disbanded Whigs 
joined its ranks, besides many native-born Democrats, who were pleased with 
the legends, " Put none but Americans on guard," and "To Americans belong 
America." Warren county, which has ever kept abreast of the times in all 
movements both good and reprehensible, also had its lodges of political knights, 
and, if no great deeds were performed, the members at least were afforded an 
infinite amount of amusement in the endeavor to meet in secret council with- 
out being observed in going to and returning from their rooms. They were 
victorious in both county and State during that year. But such a party could 
not hope for success. In its short-lived struggle against slavery-upholding 
Democracy, the foreign born voters espoused the cause of the latter to a man, 
for the reason that the American party made it part of their creed that here- 
after foreign-born residents should reside in this country for a period of twen- 
ty-one years before being entitled to the rights of suffi-age. As a result the 
Democratic party managers, having gathered in all the foreign-born element 
(particularly the Irish Romanists), the pro-slavery Whigs of the South, and 
always feeling sure of the support of what was then termed "Northern Dough- 
faces," felt stronger than ever before. 

The arrogant slaveholders and their obsequious Northern allies were now 
in absolute control of the general government. By threats or cajolery they 
had induced one Northern president to sign the " Fugitive Slave Bill," and 



From 1830 to 1861. 159 



Pierce, another Northern man, was but a pHant tool in their hands. The 
Southerners held slaves as property, yet they demanded and were conceded 
congressional representation on such property, though at the same time deny- 
ing to Northern men the same privileges, /. e., property representation. They 
were peaceably permitted to visit all points in the Northern States, to swagger 
on the proceeds of slave labor (or worse, with money obtained by the sale of 
black men and women, as cattle are sold to the highest bidder), and to boast 
of their superiority over Northern freemen. Yet, if one of the latter in visit- 
ing the slave States dared to speak not approvingly of their blessed slave insti- 
tutions, he was either killed outright, lynched by hanging, or warned to leave 
within a very limited space of time. It was further demanded by them, the 
slave owners, that Kansas Territory, and all other territory to the west and 
southward of it, should be set apart and declared to be for the uses of slave- 
holders. Indeed the Mexican War was fomented and waged for the sole pur- 
pose of increasing the area of slave dominion. However, Jeff. Davis and other 
Southern leaders at last demanded too much. A spirit of revulsion rapidly as- 
sumed form and expression in the free States, and the organization of the Re- 
publican party, a combination that was soon to sweep them off their feet, was 
the result. 

This mention of the arch traitor's name reminds us of an incident in his 
career, which, since it has so often been denied by men of the South and their 
ready apologists in the North, that the Southerners were the aggressors in 
bringing on the late war, will be referred to here, though in doing so we depart 
for a moment from the chronological system of noting events which has thus 
far been closely followed. We quote from an article which was published in 
the Louisville (Ky.) Journal in the spring of 1850. 

" There are two Mexican War gentlemen in the United States Senate, 
namely: Davis, of Mississippi, and Clemens, of Alabama. They are both mad 
as March hares on the subject of slavery. Clemens vowed the other day in 
one of his extraordinary speeches that the Union is already dissolved. That 
being the case, why does not the chap stop his unmusical yelpings and go 
home. His military rival, Davis, does not think that the Union is quite dis- 
solved yet, but he is laboring hard to bring about that delightful catastrophe. 

" If the Union is dissolved, there will be a terrible contest between these 
warriors for the presidency of the Southern Republic. Whether Jeff, will get 
the heels of Jerry, or Jerry of Jeff., there is no foreseeing. If these heroes are 
as light of heel as they are of head, their race will certainly be interesting." 

These were prophetic words on the part of the gifted Prentice, though in- 
tended at the time only as a bit of sarcasm. Davis did become the chief of 
several Southern States in rebellion. His subsequent despicable career is well 
known of all men. He yet survives ; an inscrutable Providence still permit- 
ting him to cumber the earth, and to breathe the pure air of a republic he did 



i6o History of Warren County. 

his utmost to destroy. Clemens, though dead for many years, lived long 
enough to witness the ravages of civil war at his own door. To see the vic- 
torious soldiery of the great Northwest drive the much vaunted Southern chiv- 
alry through and out of his own town. He was a resident of the pretty little 
town of Huntsville, Ala., and there, in front of his residence, just at twilight 
of a day early in September, 1863, the writer met and conversed with him. 
White-haired, and apparently debilitated, nervous and irritable, the once fiery 
Clemens bitterly inveighed against all men, both North and South, who as lead- 
ers had brought on the war, and he declared that the child was not then born 
who would live to see peace again existing between the two sections. As will 
be seen, Clemens was a poor prophet as well as one of a class of men who are 
always active in fomenting strife; but when it comes to blows, seek safe quarters. 
We were blessed, or cursed rather, with too many of the same kind in the 
North during the late war; men who were very conspicuous in newspaper 
offices, and on the platform ; who were always ready to serve their dear 
country in safe, well-paying public offices ; who could repeat and re-echo 
Greeley's senseless cry of " On to Richmond " ; who could plan military cam- 
paigns, and were ever ready to traduce the fame of hitherto successful military 
leaders, because they had failed somewhat in their last battle, but who took the 
best of care, not to expose their own precious persons to the bullets of an 
enemy. 

As before mentioned, the Republican party was organized to oppose the 
further extension of slave territory, and to meet half way the arrogant and 
ever-increasing demands of the slave owners. It had, as a nucleus, those who 
had voted for Birney in 1840 and 1844; for ^^" Buren in 1848, and for Hale, 
in 1852. To these were added great numbers of Northern Old Line Whigs who 
could not endorse the restrictive dogmas of the American party, and would not 
affiliate with their ancient enemy, the Democratic party. Many who had here- 
tofore regularly voted for Democratic candidates also joined in the movement. 
The result was surprising, even to its most sanguine supporters, for the new 
party proved to be a giant at birth. The Republicans of Warren county nom- 
inated their first candidates in 1855, and succeeded in electing a member of 
Assembly. In 1856 they obtained the ascendency by a decided majority 
(Cherry Grove's twenty votes all being counted for Fremont and Dayton), and 
since have steadily maintained the advantage down to the present time. 

The school-houses in the county in 1857 numbered one hundred and thirty- 
seven, of which one hundred and fourteen were frame buildings, twenty-two 
were built of logs, and one (in the town of Warren) of brick. 

In 1858 considerable activity was displayed by people, chiefly residents of 
Titusville, to the end that a new county be erected, to be known as " Marion," 
from parts of Warren, Crawford, and Erie counties. But the ambitious aspi- 
rants for the honor of being credited as dwellers of a shire town met with but 
little substantial encouragement, and the scheme was for a time abandoned. 



During and Since the Late War. i6i 

The following year the name of Colonel E. L. Drake was heralded through- 
out the land as the discoverer of extensive deposits of petroleum, deep below 
the earth's surface near Titusville. Intense interest concerning this develop- 
ment at once became manifest in the town of Warren, and a number of its lead- 
ing citizens, including Archibald Tanner, L. F. Watson, Boon Mead, and D. M. 
Williams, as well as Henry R. Rouse & Co., and Dennis & Grandin, of the 
southern part of the county, soon after engaged in further explorations near 
Titusville, which proved to be, as then considered, eminently successful. 

During December of the same year (1859) the Sunbury and Erie Railroad 
was completed from Erie to Warren, and the grand event was gloriously cele- 
brated with great noise, a little pomp and parade, and much feasting and drink- 
ing. The county commissioners in 1852, duly authorized by the people, had 
subscribed to the capital stock of this corporation one hundred and fifty thou- 
sand dollars (only forty thousand dollars of which, however, was ever paid in), 
and the borough of Warren thirty thousand dollars, provided that the road be 
built through the county. 

Early in i860 the Tidioute oil field was opened, and so numerous, eager, 
and energetic were the operators, that in July of that year more than sixty 
wells were being drilled at the same time. A perfect furor raged for a while. 
Squatter claimants took possession of sand-bars in the river, while others of the 
same class essayed to drill for the greasy product from floats and rafts anchored 
in mid-stream. 

At the election held in the fall of that year the electors representing the can- 
didacy of Lincoln and Hamlin received twelve hundred majority in the county. 
Indeed the Republicans obtained a decided majority in every township and bor- 
ough except Pleasant, which gave the Democratic ticket a majority of fifteen. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

DURING AND SINCE THE LATE WAR. 

Miittering.s of the Coming Storm — The Outbreak — Call for Troops — Citizens of Warren 
in Council — Their Proceedings — The First Two Companies of Volunteers — Others in Readi- 
ness — Leaving Home for the Front — Brief Allusion to Other Organizations — Number of 
Warren County Men in the Field to November 1, 18G2 — Events of 1863 — Tribulations of the 
Stay-at-Homes in 1861 — Relieved by Rebel Recruits — The Draft of 1865 — Probable Total 
Number of Troops Furnished — Victorious Rejoicings — Ladies' Aid Society — Dedication of 
Cornplanter's Monument — An Influx of Scandinavians — Another New County Project De- 
feated — Gradual Development of Oil Interests — Conclusion of Continuous History. 

SCARCELY had the rejoicings of the triumphant party, which had elected 
Abraham Lincoln president of the United States, ceased, ere there came 
from the South murmurs of discontent and anger. How they swelled and 



i62 History of Warren County. 

increased through all that fateful winter ; how State after State fell away from 
its allegiance ; how the whole South resounded with preparations of war, need 
not be recounted here. It is a part of the Nation's history. Here in Warren 
county, as well as elsewhere throughout the North, men looked on in amaze- 
ment, hoping even to the last for peace, deeming it almost impossible that the 
lunacy of secession could ever ripen into the open madness of armed rebellion. 
Yet, the formal secession of most of the Southern States, the firing upon the 
steamer Star of the West in Charleston harbor while attempting to provision a 
garrison of United States troops, and the subsequent \igorous and imposing 
preparations made by the military forces of South Carolina, under the leadership 
of Beauregard, to besiege and capture a starving garrison of sixty men, under 
Major Anderson at Fort Sumter, had gradually prepared the public mind for 
more serious demonstrations on the part of those who proposed to establish a 
Southern confederacy. Hence, when on the morning of the 1 2th of April, 1861, 
the following telegraphic dispatch was received by Governor Curtin, its pur- 
port, though astounding, was not wholly unanticipated : 

" The war is commenced. The batteries began firing at four o'clock this 
morning. Major Anderson replied, and a brisk cannonading commenced. This 
is reliable, and has just come to the Associated Press. The vessels [meaning 
the United States fleet] were not in sight." 

Thus sped the startling intelligence until it was known and became the all- 
absorbing topic of conversation throughout the Commonwealth and Nation. 
The threats of Southern leaders had long since ceased to intimidate, and were 
regarded as so much froth ; but to fire upon a United States fort and compel 
its surrender meant war, and the appeal to arms was at once accepted by the 
loyal men of the North, however much they deprecated the alternative. 

Three days later (April 15) President Lincoln issued his proclamation 
calling out the militia and volunteers of the several States to the number of 
seventy-five thousand men. Upon the same day Governor Curtin was noti- 
fied by telegraph that a call had been made on Pennsylvania for sixteen regi- 
ments, two of which were wanted within three days ; that the city of Wash- 
ington was entirely unprotected, at the mercy of assailants, and a sudden dash 
upon the capital was already strongly threatened. 

The president's call, accompanied by an appeal from the governor, was tele- 
graphed to every part of the Commonwealth urging men to come forward in 
companies and squads, with all possible dispatch, to the defense of the imper- 
iled capital. Meanwhile the people of Warren county were not listless or inact- 
ive, and at the seat of justice of a county which had polled a majority of twelve 
hundred votes for Lincoln and Hamlin, the following notice was posted early 
on the 1 8th of April, 1861. 

" The citizens of Warren county who are opposed to Treason and Rebell- 
ion, and in favor of maintaining the Supremacy of the laws and the govern- 



During and Since the Late War. 163 

ment of our common country, are requested to meet at the Court- House in 
Warren, on Friday evening April 19, 1861, at 7 o'clock P. M., to consider what 
measures ought to be adopted to vindicate the character of our National Flag, 
recently fired upon and insulted at Charleston, South Carolina. 

"C. B. Curtis, Rasselas Brown, 

"Chapin Hall, Rufus R King, 

"Thos. Struthers, J. H. Vanamee, 

"Wm. D. Brown, Isaac H. Hiller, 

"S. P. Johnson, Lewis Arnett, 

"Jno. F. McPherson, J. D. James, 
"H. W. McNeil, M. Beecher, Jr., 

"O. H. Hunter, D. W. C. James, 

"April 18, 1861. and others." 

In response to this notice many people assembled at the court-house early 
in the evening of April 19, when an organization was promptly effected by 
choosing Hon. Rasselas Brown, president ; Robert Miles, Lewis Arnett, James 
Foreman and Richard Alden, vice-presidents ; and John F. McPherson, secre- 
tary. Thereupon Hon. C. B. Curtis stated the object of the meeting, and 
moved the appointment of a committee of five to draft resolutions expressive 
of the sense of the gathering. The president named as members of this com- 
mittee C. B. Curtis, J. D. James, Thomas Struthers, William D. Brown, and 
Harrison Allen. As a result appropriate and stirring resolutions were reported 
and unanimously adopted amid vociferous cheers. During the same meeting 
G. W. Scofield, L. D. Wetmore, Rasselas Brown, D. Titus, Thomas Struthers, 
and J. D. James, addressed the people with great effect. In fact the whole 
county was ablaze with patriotism and in an intense state of excitement. For 
a time party lines and political animosities were obliterated and forgotten, with 
the exception of a few found here and there who preferred fealty to a disloyal 
organization, rather than assume the proud garb of Unionism and loyalty to 
the old flag; but they were generally discreet enough to maintain a very 
respectful silence during the heated days of which we speak. 

In the mean time recruiting volunteers for the war was in active progress, and 
hardly had the news of the rebel outbreak ceased to reverberate among the 
hills overlooking the Allegheny, ere a company known as the " Warren 
Guards " was organized at Warren, besides others at Youngsville, Sugar Grove, 
Columbus, and Tidioute. The company first mentioned was organized by 
the election of Roy Stone captain, Henry V. Partridge first lieutenant, and 
Daniel W. Mayes second lieutenant. Captain Stone, however, having another 
project in view, declined the position tendered him, when Harrison Allen, esq., 
was chosen to fill the vacancy. The " Guards " expected to form part of Col- 
onel McLane's Erie county regiment, but that command was filled so rapidly 
by volunteers near by that the Warren men were shut out. It was then pro- 



i64 History of Warren County. 



posed to raise a regiment composed of Warren county men alone — a task 
which could have been speedily accomplished, as five full companies were then 
organized and impatiently awaiting orders. But soon came the news from 
Harrisburg that the county would be permitted to furnish but two companies 
— the " Warren Guards " and the " Raftmen's Guards " — and that other com- 
panies must wait a new requisition for troops or disband, the latter alternative 
being advised. 

Having declined the captaincy of the " Warren Guards," Captain Stone 
began to recruit a company of volunteers from among the hardy raftsmen of 
the Allegheny. He easily secured enough to form a company, and on Wednes- 
day evening. May 15, i86i,an organization was effected by the election of the 
following officers : Roy Stone, captain ; Hugh W. McNeil, first lieutenant, and 
J. T. A. Jewett, second lieutenant. Although it was the last to be organized 
of the two companies first accepted. Captain Stone's company was the first 
command to leave the county for the seat of war. This event took place on 
Monday, May 20, when the " Raftmen's Guards," seventy-five strong, started 
for Pittsburgh in eight large boats, which had been constructed by themselves 
for this special purpose. A large number of people assembled to see them off, 
and speeches were made by Hon. S. P. Johnson, Hon. C. B. Curtis, L. D. 
Wetmore, esq., Captain H. Allen, and Rev. Mr. Taylor. The company was 
handsomely uniformed in suits made by the ladies of Warren, of materials 
furnished by their captain, and carried their own rifles. They started at 1 2 M. 
sharp, each boat propelled by six oars, and as they moved away down the 
river were given a parting salute from Warren's old six-pounder. 

On Thursday morning. May 30, just ten days after the departure of the 
raftsmen, Captain Allen's company started for Pittsburgh by rail 7'ia Erie and 
Cleveland. Its members, nearly ninety in number, were for the most part na- 
tives of Warren county. At Pittsburgh, however, at muster into service, some 
ten or twelve of those who started from Warren with the company were 
rejected, as unfit for service, by the medical examiner. This company, also, 
had been uniformed with suits made by the ladies of Warren, and during the 
many days passed here, awaiting orders to march, had been subsisted mainly 
at the expense of patriotic citizens. 

In subsequent chapters we shall furnish brief sketches of the gallant part 
acted by the various regiments, companies, and batteries, wholly or partially 
recruited in this county. In this chapter it is proposed to merely give an out- 
line of events connected with the county, but outside of the army. 

During the spring and summer of 1861 many other residents of the county, 
who, determined to enter the military service, but finding it almost impossible 
to do so in Pennsylvania organizations, joined New York State regiments. 
Thus the " Tidioute Rifles," officered by Captain Thomas Cluney, First Lieu- 
tenant A. R. Titus, and Second Lieutenant W. M. Mew, joined General Daniel 



During and Since the Late War. 165 

Sickles's New York brigade at Staten Island, and scores of fine, active young 
fellows, from the northern part of the county, crossed the line into New York 
and became members of Chautauqua county companies. Indeed, one full 
company — B, of the Ninth New York Cavalry — was recruited almost wholly 
in Sugar Grove township. It was led into the field by Captain E. A. Ander- 
son (late a minister of the gospel), who subsequently attained the rank of 
major in his regiment; but trouble came upon him, and in the autumn of 1863 
he was dishonorably dismissed from the service of the United States. 

Late in the summer Hon. Carlton B. Curtis, a prominent attorney at law of 
Warren, was authorized to recruit a regiment in the northwestern counties of 
the State, including Warren, McKean, Potter, etc. Regimental headquarters 
was established at the borough of Warren, and the work of gathering in vol- 
unteers was commenced. But recruiting began to drag. The first great wave 
of excitement had subsided. The Bull Run disaster, also, had a depressing 
effect ; besides, there were several other organizations recruiting volunteers in 
the same region. As a result men came forward slowly. At last, with about 
two hundred men (a considerable number of them being residents of Warren 
county), Colonel Curtis departed for Camp Crossman, near Huntingdon, Pa., 
about November i. His proposed regiment was designated the One Hundred 
and Fourteenth, but it was soon after consolidated with another fractional com- 
mand, the Fifty-eighth, forming a full regiment, to be known ever after as the 
Fifty-eighth. 

The year 1861 also witnessed the formation of the Eighty-third, One 
Hundred and Eleventh, and One Hundred and Thirteenth (or Twelfth Cav- 
alry) Regiments. All were three years organizations, and in all were found 
many of Warren's representatives of the kind willing to face rebel bullets. In 
the One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment particularly were the Warren men 
numerous (nearly three hundred), in greater numbers, in fact, than were to be 
found in any other separate organization during the war. 

In 1862 Company F of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment, Com- 
pany F of the One Hundred and Fifty-first, part of Company I of the Four- 
teenth Cavalry, Captain James's Independent Company, and Captain Baldwin's 
company of nine months militia, were all recruited in Warren county. In 
July of that year it was claimed that the county, with a population of about 
nineteen thousand in i860, had already furnished nine hundred volunteers. 
In August of the same year the county commissioners appropriated ten thou- 
sand dollars as bounty money to encourage enlistments. In November follow- 
ing, according to the report of the draft commissioners, the county had sent 
into the field to date — November i , 1 862 — eleven hundred and fifty-four men 
for Pennsylvania commands, and one hundred and sixty-six men for New York 
regiments, leaving a deficit on all quotas called for of only twenty-nine. 

In July, 1863, forty-eight jWarren county men joined Company M of the 



i66 History of Warren County. 

Twenty-first Cavalry, to serve for a period of six months. During the follow- 
ing month four hundred and ninety- two residents were drafted for service in the 
armies of the United States. Of these, however, nearly all paid a commuta- 
tion of three hundred dollars each, thus evading the dangers and hardships, 
but missing the glory of marching, fighting, and eating " hard-tack and sow- 
belly." 

The year 1864 was passed in fear and trembling by those who wished to 
stay at home. The armies had been greatly depleted by casualties in battle, 
disease, and the discharge of men unfit for duty, and the expiration of the time 
of service of many thousands of veteran troops then in the field would oc- 
cur during the ensuing twelve months. Therefore the men of Warren, as well 
as elsewhere throughout the country, had to bestir themselves in earnest. If 
not willing to shoulder a musket, the alternative was left them of handing out 
their money to pay for substitutes, or rather, as was generally the practice, of 
bonding the county for the amount required for such purpose. This last-men- 
tioned scheme, however, worked unfairly ; for the survivors of the war, the men 
who had fought the battles, who had cheerfully entered the service without 
promise or expectation of bounty or reward, came marching back on the con- 
clusion of peace, only to help pay the debt which the gallant stay-at-homes 
had fashioned o'er themselves to protect their precious lives. 

In January Warren county was called upon to furnish two hundred and fifty 
men to fill quotas. This was followed in April by another call for one hundred 
and sixty-two men. These requisitions were partially filled by drafting fifty-one 
men in June, and the enlistment of volunteers in Company I of the One Hun- 
dred and Ninety-third, and Company G of the Two Hundred and F.leventh 
Regiments. In August the county was again called upon for four hundred and 
seventy four men to be obtained by draft or otherwise. On this call one hun- 
dred and seventy-four men were drafted October 8. These sad-faced fellows, 
however, were never ordered to report for duty, for an agent, having proceeded 
to Rock Island, 111., succeeded in obtaining a sufficient number of rebel pris- 
oners there confined (who were willing to serve under the United States flag 
against the Indians, but not against their late comrades in arms) by the pay- 
ment of a bounty of one hundred dollars to each, to fill existing deficiencies, 
and leave a surplus of one hundred and sixty men for future calls. The pris- 
oners thus enlisted to fill Northern quotas had been captured at Missionary 
Ridge and Lookout Mountain, and were chiefly natives of Kentucky and Ten- 
nessee. Subsequently, not caring or daring to return home, they added largely 
to the vicious, lawless element in the Far West known as the " rustlers " and 
cowboys of the plains. 

In February, 1865, another, and as it proved to be, the last call was made 
upon the county for men. The number required to fill the quota was three 
hundred and sixty-seven. Thereupon another draft was made, and the names 



During and Since the Late War. 167 

of those drafted were published. They, too, were in luck, however, for the 
war ended before they were ordered to report for duty, and in May following 
were notified, through the office of the provost marshal general, of their release. 

From what has been stated in the foregoing paragraphs, it might be in- 
ferred that Warren county was called upon to contribute to the armies of the 
United States during the four years of war about three thousand men. But 
such a conclusion would be erroneous. To illustrate : If a call was made for 
four hundred men, and only two hundred and thirty were secured, the defi- 
ciency of one hundred and seventy would be added to the next requisition. 
Then, again, each time that a soldier re-enlisted, as many of them did, he was 
counted as an additional man to the credit of his county. It is our opinion, 
therefore, that counting volunteers, militia, drafted men, and rebel substitutes, 
the county furnished not more, and probably less, than two thousand men. It 
contributed its full proportion, however, in comparison with other localities and 
its population. 

On Monday night, April 10, great joy was manifested in Warren on recep- 
tion of the news of the fall of Richmond and the surrender of Lee's army. 
Returned soldier boys made the old six pounder roar as it had never roared 
before, the bells clanged, rockets mounted high in air, bonfires blazed, dwell- 
ings, stores, and offices were illuminated, while all of the inhabitants of the 
town, apparently, assembled on Water and Second streets, between Hickory 
and Liberty, and indulged in a general hand-shake. 

These rejoicings had not ceased ere the whole county was startled with the 
announcement of the assassination of President Lincoln, and on Wednesday, 
April 19, just four years from the time the Massachusetts Sixth was attacked 
by a rebel mob in the streets of Baltimore, the people of Warren held formal 
services in memory of the lamented president. There were present Revs. P. 
P. Pinney, C. C. Parker, and B. L. Miller, of the village churches, also Hon. G. 
W. Scofield, who delivered the principal address. 

When the smoke of batrie lifted, and the wreck of war began to be cleared 
away, it was found that the " Soldiers Aid Society," composed of the loyal 
women of Warren, had well performed an important service. Besides making 
the uniforms for the first two companies to take the field, these ladies had sent 
forward many boxes filled with provisions and clothing for the sick and 
wounded in hospitals. They had also from October, 1861, to June, 1865, 
collected in various ways $1,737.33, of which amount $1,493.46 had been 
disbursed for the relief of soldiers, or their families, leaving $243.87 in the 
hands of Mrs. R. P. King (their secretary and treasurer) at the close of the 
war. 

During the summer of 1865 the gallant bands of Warren county soldiers, 
who had gone forth to defend the nation's life, came back from fields of 
carnage to lay down their arms and to engage almost instantly in the pursuits 



i68 History ok Warren County. 



and followed that down to the site of Clarendon borough, where the first well 
was completed in July, 1880. 

In the spring of 1882 " the oil market of the world was brought to a halt, 
and stood aghast at the announcement of some wonderful discovery made by 
some wildcat speculator upon lot No. 646, far in the wilderness of Cherry Grove 
township. For a purpose, of course, an impenetrable vail of mystery was 
thrown around it for days and weeks. The admixture of fact and fiction daily 
put in circuulation about ' the mystery ' had the desired effect. Speculators 
crowded the woods, bought lands, took leases, paid large bonuses, built houses, 
located villages, and established stores and drinking saloons on all corner lots. 
The ' mystery ' and a few other wells turned out to be large producers for a time, 
just long enough to create a craze and induce adventurers to invest large 
amounts of money, give an ephemeral fame to Garfield and Farnsworth, project 
a railroad, and lose their money ; a few months left their villages and der- 
ricks to be the roosting-places of owls and bats. 

" After the excitement abated at Garfield it settled down for awhile, appar- 
ently in disgust, at Clarendon. There it built up quite a city in a swamp, and 
filled the surrounding woods with its monuments of enterprise and folly. But 
the spirit of oil speculation admits of no geographical limitations. It soon 
continued its explorations down the Tionesta Creek, through Tiona east to Shef- 
field, with varying success, and from thence down the main creek and up the 
north branch. It soon got out of the county in that direction, and is now op- 
erating largely in Forest county. 

" In the mean time some developments along the Allegheny River for five 
miles above Warren created a temporary diversion in that direction, and the 
fields became known as the Wardwell and Glade Run districts. Operations 
are still carried on to a limited extent in these localities. The last oil furor 
created in the county was at Kinzua, in 1885. A few fair wells and some 
' mysteries ' occasioned a rush in that direction for a few weeks. But further 
tests soon dissipated the illusion of large production, and the territory was left 
to the operation of parties content with moderate profits. 

" Upon the whole, although the profit and loss account has been very vari- 
ant and fluctuating, the production of oil has been the source of much wealth 
to the people of the county. Large quantities of rough and poor lands were 
sold or leased to foreign speculators at fabulous prices, a great portion of which 
remain dead stock on the hands of the buyers, or have been abandoned. In 
many -cases the settlers, also, thus made suddenly rich, for various reasons are 
worse off than if they had never sold. Had it not been for the misfortune of 
having had inflicted upon Warren borough an institution styled an ' Oil Ex- 
change,' where several hundred thousand dollars were gambled away, the 
county would have been much better off than it is."^ 

' Hon. S. p. Johnson, in Cnunly Directory. 



Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 169 

Of late years the discovery and utilization of natural gas as a fuel, and also 
as an illuminator, has given to certain lands in the southeastern part of the 
county prominence as probable good gas territory; but since the general sur- 
face has been so completely denuded of its wealth of pine timber, and the 
bowels of the earth hereabouts pumped almost dry of the much sought for 
greasy fluid termed petroleum, it seems to an outside observer quite certain 
that in the future those who remain here as workers, must devote more atten- 
tion to agricultural pursuits and manufacturing than has heretofore been 
done, else the chances for starving are exceedingly flattering. The period of 
making fortunes in a day by lucky speculations or prospecting, and the reign 
of the boss lumberman, wood-chopper, raftsman, oil operator, wildcatter, 
scout, and moonshiner, have passed away. Henceforth, without a doubt, old 
Warren must take her place in column, and move along in an ordinary, un- 
eventful way, side by side with counties, which, at the beginning, were less 
profusely endowed with nature's bounties. 

In 1880 in contained nearly twenty-eight thousand inhabitants. Its present 
residents are estimated to be about thirty-two thousand in number, of which 
those voting the Republican ticket still remain largely in the majority. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

THIRTY-XIXTH REGIMENT — TENTH RESERVE. 

Wiiere Reeiuited — The Warren Guards — Regimental Rendezvout; — Organization of the Reg- 
iment — It Proceeds to Harrisburg — Thence to Washington — Brigade Assignment — General Ord 
in Command — The Fight at DranesviUe — A Weary Marcli to Fredericksburg — Transferred to 
the Peninsula — In Fitz .lohn Porter's Command — Rattle of Mechaniesville — Gaines's Mill — 
(iallant Behavior of the Tenth Reserve— It Sustains Heavy Loss — White Oak Swamp — Men 
Completely E.xhausted — Close of the ''Seven Days' Fight" — The Re.serves at Second Bull Run 
— South Mountain — Antietam — Fredericksburg — Gettysburg — Winter Quarters 1863-G4 — In 
the Wilderness— On Hand at Spotlsylvania Court-House— Bethesda Church the Tenth Reserve's 
hast Biittlf-Fiold — .Mu.ster Out — Ro<tpr of its Memliers from Warren County. 

THIS regiment was recruited in the western portion of the State, for the 
most part in the counties of Warren, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Law- 
rence, Clarion, Beaver, Washington, and Somerset. A majority of the com- 
panies were organized for the three months service. Some were accepted and 
went into camp, where, the quota for the short term being full, they awaited 
further orders. Others remained at home, but preserved their organizations, 
and upon the first call for the three years service .were in readiness to move. 



170 History of Warren County. 

As mentioned in the preceding chapter, Captain Harrison Allen's company, 
locally known as the " Warren Guards," left Warren Thursday morning, May 
30, 1861, and proceeded by rail, via Erie and Cleveland, to Pittsburgh. Here 
the companies rendezvoused at Camp Wilkins, and here a regimental organi- 
zation was effected by the choice of John S. McCalmont, of Venango county, 
a graduate of West Point, as colonel ; James T. Kirk, captain of Company D, 
as lieutenant-colonel, and Harrison Allen, captain of the "Warren Guards" as 
major. The latter company was soon after designated Company H. It 
was mustered into service June 22, 1861, but some ten or twelve of those who 
accompanied it from Warren were rejected as unfit for military service. The 
camp near Pittsburgh proved to be quite unhealthy, and much sickness pre- 
vailed in consequence. Hence on the first of July the regiment moved twelve 
miles up the east bank of Allegheny River to Camp Wright, and occupied 
grounds beautifully located. We will here make note of the fact that the 
" Warren Guards " were the first to locate at Camp Wright, and for a number 
of days Captain Allen was the commandant of the camp. 

The regiment left camp under orders to move to Cumberland, Md., July 
18, 1861, but before reaching Bedford, Pa., the order was countermanded, and 
it was hurried forward to Harrisburg. The unexpected disaster at first Bull 
Run, the news of which had just been received, was disheartening, but none 
faltered. Late on the afternoon of the 22d the regiment moved by rail to Bal- 
timore and bivouacked in the open square, near the railroad station, until the 
evening of the 23d, when it marched with loaded arms and fixed bayonets and 
encamped on the common south of the city. On the 24th it proceeded to 
Washington and encamped about a mile east of the capitol, where it remained 
until August I, when it marched to Tenallytown, where the Pennsylvania Re- 
serve regiments were assembled. Here it was assigned to the Third Brigade 
(composed of the Sixth, Ninth, Tenth and Twelfth Regiments of the Pennsyl- 
vania Reserve Corps), at first commanded by Colonel McCalmont, but subse- 
quently by Brigadier-General E. O. C. Ord. 

On the lOth of October the regiment moved into Virginia and took posi- 
tion in line with the army, the right resting on the Potomac and the left con- 
necting with General Smith's Division. Just two months later the enemy 
under Stuart was met at Dranesville by General Ord's Brigade, both parties 
being out upon a foraging expedition in force. The action opened at a little 
past midday by a smart firing between the skirmishers, soon followed by the 
artillery of the enemy, which was replied to by Easton's Battery. The result 
was the blowing up of one of the enemy's ammunition boxes, the killing of 
several horses, and the killing and wounding of many of his men. The enemy 
was completely routed and driven from the field. This success greatly elated 
the spirit of the troops engaged, and tended to counteract the depressing effects 
of the Bull Run and Ball's Bluff disasters. On the 14th of February, 1862, 



Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 171 

Major Allen, who, having been for a long time in ill health, resigned, and Ad- 
jutant S. B. Smith was elected to succeed him. 

Early in March the regiment joined in a forward movement of the army, 
and after many days of marching and counter-marching, making long and ap- 
parently aimless detours, etc., exposed to storms and snow, sleet and rain, over 
roads deep with mud, it finally reached the vicinity of Fredericksburg, Va., 
where the Reserves were attached to the command of General McDowell. 
While here several changes among regimental and brigade commanders took 
place. 

About the middle of June the Reserves were detached from McDowell's 
Corps and ordered to the Peninsula to reinforce McClellan. Reaching its new 
field of operations by water transportation and marching, the regiment was at- 
tached to the command of Fitz John Porter. At the battle of Mechanicsville, 
which was fought June 26, the Tenth occupied the ground immediately to the 
right of the road leading to Mechanicsville, near its crossing of the Beaver Dam 
Creek, only a short distance above its confluence with the Chickahominy River. 
Its left rested upon the embankment at the old mill and connected with the 
right of the Ninth. Easton's Battery was stationed on the brow of the hill, 
just in rear of the Tenth, and in front of the regimental line a portion of the 
regiment were in rifle pits, while others were thrown forward as skirmishers. 
On both sides of the creek, which is here a sluggish stream, the ground is 
swampy and was covered with a growth of underbrush. On the Mechanics- 
ville side the ground descends for a quarter of a mile to the creek bottom. As 
the enemy came down the descending ground, through the fields and along the 
road, Easton's Battery opened a rapid fire, and when within rifle range the men 
posted in the pits and along the old mill-dam poured in so destructive a fire 
that he was forced back with terrible slaughter. Notwithstanding this bloody 
repulse, again and again he renewed the attempt to reach the creek and to force 
a passage, his main attempts being made along the road and upon the bridge 
near the mill. But the rebels could not stand the steady fire of the Reserves, 
and his columns advanced only to be broken and beaten back with most 
grievous slaughter. The line of the Tenth was everywhere preserved intact, 
and a joyful exultation was felt when night put an end to the battle. On ac- 
count of the favorable position which the regiment occupied, it suffered but a 
small loss. 

At three o'clock on the morning of the 27th an order was received to fall 
back in the direction of Gaines's Mill, the position of the Union army at Me- 
chanicsville being considered by McClellan as no longer tenable. The with- 
drawal was successfully executed in the face of the enemy, and the column re- 
tired in good order. In the neighborhood of Gaines's Mill, Porter's Corps had 
taken position with the river at its back, to resist the enemy now moving in 
great force upon the right flank of the Union army. Gaines's Run is a small 



172 History of Warren County. 

stream which has worn for itself a deep channel and has rough wooded slopes 
on either side, except near its confluence with the Chickahominy, where the 
ground is low and cleared. The battle on the center and left was principally- 
fought in the rough wooded slope on the left bank of the stream. Behind this 
belt of woods were level fields. The army was drawn up in three lines, the 
front in the woods, and as one line was broken and driven back another was 
sent in to take its place. The artillery, posted in the open fields in the rear, was 
of little service until the enemy had driven our infantry from the woods and 
began to emerge therefrom. 

The Tenth Regiment was posted in the second line, and was not engaged 
until half-past three in the afternoon. It was then moved hurriedly a half mile 
to the right in anticipation of an attack, but was almost immediately taken 
back at a double-quick, and placed in support of a battery to the right and 
front of the original position. At this time the battle was raging furiously 
along the entire line. In its immediate front was felled timber, through which 
the line receded, and, as reinforced, drove back the enemy. A half an hour 
later the Tenth was ordered further to the left, where it was brought in under 
a heavy fire, ready for a charge. It was here in a trying position, just upon 
the brow of a ravine, where it caught a heavy fire from the enemy, without the 
possibility of returning it. Many here fell. Soon the order came to charge, 
and with resistless power it swept forward, crossed the ravine, and up the 
opposite bank and, clearing the woods of the enemy, held this advanced position 
against every attempt to dislodge it. It was then ordered to retire to the brow 
of the slope next the enemy, where it was partially under cover, and from 
which a heavy and uninterrupted fire was delivered until near sundown, when, 
our left having been turned, it was compelled to fall back, emerging from the 
woods just in time to save itself from being cut off by the advancing enemy. 
Night put an end to the contest, and under cover of darkness its broken ranks 
were closed and it retired across the Chickahominy. In this engagement the 
Tenth sustained heavy losses; more, indeed, than in an\- subsequent action 
during its term of service. 

On the 28th the regiment was detailed for picket duty on the Chicka- 
hominy, and at three o'clock on the morning of the 29th it commenced the 
march towards White Oak Swamp and the James River. The march was a 
weary, never-to-be-forgotten one by its participants, the trains in many places 
blocking the way, and extended far into the night. On the following day, a 
little after noon, the regiment was drawn up in line of battle. The left of the 
division was posted by General McCall in person, in a zigzag line, the Twelfth 
Regiment on the left, the Tenth and Ninth next in order, with the Eighth and 
Second in support. A German battery occupied an elevated position near a 
house, partly between and in the rear of the Tenth and Twelfth Regiments. 
A heavy fire was suddenly opened upon this battery from the rebel guns just 



Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 173 

brought into position. The fire was but feebly returned, and in a few minutes 
the battery was deserted. The left of the Tenth, which had been extended to 
protect these guns from infantry, remained at its place. Immediately after this 
the rebel lines were advanced, and a charge was ordered by General McCall. 
The peculiar formation of regimental lines at this juncture led to consider- 
able confusion when the order for all to advance at the same time was given ; 
but Lieutenant-Colonel Warner, in command of the Tenth, held the left under 
a sharp fire until the regiment had executed a half wheel, then charged for- 
ward with the rest of the line upon the advancing foe, whose ranks were quickly 
broken, and his whole line driven from the open field back to the cover of the 
woods and his guns. The Tenth captured sixty prisoners and a stand of colors 
in this charge. 

The enemy returned to the charge with greatly augmented numbers soon 
after, however, and inflicted heavy losses upon the Union forces opposing it. 
Here the battle continued with wavering fortunes during the remainder of the 
day, but so stubbornly had the field been contested by the Reserves and a por- 
tion of Hooker's Corps, which came opportunely to the support of the left 
wing, that the enemy failed to push his advantage, and left the Reserves in 
possession of nearly the same ground occupied by them at the beginning of 
the battle. The men were completely exhausted, and they dropped down to 
rest where they stood ; but at the expiration of two hours they were again sum- 
moned into line. It was with the utmost difficulty that they could be aroused. 
Many, after being awakened and ordered out, fell asleep again, even dropped 
down after taking their places in ranks, and in the darkness that prevailed were 
left behind to be awakened next morning by the enemy and marched as pris- 
oners to Richmond. During the night the regiment moved to Malvern Hill, 
but it was not engaged in the battle fought thereat on the succeeding day. In 
the series of battles known as the " Seven Days' Fight," which commenced at 
Mechanicsville, the regiment lost in killed, wounded, and missing more than 
two hundred ofificers and men, Company H (the " Warren Guards ") alone 
losing six killed, thirteen wounded, and eight missing. 

The word missing written opposite a man's name immediately after a bat- 
tle means a great deal, and is thoroughly understood only by those who have 
stood there at such a time in line. It includes brave fellows who have fallen 
in battle unseen by their comrades ; others who have fallen into the hands of 
the enemy, unknown to their immediate commanders ; and lastly, of those 
lacking " sand " — chaps who have mysteriously dodged and ran away, with 
no wish to fight on this or any other day. 

From the Peninsula the regiment with its corps passed to the army under 
General Pope, and participated in the second battle of Bull Run. During the 
29th of August several feints were made by the Reserves, with a view of 
drawing off the enemy from other points of attack. The Tenth was several 



174 History of Warren County. 

times under fire, but was withdrawn without severe loss. Early on the follow- 
ing morning it was posted with the division on the extreme left of the army. 
Toward the close of that day a heavy attack was made upon that part of the 
line, and the Tenth was hotly engaged with varying success, the men fighting 
bravely and suffering severe loss ; but it was found impossible to withstand the 
superior force concentrated against it. It had been pressed back a half mile, 
when night put an end to the conflict. The army at once began its retreat, 
falling back upon Centerville. The division, under the command of General 
Reynolds, was handled with great skill throughout the three days of battle. 
The loss in the Tenth was twelve killed, thirty-four wounded, and nineteen 
missing. 

The regiment next met the enemy at South Mountain. It fought its way 
to the summit, captured three hundred of the enemy, and was highly compli- 
mented on the field for its gallantry, both by General Hooker and General 
Meade. Its loss here was four killed and nineteen wounded. 

At Antietam, commanded by the gallant Lieutenant- Colonel Warner, the 
Tenth again won imperishable honors. During that battle, while thrown for- 
ward as skirmishers, it held at bay for thirty minutes an entire division of the 
enemy well supplied with artillery. 

General Burnside assumed command of the Army of the Potomac Novem- 
ber 7, and soon after began his preparations for an active campaign against the 
enemy. His plan involved marching his army from the vicinity of Warrenton, 
and crossing the Rappahannock near Fredericksburg. Before his pontoons had 
arrived, and his army was ready to cross, the enemy had concentrated on the 
opposite bank and stood ready to contest his passage and his further advance. 
On the night of the loth of December, however, the Tenth left camp with the 
Third Brigade, under command of Brigadier-General Jackson, and marched to 
the bank of the river, three miles below Fredericksburg, where two pontoon 
bridges were speedily laid and a crossing was effected without loss. On the 
morning of the 13th the regiment moved with the division to the point whence 
the attack was to be made, where it was formed, and was soon under a heavy 
fire of artillery. Soon the order was given to advance, and in the face of a 
destructive fire of musketry and artillery it swept forward and carried the ene- 
my's intrenchments ; but failing of support, the division was forced back and 
compelled to retire with great loss. The Tenth in this engagement was led by 
Lieutenant-Colonel Knox. The loss was severe, being eleven killed, seventy- 
five wounded, and fifty-one captured. 

Subsequently the regiment participated in the toilsome but fruitless attempt 
of General Burnside to again cross the Rappahannock, and soon after, with the 
entire division, was ordered to the defenses of Washington to rest and recruit. 
At this time some of the companies had become so much reduced by constant 
service as to be unable to muster more than three or four files of men on 



Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 175 

parade, and these without a commissioned officer or sergeant. Company H, 
the " Warren Guards," was in better condition than some others, as it then 
reported forty men present for duty under the command of First Sergeant 
WilHam McCann. 

As part of the Fifth] Corps, the First and Third Brigades of the Reserves 
reached the field of battle at Gettysburg on the morning of July 2, 1863. 
They bravely performed all that they were ordered to do on that and the fol- 
lowing day, but, holding strong, well-sheltered positions, suffered but little loss. 
Thereafter the regiment participated in the general movements of the army, 
and passed the following winter at Warrenton and Manassas Junctions. 

Winter quarters were abandoned on the 29th of April, 1864, and the regi- 
ment moved to the vicinity of Culpepper, where it joined the army of General 
Grant, the Pennsylvania Reserves, commanded by General Crawford, being 
still attached to the Fifth Corps. At midnight of the 3d of May the division 
crossed the Rapidan and bivouacked in the Wilderness on the night of the 4th. 
During the following day the regiment was engaged in skirmishing with the 
enemy and maneuvering, and at one time, the troops on the right having been 
heavily engaged and driven back, the entire division was in imminent danger 
of being cut off; but was safely withdrawn, the Tenth without loss, to the 
neighborhood of the Lacy House, where the line was reformed and intrenched. 
On the 6th the regiment moved with the brigade to the right, and was pushed 
forward a mile or more, driving the enemy. In this advance Colonel Ayer, of 
the Tenth, was severely wounded. At night it was moved on the double-quick 
to the right, to meet a night attack on the Sixth Corps. Again, on the 8th at 
Spottsylvania Court House the regiment was hotly engaged, and on the 9th 
until late at night, when it was moved to the right, forming a line at the base 
of a long wooded ridge which extended to the River Po. Fighting its way 
with the division, it crossed the Pamunky on the 28th, and on the 29th moved 
forward to Tolopotomy Creek, skirmishing as it went. On the 30th the enemy 
was met in considerable force near Bethesda Church, where the Reserves were 
at first driven back in some disorder ; but finally, forming in a favorable position, 
a temporary breastwork of rails was thrown up and the enemy was checked. 
Re-forming his lines he attacked in heavy force, but was repeatedly repelled 
and driven back in confusion, the Reserves inflicting great slaughter and tak- 
ing many prisoners. This was their last battle, their term of service having 
expired. Many of the Tenth had re-enlisted as veterans, and these were trans- 
ferred to the One Hundred and Ninetieth and One Hundred and Ninety-first 
Regiments. On the nth of June, 1864, the remnants of this brave and once 
strong body of men, which had fought in nearly every battle in which the Ar- 
my of the Potomac had to that time been engaged, was mustered out of service 
at Pittsburgh. Following is a list of those who represented Warren county in 
this regiment, with remarks copied from muster-out rolls : 



176 History of Warren County. 

Field and Staff. 

Major Harrison Allen, mustered into service June 29, 1861 ; resigned I'^eb- 
ruary 14, 1862. 

Company H. 

Captain Henry V. Partridge, resigned July 16, 1862. 

Captain Daniel W. Mayes, promoted from second lieutenant to captain ; 
killed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862. 

Captain Lemuel B. Norton, promoted from first lieutenant to captain May 
I, 1863 ; resigned June 22, 1863 ; was appointed chief signal officer. Army of 
the Potomac, in August, 1863. 

Captain William McCann, mustered out with company June 1 1, 1864. 

First Lieutenant David Service, mustered out with company June i i, 
1864. 

Second Lieutenant Henry B. Fox, killed at Bull Run, Va., August 30, 
1862. 

First Sergeant Eben N. Ford, discharged on surgeon's certificate Decem- 
ber 24, 1 86 1. 

First Sergeant Ransom S. Bates, mustered out with company. 

Sergeant Leamon L. Bowers, mustered out with company. 

Sergeant Martilles Porter, wounded at F'redericksburg December 13, 1862; 
absent in hospital at muster out. 

Sergeant J. B. Harrington, mustered out with company. 

Sergeant Nat. S. Falconer, wounded at New Market Cross Roads; dis- 
charged November 30, 1863. 

Sergeant Simeon Marsh, wounded at Bethesda Church May 30, 1864; 
transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864; veteran. 

Sergeant Thomas O. Rodgers, killed at New Market Cross Roads June 30, 
1862. 

Sergeant Ira Johnson, killed at Fredericksburg December 13, 1862. 

Corporal Alonzo P. Barnes, mustered out with company. 

Corporal C. N. Burnham, mustered out with company. 

Corporal H. T. Houghton, mustered out with company. 

Corporal Lewis B. Learn, mustered out with company. 

Corporal George W. Brown, mustered out with company. 

Corporal George Merchant, discharged on surgeon's certificate August 20, 
1861. 

Corporal Charles !•". Nelson, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 
8, 1861. 

Corporal Henry C. Dyon, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864; veteran. 

Corporal John Donlon. 

Corporal Byron D. Tomes. 



Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 177 



Musician Casper Y. Stroup, discharged on surgeon's certificate January i , 
1863. 

Musician B. D. Hotchkiss, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 
24, 1862. 

Pi'ivatcs. 

William Allen, discharged on surgeon's certificate November i, 1862. 

D. C. Aylesworth, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 24, 1861. 

John G. Brower, mustered out with company. 

Ira G. Barber, discharged on surgeon's certificate September 20, 1862. 

Charles Babcock, discharged an surgeon's certificate August 22, 1861. 

Daniel H. Bowers, discharged on surgeon's certificate October 3, 1862. ^ 

Frank Brower, discharged on surgeon's certificate February 24, . 

Charles Brown, killed at Gaines's, Mill June 27, 1862. 

Jesse M. Conner, mustered out with company. 

William Calvert, discharged November 20, 1862, for wounds received at 
New Market Cross Roads June 30, 1862. 

John Cameron, discharged on surgeon's certificate October 8, 1863. 

Charles Clark, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 27, 1861. 

Nelson P. Curtis, discharged on surgeon's certificate February 13, 1862. 

Richard Calvert, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864. 

Ed. D. Crittenden, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864. 

Andrew Clendenning, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864. 

Isaac Culbertson, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864; veteran. 

John M. Cowan, killed at South Mountain September 14, 1862. 

Victor Chase, died at Washington, D. C, October 13, 1861. 

Abram G. Degroff", mustered out with company. 

Ira H. Dennison, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 19, 1861. 

George W. Demars, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864. 

Irvine Demill, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864. 

Orlando L. Davis, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864. 

Ephraim Enos, killed at Spottsylvania C. H. May 12, 1864. 

J. Burton Geer, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864. 

George S. Gilson, killed at Gaines's Mill, Va., June 27, 1862. 

John Hurley, mustered out with company. 

Henry Howard, mustered out with company. 

William H. Houghton, mustered out with company. 

Stephen G. Harris, discharged October 11, 1862, for wounds received at 
South Mountain September 14, 1862. 

Roland H. Huntley, discharged September 20, 1862, for wounds received 
at Dranesville December 20, i86i. 

Samuel Jones, discharged on surgeon's certificate February 6, 1862. 



178 History of Warren County. 

Jacob Kline, mustered out with company. 

J. M. Kingsbury, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864; veteran. 

Noah R. Kingsley, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864; veteran. 

Charles Lyon, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864; veteran. 

Edwin A. Lyon, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864; veteran. 

Andrew Lesh, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864; veteran. 

James A. Learn, killed at Gaines's Mill June 27, 1862. 

James R. Mitchell, mustered out with company. 

James A. Morton, discharged on surgeon's certificate June 2, 1862. 

Henry D. Miner, died of wounds received at Gaines's Mill January 27, 1862- 

H. V. McDowell, mustered out with company. 

Patrick McGraw, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864. 

Enos W. McPhaill, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864. 

Chase Osgood, wounded at Bull Run August 30, 1862; discharged Feb- 
ruary 3, 1863. 

Ed. J. Palmer, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864; veteran. 

Hiram Parker, died November 23, 1862, at Memphis, Tenn. 

Henry Parker, died September 14, 1862, of wounds received at Bull Run 
August 30, 1862. 

Oliver P. Robbins, wounded, with loss of leg, at Gaines's Mill June 27, 1862 ; 
discharged February 26, 1864. 

Charles E. Reynolds, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864; veteran. 

L. Robbins, transferred to 190th P. V. June 1, 1864; veteran. 

Thomas Ryne, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864; veteran. 

Edward Ryan, transferred to 190th P. V. June I, 1864; veteran. 

John Ruger, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864; veteran. 

D. F. Robinson, died September 14, 1862, of wounds received at Bull Run 
August 30, 1862. 

William Stilwell, mustered out with company. 

John Shipman, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 17, 1861. 

Leroy Snyder, discharged on surgeon's certificate August 18, 1862. 

W. A. Salisbury, transferred to 190th P. V. June I, 1864; veteran. 

James R. Shook, transferred to 190th P. V. June i, 1864. 

Jacob Schirk, killed at Bull Run August 30, 1862. 

James E. Simmons, died July 3, 1862, of wounds received June 30, i852. 

William Sturdevant, killed at Gaines's Mill, Va., June 27, 1862. 

George W. Trask, mustered out with company. 

E. N. Thompson, wounded, with loss of arm, at New Market Cross Roads 
June 30, 1862 ; died September 25, 1862. 

Jacob Tomes, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 17, 186 1. 

John Turner, discharged on surgeon's certificate April 13, 1862. 

D. J. Van Vechten, discharged on surgeon's certificate June 12, 1862. 



Forty-Second Regiment. 179 

Charles Wentworth, transferred to Signal Corps, date unknown. 

Henry C. Wright, killed at Gaines's Mill June 27, 1862. 

Edmund White, missing at Bull Run August 30, 1862. 

William S. Winchester. 

Orsamus A. Young, discharged on surgeon's certificate April 13, 1862. 



CHAPTER XVni. 

FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT — BUCKTAIL RIFLES. 

Manner of Recruiting Its First Companies — The Unique Material of Which It Was Com- 
posed — Woodsmen to the Front — Floating Down the Susquehanna — -Captain Stone's Raft- 
men — The First Company to Leave Warren — To Pittsburgh in Boats of Their Own Make — 
By Rail to Harri.sburg — Regimental Organization — Captain Stone Promoted — The First 
March — On the Upper Potomac — The Bucktails Join the Pennsylvania Reserves — G-allant 
Conduct at Dranesville — Captain McNeil of Warren Chosen as Colonel — A Temporary 
Division of the Regiment — Major Stone's Battalion in the '■ Seven Days' Fight " — Winning 
Imperishable Honors — But at Great Loss of Life — Wonderful Bridge Building Feat — The 
Rifles of the Bucktails Again in Use at Second Bull Run — Services Rendered by Lieutenant- 
Colonel Kane's Battalion in the Shenandoah — The Regiment Again United — Its Services at 
South Mountain — Antietam — Death of Colonel McNeil — An Incident in His Military Career 
— Fredericksburg — Getty.sburg — Death of Colonel Taylor, McNeil's Successor — In the 
Wilderness — At^Spottsylvania — Bethe-sda Chin-ch — Expiration of,Term of Service — Roster 
of the Warren County Men. 

IMMEDIATELY after the startling news had been received of the surrender 
of Fort Sumter, Thomas L. Kane, brother of Dr. Kane the famous Arctic 
explorer, applied to Governor Curtin for permission to raise a company of 
mounted riflemen from among the hardy yeomanry of the counties of Forest, 
McKean, and Elk, popularly known as the "wildcat district." Authority was 
immediately given as requested, and in less than a week the men began to 
assemble at the points of rendezvous. On the 17th of April it was decided 
to change the organization from cavalry to infantry. The men, for the most 
part lumbermen, came clad in their red flannel shirts, bearing their trusty rifles, 
and wearing each in his hat a bucktail. No one was accepted who did not 
prove himself a skilled marksman. All were carefully examined by a sur- 
geon, and none but sound and hardy men taken. 

On the 24th of April a hundred men had assembled at the rafting-place on 
the Sinnemahoning, where they at once commenced constructing their trans- 
ports. Two days later the entire force, three hundred and fifteen strong, em- 
barked upon three rafts, and with a green hickory pole surmounted by a buck- 
tail for a flagstaff, the stars and stripes flying, and the martial strains of fife and 



i8o HiSTOKV OF Warren County. 

drums echoing through the forests, they commenced the movement for the 
general camp of rendezvous at the State capital. Although authority had been 
given for recruiting this force, yet no order had been issued by the governor 
for marching, and before it had proceeded far it was found at headquarters 
that only a limited number could be accepted. A telegram was accordingly 
dispatched directing them to turn back upon their arrival at Lock Haven, but 
through the connivance of General Jackman, of the militia, who was very 
desirous that these hardy men of the forest should be received, the message 
was never delivered, and they were borne onward by the current over the broad 
bosom of the Susquehanna, and upon their arrival at Harrisburg saluted the 
city with a volley from their rifles. 

From the insignia in their hats they were at once recognized and known 
as the Bucktails. Authority was given for mustering them into the service as 
the Seventeenth (three months) Regiment, and a regimental organization was 
effected by the choice of Thomas L. Kane as colonel. But here another 
obstacle was encountered ; a Seventeenth Regiment had already been organ- 
ized and mustered into service in Philadelphia, and, a difficulty arising as to 
the acceptance of so large a number of men from a district containing only a 
small population, the organization was not consummated, and Colonel Kane, 
declining his commission, was mustered into service on the 13th of May as a 
private. 

Meanwhile other companies had been recruited, and had assembled in 
temporary camp with like expectations, and were similarly disappointed. 
Roy Stone, esq., a citizen of Warren county, and a well-to-do lumberman, had 
recruited a company in April, composed of a class of men similar in occupa- 
tion and experience to those led by Kane. They were first known as the " Raft- 
men's Guards," carried their own rifles, and dwelt principally upon the head 
waters of the Allegheny River. Disappointed in not being admitted to the three 
months' service, they for four weeks encamped at the court-house in Warren, 
and were fed by its patriotic citizens. With no authority to provide for them, 
Governor Curtin advised them to disband. But this they were unwilling to do. 
Tiring of inactivity, they gladly acceded to a proposition from their captain to 
move down the Allegheny upon boats of their own manufacture, to Pittsburgh, 
and thence join General McClellan's troops in West Virginia, as an independ- 
ent company of sharpshooters. They were five days in making the run, being 
entertained at the towns along the river, and receiving a number of recruits on 
the way. At Pittsburgh they were the guests of the city, and here Captain 
Stone received a summons from Governor Curtin to proceed by rail to Harris- 
burg, where the company would be assigned to the Reserve Corps. Anothei 
company was recruited in Chester county, one in Perry, one in Clearfield, one 
in Carbon, and two in Tioga. 

The companies were mustered into the United States service for three 



Forty-Second Regiment. 



years at different dates from May 28, to June 1 1 (the Warren county company, 
" D," being mustered May 29) ; but there was considerable delay in effect- 
ing a regimental organization. F"inally an election was held on the 12th of 
June, with the following result : Thomas L. Kane, colonel ; Charles J. Biddle, 
lieutenant-colonel ; and Roy Stone, captain of the " Raftmen's Guards," major. 
On the following day, however, Colonel Kane resigned, accompanying his 
resignation with a request that Lieutenant-Colonel Biddle, who had been edu- 
cated in the profession of arms, and had acquired experience on the battle- 
field, in the war with Mexico, should be commissioned in his place. It was a 
noble, magnanimous act on the part of Colonel Kane, who lacked military 
experience ; but it was quite unnecessary, for as time proved, he was much the 
best soldier of the two. The change requested by Colonel Kane was acceded 
to, and Biddle became colonel of the regiment and Kane its lieutentant-colonel. 
Unwilling to allow so honorable and unselfish an act to pass without some 
mark of their appreciation, the captains of the several companies passed reso- 
lutions soliciting a change of the name, from the " Rifle Regiment," to that of 
the " Kane Rifle Regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps." Accordingly, 
the last-mentioned name became the official designation of the command. Yet 
the regiment entered service under a variety of titles, such as the Forty-second 
of the line, the Thirteenth Reserve, the Rifle, the First Rifle, the Kane Rifle, 
and the Bucktail. The latter, however, was the popular name with its mem- 
bers ; it was the name it bore in the army, and so designated did its fame 
extend throughout the world, where the record of the great war, its marches 
battles, etc., was read. 

The regiment began its career of active service on the 21st of June, 1861, 
when, with the Fifth Reserve, Colonel Simmons, and Barr's Battery, it was 
ordered to the support of Colonel Wallace at Cumberland, Md. Proceeding 
by rail to Hopewell, Bedford county. Pa., it marched thence to Bedford Springs 
— its first march, a distance of twenty-three miles. On the 27th the com- 
mand moved forward to the State line, where was established Camp Mason 
and Dixon. Two weeks later. Colonel Wallace's regiment having been ordered 
to Martinsburg to join the command of General Patterson, this portion of 
Maryland was left open to the enemy, and a mounted rebel force under the 
leadership of Colonel Angus McDonald was destroying, unchecked, the prop- 
erty of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and, at the earnest solicitation of the 
officers of the road, the command broke camp on the 7th of July and marched 
to Cumberland, occupying the camp which Colonel Wallace had vacated. On 
the 1 2th a scouting party of sixty men, under the command of Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Kane, went forward and crossed into Virginia. At New Creek village the 
party was surrounded by McDonald's rebel cavalry, but by the skillful man- 
agement of Kane the rebels were worsted in a sharp skirmish that ensued, and 
driven away with the loss of eight killed and double that number wounded. 



i82 History of Warren County. 

Not a man of the scouts was injured. Colonel Biddle moved up with his en- 
tire command to their support, and immediately dispatched Kane with two 
hundred men to follow the retreating enemy. He came up with them at 
Ridgeville, nine miles from New Creek, and after a severe skirmish succeeded 
in gaining possession of the village, posting his men in a stone house, which 
was held until Colonel Biddle with his command arrived. On the morning of 
the 13th the entire force fell back and took up positions at New Creek and 
Piedmont, where it remained until July 27, when, in pursuance of orders, it 
returned to Harrisburg. 

On the 6th of August the regiment was ordered to report to General 
Banks at Harper's Ferry. Here it was assigned to a brigade composed of the 
Twenty-eighth New York, the Second and Twelfth Massachusetts, and the Sec- 
ond United States Cavalry, commanded by Colonel (afterwards Major-General) 
George H. Thomas. In this brigade it served until October i, when it moved 
to Tenallytown and joined General Meade's brigade of the Pennsylvania Re- 
serves. Subsequently, it being a rifle regiment and adapted to special service, 
it was detached from the brigade, and its commander ordered to make his re- 
ports directly to headquarters of the corps. When the advance was made into 
Virginia the Bucktails led the way. They encountered the Louisiana Zouaves 
(Tigers) near Hunter's Mill, October 20. A sharp skirmish ensued, which re- 
sulted in the rebels being easily driven from their position with considerable 
loss. 

Early in December Colonel Biddle resigned to take his seat in Congress, 
and on the 20th of the same month the Bucktails, under command of Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Kane, marched with General Ord's brigade to Dranesville, where 
the enemy was met in force. About noon information was received that a large 
body of the rebels were in the vicinity, advancing upon the Ccntreville road. 
The Bucktails were at once posted in support of a battery, and the fight opened 
with an artillery duel between the Union and rebel gunners. After half an 
hour the enemy's fire began to slacken. At this time Colonel Kane, who was on 
the right of the column, discovered that the rebel infantry were passing through 
an opening near the wood, evidently intending a flank movement, or design- 
ing to occupy a brick house within a hundred yards of his line. He accord- 
ingly sent a detachment of twenty men to occupy the house, which they did, 
and under shelter of its walls maintained a hot fire upon the advanciag force, 
which consisted of three regiments and two small guns. As they approached, 
the Bucktails, inspired by the example of their leader, kept up a steady and 
destructive fire. Lying upon the ground as they loaded, they would rise 
quickly, take deliberate aim, fire, and then drop upon the ground again. The 
fire becoming too hot for them, the rebels began to fall back. As the Buck- 
tails arose to follow. Colonel Kane was shot in the face, the ball crushing through 
the roof of his mouth, inflicting a painful wound. But hastily bandaging it, he 



Forty-Second Regiment. 183 

continued to advance with his men. The enemy now fled in precipitation, 
leaving his dead and wounded upon the field, and one piece of artillery, which, 
but for the positive orders of the general in command, would have been capt- 
ured by the Bucktails. The loss to the latter was two men killed, and two 
officers and twenty-six men wounded. 

On the 22d of Januaiy, 1862, an election was held for colonel, which re- 
sulted in the choice of Hugh W. McNeil, captain of company D, otherwise 
known as the " Raftmen's Guards " of Warren county ; Lieutenant-Colonel 
Kane being at this time in hospital, suffering greatly from the wound received 
at Dranesville. Colonel McNeil, who left Warren as first lieutenant of his 
company, was thus promoted over both Kane and Major Stone, and doubtless 
more or less chagrin and disappointment were felt by these officers in conse- 
quence. 

Upon the recovery of Lieutenant-Colonel Kane sufficiently to take the field 
he formulated a plan by which he was to have exclusive command of four com- 
panies of the regiment — Companies C, G, H, and I — and drill them in a sys- 
tem of tactics devised by him to the end that more efficient service might be 
rendered as scouts and skirmishers. Kane's request was acceded to, and he 
and his handful of Bucktails soon after performed brilliant, never-to-be-for- 
gotten deeds in the Shenandoah Valley under Fremont. But, in the endeavor 
to keep an eye upon the Warren county men, we must turn our attention to 
another field of operations. 

Soon after the departure of Lieutenant-Colonel Kane with his four com- 
panies for service in the Shenandoah Valley, Major Roy Stone (Colonel Mc- 
Neil being absent and seriously ill), with the remaining six companies, four 
hundred strong, embarked for the Peninsula. Soon after its arrival this battal- 
ion took up position on the north bank of the Chickahominy, extreme right 
of the army, directly north of Richmond and only four miles distant. 

Early on the morning of June 26 two companies were stationed at the rail- 
road and Meadow Bridge, another to the left of the bridge, and the remaining 
three, which were held in reserve, were later ordered to the support of the 
cavalry, which was falling back before a superior force of the enemy. Scarcely 
were these supporting companies deployed, when they found themselves assailed 
by his advancing columns. The Bucktails had delivered several destructive 
volleys, and thrown the enemy into considerable confusion, when Major Stone 
learned that the three companies which he had left guarding the bridges in his 
rear had been withdrawn by Colonel Simmons, who was in command of the 
grand guard, and that the enemy had already cut off his retreat. Masking his 
movement by a show of great activity, he withdrew, and making a wide detour 
to the north, contesting the ground with determination as he went, Major 
Stone succeeded in bringing in two companies. Captains Wistar and Jewett 
(the latter in command of the Warren county company) to their intrenchments, 



i84 History of Warren County. 

where the three companies, withdrawn by order of Simmons, were already in 
position. One company however — Captain Irvin's — was cut off, and, with- 
drawing to a swamp, held out for three days, capturing meanwhile many of 
the enemy's stragglers ; but eventually, was forced by hunger to come forth and 
surrender. The loss in the movement, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, was 
seventy-five. The engagement re-opened on the part of the line which the 
Bucktails now held, at half-past four P. M. The fords which they covered 
were especially coveted by the enemy, and for the possession of these he made 
his attacks with the energy of desperation, repeatedly advancing fresh lines ; 
but the steady fire and unerring aim of these well-schooled riflemen of the 
forest was too terrible to withstand, and as night came on he relinquished the 
contest, leaving them secure in their position. Here the Bucktails lost but two 
men killed (being protected by earthworks), and two officers and sixteen men 
wounded. 

When the division was ordered to retire to Gaines's Mill, on the morning 
of the 27th, Major Stone was directed to hold his position until the main body 
was well on its way. He accordingly pushed out his sharpshooters to the right 
and left to keep up the appearance of still occupying the whole line, and at 
daylight opened fire upon the enemy, who had advanced under cover of night 
and planted new batteries, within grape-shot range, and had fresh infantry in 
support in great force. Under a heavy fire of artillery, with the enemy already 
on his flanks and pressing hard his rear. Major Stone began to fall back at six 
A. M. A part of Company E, Captain Niles, and a part of Company D, hold- 
ing a detached position on the line, failed to receive the order to retire, and in 
the confusion they were not missed from the command, until after the bridge 
at Mill Hospital was destroyed, and it was too late to return for them. This 
accident, however, proved to be most fortunate in its results ; for this small 
body, falling back through woods and swamps, engaged the enemy at various 
points until late in the day, which so puzzled and annoyed him, that his attack 
on the Federal lines at Gaines's Mill was thereby delayed for many hours. 
They were finally captured, but not until a whole division of the enemy had 
been employed to surround them. This detachment had the colors, the State 
flag presented by Governor Curtin. It was not surrendered, however, but was 
concealed in a swamp. The loss in the battalion in the morning's engagement 
and retreat was more than half of its effective force, and upon its arrival at 
Gaines's Mill it could muster but six officers and one hundred and twenty-five 
men. In its new position for that day, at Gaines's Mill, the battalion was posted 
on the right of Reynold's Brigade, First Corps. The enemy in front was con- 
cealed by woods, except two of his batteries, which were visible at a distance 
of five hundred yards. Upon these the fire of the Rifles was concentrated, 
compelling frequent changes of position, and finally silencing the guns. After 
maintaining this position for four hours, its ammunition being exhausted and 



Forty-Second Regiment. 185 

relief failing to come, the command fell back, with a loss of one officer and 
twenty-five men killed and wounded. 

The march through White Oak Swamp began on the evening of the 28th, 
and during the night of the 29th the battalion performed picket duty on the 
Richmond road leading to Charles City. Many of the slightly wounded, and 
those who had been cut off, here joined the command, increasing its numbers 
to five officers and one hundred and fifty of the Bucktails and five officers and 
eighty- four men of the United States Sharpshooters. In the battle of the 30th, 
at Charles City Cross Roads, the command was posted on the right of the 
First Brigade. This brigade made a vigorous charge and was temporarily suc- 
cessful ; but the enemy gave no time for the troops to re-form ; they hurled 
heavy masses upon their broken and somewhat disordered ranks, and drove 
them back in confusion. Hugging the ground until the retiring forces had 
passed, the Bucktails sprang to their feet and poured in a deadly volley, con- 
tinuing to fire for some minutes; but finally, overborne by superior numbers, 
and finding that his command was in the center of a murderous fire at short 
range. Major Stone gave the word to retire just in time to escape being sur- 
rounded. During the same evening on the same ground. Major Stone was 
wounded, and Major-General McCall was captured, while these two officers 
were only a few paces in front of the Bucktails, endeavoring to ascertain the 
position of the enemy. The loss in the command was unprecedentedly large — 
being nearly two-thirds of its entire number — two officers and ninety men 
killed, wounded, and taken prisoners of the Bucktails, and two officers and fifty- 
six men of the United States Sharpshooters. At the close of the battle the 
remnants of the battalion occupied the very ground which they had held when 
they entered it, and after a short respite moved off to Malvern Hill. 

When Harrison's Landing was reached it was found necessary to bridge a 
stream five hundred feet wide, and in places ten feet deep. Generals in 
command said that the Engineer Corps would require several days to com- 
plete it, and meanwhile the army might be sacrificed in detail. Therefore 
Generals Porter and Seymour entrusted the location and construction of the 
bridge to Major Stone, expressing the hope that the raftsmen of the Bucktail 
Regiment might construct it in tivo days. The only material at hand was the 
timber growing along the banks of the streams and in the swamps. The bridge 
was commenced at five P. M., the gallant lumbermen stripping to the work and 
swimming and wading to raise the cribs ; and at sunrise on the following morn- 
ing, to the great surprise and satisfaction of the generals, the bridge was ready 
for the artillery to cross. 

Soon after the arrival of the battalion at Harrison's Landing, Major Stone 
resigned to take command of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment — 
the Second Bucktail Regiment — and Colonel McNeil, who had been sick and 
absent, returned and assumed command. From the Peninsula the battalion 



1 86 History of Warren County. 

proceeded to Warrenton, where it joined General Pope's army, and was en- 
gaged on the 29th and 30th of August in the second battle of Bull Run, los- 
ing five killed, nineteen wounded, and three missing. 

Meanwhile Lieutenant-Colonel Kane, with his detachment of four com- 
panies, had been winning renown with Fremont, Sigel, and McDowell. They 
fought in the Shenandoah Valley, near Harrisonburg, where the rebel General 
Ashby was killed by a Bucktail, and where Colonel Kane was wounded and 
taken prisoner. Again, at Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, Catlett's Station, and 
the second battle of Bull Run, Kane and his Bucktails were conspicuously brave 
and active, the little command suffering heavy losses. On the 7th of Septem- 
ber, 1862, in recognition of his gallantry at Catlett's Station and at Bull Run, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Kane was commissioned a brigadier-general, and the four 
companies which he had commanded were united with the six from which they 
had been separated during the Peninsula campaign, amid loud cheers of wel- 
come from the rank and file of both battalions. 

The regiment, now led by Colonel McNeil, began its march to again meet 
the enemy on the 7th of September, and arrived in his front at South Moun- 
tain on the 14th. Here the Bucktails, deployed as skirmishers, drove the rebels 
from the foot of tlie mountain to its top, losing eighteen killed and forty-five 
wounded. 

On the following morning the troops moved forward in pursuit of the en- 
emy, and at three r. M. reached the Antietam battle ground. At two P. M. 
on the 1 6th the regiment marched with the division to the right of the army, 
where General Meade directed Colonel McNeil to deploy as at South Mount- 
ain in front of his division, and to advance to a piece of wood in front of the 
Dunkard church, then visible. The enemy was soon found in strong force, posted 
behind a fence in front of the woods indicated. Supports coming promptly up, 
the order was given to advance. The Bucktails rushed forward with a shout 
through a terrific fire of musketry and artillery, and gained the wood ; but at 
a fearful cost. Colonel McNeil, Lieutenant VVm. Allison, and twenty-eight 
men were killed and sixty-five officers and men wounded in this single charge. 
The last words of Colonel McNeil were, as he faced the death-laden storm and 
led the way — " Forward, Bucktails, forward ! " Supports came promptly to their 
aid, and the position was held during the night. The regiment, now under 
command of Captain Magee, fought on the following day with its accustomed 
gallantry, until relieved by order of General Meade. In the two days of battle 
its losses in killed and wounded were one hundred and ten officers and men. 

In an account of this battle a correspondent of the New York Post spoke 
of Colonel McNeil as follows: " Colonel Hugh W. McNeil, of the famous ' Buck- 
tail ' regiment, who was killed at the battle of 'Antietam, was one of the most 
accomplished officers in the Federal service. A soldier relates an exploit of 
his at South Mountain which is worth recording: 



Forty-Second Regiment. 187 

" During the battle of South Mountain the rebels held a very strong posi- 
tion. They were posted in the mountain pass, and had infantry on the heights 
on every side. Our men were compelled to carry the place by storm. The 
position seemed impregnable ; large craggy rocks protected the enemy on 
every side, while our men were exposed to a galling fire. 

" A band of rebels occupied a ledge on the extreme right as the colonel 
approached with a. few of his men. The unseen force poured upon them a 
volley. McNeil on the instant gave the command, ' Pour your fire upon those 
rocks ! ' The Bucktails hesitated ; it was not an order they had been accus- 
tomed to receive ; they had always picked their men. ' Fire! ' thundered the 
colonel, ' I tell you to fire at those rocks!' The men obeyed. For some time 
an irregular fire was kept up, the Bucktails sheltering themselves as best they 
could behind trees and rocks. On a sudden McNeil caught sight of two rebels 
peering through an opening in the rocks to get an aim. The eyes of the men 
followed their commander, and half a dozen Sharpe's rifles were leveled in 
that direction. ' Wait a minute ' said the colonel; ' I will try my hand. There 
is nothing like killing two birds with one stone.' 

"The two rebels were not in line, but one stood a little distance back of the 
other, while just in front of the foremost was a slanting rock. Colonel McNeil 
seized a rifle, raised it, glanced a moment along the polished barrel, a report 
followed, and both the rebels disappeared. At that moment a loud cheer a 
little distance beyond rent the air. 'AH is right now,' cried the colonel, 
'charge the rascals!' The men sprang up among the rocks in an instant. The 
affrighted rebels turned to run, but encountered another body of the Bucktails, 
and were obliged to surrender. Not a man of them escaped. Every one now 
saw the object of the colonel's orders to fire at random among the rocks. He 
had sent a party around to the enemy's rear, and meant this to attract their 
attention. It was a perfect success. The two rebels by the opening in the 
ledge were found lying there dead. Colonel McNeil's bullet had struck the 
slanting rock in front of them, glanced, and passed through both their heads." 

At Fredericksburg, with Captain Charles F. Taylor 1 (brother of the dis- 
tinguished writer and traveler. Bayard Taylor) in command, the Bucktails, as 
usual, were thrown forward into the most advanced and exposed positions, 
and, fighting with their accustomed bravery, lost nineteen killed, and one hun- 
dred and thirteen wounded and missing. 

From February, 1863, until the 2Sth of June of the same year, the regi- 
ment was stationed near Fairfax Court House, resting and recruiting, when, as 
part of the First Brigade, Crawford's Division of the Fifth Corps, it marched 
to meet Lee's rebel army in Pennsylvania. At noon, on the 2d of July, the 
regiment reached the neighborhood of Gettysburg, where a great battle was 
in progress. After a short rest the roll was called, and to the great satisfac- 

1 Captain Taylor was soon after commissioned colonel of the regiment. 
13 



1 88 History of Warren County. 

tion of its commander every man was found in his place — a force five hun- 
dred strong. At four P. M. the division was ordered to the front, and moved 
over in the direction of Little Round Top, where the Union lines were being 
hard pressed, the artillerists ready to spike their guns. The brigade was 
hastily formed in two lines, the Bucktails on the left of the second line, and 
charged down the slope in the face of a heavy fire. At the foot of the hill 
was a deep swamp, thirty or forty yards in width, and upon reaching it the 
second line deployed to the left and, wading across, drove the enemy into the 
woods beyond the stone wall which skirted it. The left, with Colonel Taylor 
at its head, continued the pursuit through the woods to a wheat field beyond, 
where, in the act of steadying his men, he fell dead, shot through the heart. 
Here fought the Bucktails and their brigade, with wavering fortunes, until 
about the middle of the afternoon of July 3, when an advance was made 
through the woods and wheat field mentioned. The movement resulted in a 
complete success. The Bucktails were soon engaged hand to hand with the 
enemy, and nearly the entire Fifteenth Georgia Infantry, with its colors, was 
captured. Night coming on, the brigade rested nearly a mile in advance of 
the position held in the morning. Besides Colonel Taylor, Lieutenant Robert 
Hall, of the Warren county company, and six men, were killed, and thirty- 
nine officers and men were wounded of the Bucktails in this battle. In the 
maneuvers of the two great hostile armies during the remaining months of 
1863, the Bucktails were constantly upon the skirmish line, frequently engag- 
ing the enemy, rarely in a position to be secure from attack, and finally, at the 
close of the campaign, went into winter quarters at Bristoe Station, where 
they remained until the close of April, 1864. 

Just before the beginning of the fight in the Wilderness, the regiment, now 
commanded by Major Hartshorn, and who, by the way, continued in com- 
mand until the close of its term of service, was armed with Spencer's seven- 
shooters, in place of Sharpe's rifles. It crossed the Rapidan on the 4th of May, 
and fought through the Wilderness, with a loss of thirty-seven men killed and 
wounded. At Spottsylvania and again at Bethesda Church, the Bucktails 
were ever found in front, gallantly sustaining their reputation as one of the 
most efficient and trustworthy regiments in the Union army. The battle 
fought at Bethesda Church, May 30 1864, was the last in which the Buck- 
tails were engaged, their term of service having expired on that day. The 
casualties, during the campaign of less than thirty days' duration, were two 
officers and twenty-six enlisted men killed, and six officers and one hundred 
and twelve enlisted men wounded. The veterans and recruits were transferred 
to the One Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment May 31, and the remainder were 
mustered out of service at Harrisburg on the i ith of June, 1864. 

Following is a roster of those who represented Warren county in the reg- 
iment: 



Forty-Second Regiment. 



Field and Staff. 

Colonel Hugh W. McNeil, promoted from captain Company D to colonel 
January 22, 1862; killed at Antietam September 16, 1862. 

Major Roy Stone, promoted from captain Company D to major June 13, 
1861; to colonel of 149th P. V. August 29, 1862 ; wounded at Gettysburg, 
Pa., July I, 1863, while commanding Second Brigade, Second Division, First 
Army Corps; brevetted brigadier- general September 7, 1864; discharged by 
special order January 27, 1865. 

Adjutant John T. A. Jewett, promoted to captain Company B February 5, 
1862. 

Company D. 

Captain Roy Stone, promoted to major June 13, 1861. 

Captain Hugh W. McNeil, promoted from first lieutenant to captain June 
12, 186 1 ; to colonel January 22, 1862. 

Captain John T. A. Jewett, promoted from second lieutenant to first lieu- 
tenant June 12, 1861 ; to captain February 5, 1862; resigned January 5, 
1863. 

Captain D. G. McNaughton, mustered out with company as brevet major 
June II, 1864. 

First Lieutenant Ribero D. Hall, mustered out with company June 11, 
1864. 

Second Lieutenant Robert Hall, killed at Gettysburg July 3, 1863. 

First Sergeant James H. Masten, mustered out with company. 

Sergeant Harry T. Weaver, mustered out with company. 

Sergeant Edwin Muzzy, mustered out with company. 

Sergeant Martin Hosley, absent at muster out. 

Sergeant A. C. Williams, wounded June 30, 1862 ; discharged November 
29, 1862. 

Sergeant John Hamlin, transferred to 190th P. V. May 31, 1864; veteran. 

Sergeant Andrew J. Deming, transferred to 190th P. V. May 31, 1864; 
veteran. 

Sergeant Benjamin Haskell, died at Georgetown, D. C, October 29, 1861. 

Sergeant Roscoe A. Hall, killed at Bull Run August 30, 1862. 

Sergeant Augustus A. Trask, killed at South Mountain September 14, 1862. 

Corporal Joseph Turbett, mustered out with company. 

Corporal Horace Lafayette, discharged for wounds received at Fredericks- 
burg December 13, 1862. 

Corporal Charles H. Martin, transferred to 190th P. V. May 31, 1864; 
veteran. 

Corporal Elijah Akin, discharged September 22, 1862, for wounds received 
at Mechanicsville June 26, 1862. 



190 History ob" Warren County. 

Privates. 

William Abbott, died at Alexandria, Va., June 15, 1862. 

Charles M. Benton, discharged August 14, 1862, for wounds received at 
Mechanicsville June 26, 1862. 

Wallace Bordman, died at Georgetown, D. C, October 24, 1861. 

Henry C. Barber. 

Francis Coughlin, absent at muster out. 

William H. Clark, mustered out with company. 

Eleazer A. Clough, discharged on surgeon's certificate March 15, 1862. 

Peter Cartwright, discharged on surgeon's certificate June 20, 1862. 

George Chase, transferred to 190th P. V. May 31, 1864. 

David H. Clacy, killed at Charles City Cross Roads June 30, 1862. 

Adelbert M. Chapel, killed at Charles City Cross Roads June 30, 1862. 

Myron C. Cobb, killed at Antietam September 17, 1862. 

Cordillo Collins, not on muster out roll. 

Theophilus Devough, mustered out with company. 

James Devins, mustered out with company. 

William H. Davis, mustered out with company. 

Joseph W. Dunton, discharged on surgeon's certificate September 19, 1861. 

Barney Dorrin, transferred to 190th P. V. May 31, 1864. 

Horace W. Ellison, discharged on surgeon's certificate October 26, 1861. 

Mathew E. Ellis. 

Francis H. Freeman, discharged on surgeon's certificate September 17, 
1861. 

George Fisher, transferred to 190th P. V. May 31, 1864; veteran. 

Lewis D. Flatt, discharged June 5, 1863, for wounds received at Gaines's 
Mill June 27, 1862. 

Michael Gannon, mustered out with company. 

Abner M. Gordon, mustered out with company. 

Francis Gruay, discharged September 7, 1863, for wounds received at 
Fredericksburg December 13, 1862. 

Jacob Gates, discharged on surgeon's certificate September 29, 1862. 

Nelson Geer, discharged March 15, 1863, for wounds received at Antietam 
September 17, 1862. 

George Gates, transferred to 190th P. V. May 31, 1864; veteran. 

Henry H. Glazier, killed at y\ntietam September 17, 1862. 

William H. Green, died at Falmouth, Va., May 14, 1862. 

T. K. Humphreys, mustered out with company. 

John F. Hamlin, transferred to 190th P. V. May 31, 1864; veteran. 

Sylvester Hamlin, discharged on surgeon's certificate March 11, 1862. 

Frederick Hogarth, discharged on surgeon's certificate, date unknown. 

Jacob Honicker, discharged on surgeon's certificate March 16, 1862. 



Forty-Second Regiment. 191 



John Havens, discharged on surgeon's certificate, January 9, 1862. 
Freeland Hobart, discharged by general order October 20, 1862. 
R. M. Humphreys, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps March 6, 1863. 
Edward Horrigan, killed at Fredericksburg December 13, 1862. 
Edward Halcomb. 

Amos H. Johnson, mustered out with company. 
Peter Jaggens, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps May 6, 1863. 
George Q. Junkin, killed at Fredericksburg December 13, 1862. 
Robert A, Kinnear, mustered out with company. 

Graham M, Kennedy, discharged on surgeon's certificate March 9, 1863. 
Thomas H. Kincade, discharged May 9. 1863, for wounds received at Bull 
Run August 30, 1862. 

Frederick Knopf, transferred to 190th P. V. May 31, 1864; veteran. 
Byron D. Knowlton, discharged by general order January 17, 1862. 
John N. King, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps December 12, 1863. 
Michael Keating, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps October 20, 1863. 

F. W. Langworthy, discharged by general order January 17, 1863. 
John W. Lindsey, transferred to Signal Corps September, 1861. 

L B Lyman, discharged on surgeon's certificate June 7, 1862. 

Lawrence Lesser, transferred to 190th P. V. May 31, 1864; veteran. 

Benjamin Lane. 

Charles Metz, mustered out with company. 

William H. Martz, discharged March 9, 1863, for wounds received at South 
Mountain September 14, 1862. 

O. F. Millspaugh, discharged on surgeon's certificate September 26, 1863. 

Perry Mitchell, discharged on surgeon's certificate June 10, 1863. 

John McElheany, transferred to 190th P. V. May 31, 1864. 

Theo. McMurtrie, transferred to 41st P. V. January 10, 1862. 

James R. Morrison, transferred to 190th P. V. May 31, 1864. 

John McMurray, killed at Fredericksburg December 13, 1862. 

Charles C. Nutting, mustered out with company. 

William Page, mustered out with company. 

Patrick Powers, mustered out with company. 

George B. Ouigley, discharged on surgeon's certificate August i, 1862. 

Henry H. Runyan, wounded at Spottsylvania C. H. May 10, 1864; in 
hospital at muster out. 

John P. Rose, killed at Charles City Cross Roads June 30, 1862. 

Theo. Singleton, mustered out with company. 

David Struble, mustered out with company. 

Dwight Seaman, transferred to Company K October 12, 1861. 

Calvin Silvernail, died at Darnestown, Md., September 27, 1861. 

James Stewart, died of wounds received at Antietam September 17, 1862. 



192 History ok Warren County. 

William H. Shawl. 

Walter V. Trask, discharged on surgeon's certificate January 5, 1863. 

William Vanarsdale, killed at Wilderness May 6, 1864. 

Joseph Whittaker, mustered out with company. 

Sylvester Wood, absent at muster out. 

James B. Walker, absent at muster out. 

Julius Wedierman, discharged on surgeon's certificate August 10, 1862. 

William Wallace, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 27, 1862. 

Samuel B. Whitlock, discharged December 2, 1862, for wounds received at 
Antietam September 17, 1862. 

Frank M. Williams, transferred to 190th P. V. May 31, 1864. 

Elias York, discharged on surgeon's certificate June 2, 1862. 

John Young, discharged, date unknown, of wounds received at Charles City 
Cross Roads June 30, 1862. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

FIFTY-EIGHTH .VNI) EIGHTY-THIRD REGIMENTS. 

Colonel Curtis, of VVarren, Authorized to Raise a Regiment — Is but Partially Successful — 
Its Consolidation with Another Fractional Command — The Field Officers- -Regiment Proceeds 
to Fortress Monroe — Its Services in that Department — Ordered to Beaufort, N. C. — Transferred 
to the Army of the James — Charging Fort Harrison — Subsequent Services — Muster Out — 
Eighty-Third Regiment — Where Recruited — Becomes Part of the Fifth Corps — Hotly En- 
gaged During the Peninsula Campaign — Its Losses — Second Bull Run — Fredericksburg — Hold- 
ing Little Hound Top nl Gettysburg — Wortldess Substitutes and Draftc.'d Men — Final Move- 
ments. 

FiFTY-KIGHTH REGIMENT. 

IN the autumn of 1861 Hon. Carlton B. Curtis, of Warren, was authorized 
to recruit a regiment of infantry in the northwestern part of the State. 
He succeeded in rallying under his colors five companies, or what was then 
termed the One Hundred and P'ourteenth Regiment. About the ist of No- 
vember he left Warren with nearly two hundred men, and proceeded to Hunt- 
ingdon, Pa., where the major portion of his men were assembled. Subse- 
quently they were ordered to Harrisburg, and finally to Camp Curtis, near 
Philadelphia. Meanwhile, J. Richter Jones, having received the requisite au- 
thority from Governor Curtin, was also engaged in the task of recruiting a regi- 
ment, designated the Fifty-eighth, in the city of Philadelphia and vicinity. He, 
also, failed to recruit but five companies. Hence, by mutual agreement of 
Jones and Curtis, their respective commands were consolidated, and the com- 



Fifty-Eighth Regiment. 193 

bined force received for its designation the lowest number — the Fifty-eighth. 
A regimental organization was effected February 13, 1862, by the selection of 
the following field officers : John Richter Jones, of Sullivan county, colonel ; 
Carlton B. Curtis, of Warren county, lieutenant-colonel, and Montgomery 
Martin, of Philadelphia, major. 

On the 8th of March the regiment left its camp, near Philadelphia, and 
proceeded by rail and water transportation to Fortress Monroe, The day of 
its arrival was signalized by the renowned contest between the Merrimac and 
Monitor. About two months later it formed part of an expedition, sent on 
transports to Norfolk, under General Wool. This movement resulted in the 
occupation of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newtown, Gosport, and the Navy Yard. 
In October it was ordered to Suffolk, and soon after participated in a move- 
ment against the enemy on the Blackwater. 

Early in January, 1863, the regiment was embarked, with a force under com- 
mand of General Foster, for Beaufort, N. C. Thereafter, until towards the close 
of April, 1864, its campaigns were confined to that State. Although it fought 
no battles of moment, nor lost but few men in action, it rendered active, ardu- 
ous, and very efficient service. Its gallant commander. Colonel Jones, was in- 
stantly killed by a rebel sharpshooter in an action at Bachelor's Creek Station, 
N. C., May 23, 1863. Lieutenant-Colonel Curtis was promoted to fill the va- 
cancy, but resigned July 2, 1863. Captain Cecil Clay then became the rank- 
ing officer, and continued in command of the regiment until its term of serv- 
ice expired. 

Together with many other troops, the regiment was transferred by boats 
from North Carolina to the Army of the James about May i, 1864. On the 
9th the division had a sharp encounter with the enemy, in which the regiment 
lost twenty killed and wounded. At Cold Harbor, on the ist of June, the 
regiment engaged in a charge and drove the enemy into his intrenched line, 
sustaining a loss of thirty-five in killed and wounded. Again on the 3d did 
the Fifty-eighth behave so handsomely that it was specially complimented by 
army correspondents. 

On the evening of September 28 a considerable portion of the Army of 
the James moved across James River on muffled pontoons. The brigade of 
which the Fifty-eighth formed a part had the advance, and at sunrise skirmish- 
ing commenced. As the Union columns pressed forward, the rebels fell back 
to the forts and defenses, which were in full view, extending from the river 
north to the vicinity of White Oak Swamp. The brigade was immediately 
ordered up, and the Fifty-eighth and One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Penn- 
sylvania Regiments were selected to lead the charge upon Fort Harrison, the 
principal defense. A public road led directly to the fort, and the ground in 
front, over which the charge must be made, was open and ascending for about 
twelve hundred yards. The public road mentioned was at the center of the 



194 History of Warren County. 

charging troops, the left of the Fifty-eighth resting upon it. Fifty yards from 
the fort the ground rises quite suddenly to the crest, just in rear of which was 
the ditch with abatis in front. The fort mounted sixteen guns, two of them 
one hundred pounders. Forming for the desperate work, the two regiments 
moved forward at a regular pace until within five hundred yards, when, in the 
face of a storm of shot and shell that swept their ranks, they rushed forward 
as one man until they reached the little ridge in front of the fort. Here all, 
with one accord, dropped to the ground under partial shelter ; but only for an 
instant, for at this moment General Ord came dashing up, and, inspired by tlie 
presence and daring of their chief, the men sprang forward with wild shouts, 
passed the abatis and the ditch, and scaling the parapet, drove the enemy in 
rout and confusion from the fort. 

The colors of the Fifty-eighth, which had three times fallen in the desperate 
onset, were planted upon the parapet by Captain Clay, who, with his adjutant, 
was among the first to enter the work. As Captain Clay, who had just taken 
the flag from the hands of the fallen corporal, attempted to raise it upon the 
fort, he received two gunshot wounds in the right arm. The flag itself was 
completely riddled, and the staff twice shot off. Of the nine officers and two 
hundred and twenty-eight men who advanced, six officers and one hundred 
and twenty-eight men were either killed or wounded. 

On the afternoon of the same day these two regiments were ordered to at- 
tack the Star Fort, situated a mile to the left of Fort Harrison and near the 
river. Filled with fiery zeal by their success in the morning, they moved gal- 
lantly forward, scaled the ramparts, and spiked the guns ; but weakened by 
their severe losses, the rebel gun-boats playing upon them, and supports fail- 
ing to come at the critical moment [Where was Ord?] they were obliged to 
fall back, and the advantage, dearly purchased, was lost. They returned to 
Fort Harrison and all night long were engaged in throwing up a skillfully 
planned line of earthworks. The next day the enemy attacked in heavy force 
and with determined valor, but was repulsed with great loss. 

Thenceforward until its Jiiuster out the regiment was actively engaged in 
various fields, but was not an active participant in battle. After the suspension 
of hostilities it was assigned to duty by detachments in the lower counties of 
Virginia, under orders from the Freedmen's Bureau. It was finally mustered 
out of service at City Point January 24, 1866. 

The Warren county men in the regiment served chiefly in Companies F 
and G, among them being Captains Lucius Rogers and Olney V. Cotter. 

EiGiiTY-TiiiRi) Regiment. 

This regiment was organized at Erie soon after the expiration of the term 
of Colonel McLane's three months regiment. It was composed of nearly three 
hundred members of the old regiment, besides others from the counties of Erie, 



Eighty-Third Regiment. 195 

Crawford, Warren, Venango, and Mercer. They rendezvoused at Camp Mc- 
Lane, where, on the 8th of September, 1861, they were mustered into the 
United States service for three years, with Colonel John W. McLane as their 
commanding officer. 

On the 1 8th of the same month the regiment proceeded to Washington, D. 
C, where it was assigned to the Third Brigade of Porter's Division, afterwards 
known as the First Division of the Fifth Corps. It soon attained a high state 
of proficiency in drill, etc., and was considered one of the model volunteer reg- 
iments of the army. It participated in the Peninsula campaign, beginning 
with the so-called seige of Yorktown and terminating with the retreat of Mc- 
Clellan to Harrison's Landing. At Hanover Court House, at Gaines's Mill, 
where Colonel McLane was killed, and where two hundred and sixty-five 
others of the regiment were either killed, wounded, or captured, and at Mal- 
vern Hill, where forty were killed and one hundred and ten wounded, the 
Eighty-third won imperishable honor. Again, at the second battle of Bull 
Run it was warmly engaged, losing about seventy-five in killed and wounded, 
but at Antietam it had an opportunity to pour but few volleys into the enemy's 
ranks. Its losses at Fredericksburg were six killed and thirty wounded, and 
at Chancellorsville only some four or five were wounded. 

The regiment reached the battle-field of Gettysburg on the morning of the 
2d of July, and with its brigade was posted on Little Round Top. Here it 
fought desperately and assisted in repulsing repeated charges of Longstreet's 
men, though it lost another gallant commander in the person of Colonel Vin- 
cent, who fell mortally wounded. The losses in the regiment were compara- 
tively slight, however — since it fought, for the most part, from behind rocks — 
being eight killed and thirty-eight wounded. During the following winter its 
ranks were increased by the addition of four hundred drafted men and substi- 
tutes, a large proportion of whom proved to be entirely worthless. Subse- 
quently the regiment participated in the movements, battles, etc., of the Fifth 
Corps, losing heavily in all of the chief engagements fought till the expiration 
of its original term of service, which occurred September 18, 1864. It then 
contained about three hundred and fifty eftective men. Of these about one 
hundred were mustered out, and the balance, composed of veterans and recruits, 
was organized in six companies, and known as the battalion of the Eighty- 
third. Finally, after following Lee to Appomattox to his defeat and surrender, 
these men were mustered out at Washington, D. C, June 28, and were dis- 
banded at Harrisburg, Pa., July 4, 1865. The Warren county men who served 
in this regiment were scattered among various companies ; hence at this late 
day it is found impracticable to make individual mention of them. 



196 History of Warren County. 

CHAPTER XX. 

ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVENTH REGIMENT. 

In What Counties Recruited — lis. Warren County Companies — Regimental Rendezvous — 
Original Field Officers — Equipped at Harrisburg — Proceeds to Baltimore — Thence to Har- 
per's Ferry — Assigned to Banks' .s Second Corps — In Action at Cedar Mountain — Heroic 
Daring Displayed at Antietam — Assigned to the Twelfth Corps — Winter Quarters 1862-63 — 
At Chancellorsville — Gettysburg — Transferred to the Array of the Cumberland — Attacked 
at Midnight in the Wauhatchie Valley — Rebels Defeated — Lookout Mountain — Re-enlisting 
for a Second Term — Eleventh and Twelfth Corps Consolidated as the Twentieth — The 
Atlanta Campaign — Hard Marching and Fighting of Daily Occurrence — Before Atlanta — 
Death of Colonel Cobham — Atlanta Occupied — The March Through Georgia — Savannah 
Falls — Sweeping Northward Through the Carolinas — The Round-up at Washington, D. C. 
— Final Duties — Muster Out — Names and Record of Its Warren County Members. 

THIS regiment was chiefly recruited in the counties of Erie, Warren, and 
Crawford, under authority granted by the secretary of war, on the 2d of 
September, 1861, to M. Schlaudecker, a citizen of Erie. Companies B and D 
were composed of Warren county men, besides which. Lieutenant George J. 
Whitney, and many others from Youngsville, and vicinity, added largely to 
the strength of Company H. Warren county men were also found in other 
companies of the regiment. The men rendezvoused at Camp Reed near the 
city of Erie, where, on the 24th of January, 1862, the following field officers 
were chosen: M. Schlaudecker, colonel; George A. Cobham, of Warren, lieu- 
tenant-colonel, and Thomas M. Walker, major. On the following day the 
regiment started for Baltimore, Md. Equipments were obtained at Harrisburg, 
and at Baltimore drill and guard duty were performed until the middle of May, 
when it was ordered to Harper's Ferry to reinforce General Banks, then 
retreating down the Shenandoah Valley before a superior force of the enemy 
under "Stonewall" Jackson. Here it performed active service and met the 
enemy for the first time in a skirmish near Charlestown. 

Towards the close of June, upon the organization of the Army of Virginia, 
under General Pope, the regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, Second 
Division, Second Corps, commanded respectively by Generals Prince, Augur, 
and Banks. In the battle of Cedar Mountain, on the 9th of July, which was 
principally fought by Banks's Corps, the One Hundred and Eleventh behaved 
with the utmost gallantry. It was led in the engagement by Major Walker 
(Colonels Schlaudecker and Cobham being absent sick), and lost nineteen killed, 
sixty-one wounded, and thirteen missing. 

It soon after proceeded on the march through Maryland, and participated 
in the battle of Antietam, where for eight hours it was engaged in severe 
fighting. For the gallantry exhibited in this engagement, and especially for 



One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment. 197 

the heroic daring displayed in the charge which cleared the enemy from the 
grove, where stood the Httle church, around which was the severest fighting, 
Colonel Stainrook, the brigade commander, presented the regiment on the field 
with a stand of colors. It went into the fight with three hundred muskets, 
and lost thirty-three killed, or mortally wounded, seventy-one wounded, and 
seven missing. Among the killed was Captain Arthur Corrigan, the com- 
mander of one of the Warren county companies. 

On the lOth of December, 1862 (the regiment, meanwhile, having been 
posted at Loudon Heights since the battle of Antietam), it moved with the 
Twelfth Corps — to which it had been assigned — towards Fredericksburg, and 
on the 1 6th settled down in winter quarters at Fairfax Station, the battle of 
Fredericksburg, in the mean time, having been fought and lost. In January, 
1863, the regiment marched to Acquia Creek, a part of the general movement 
afterwards termed the " Mud Campaign." About a month later it was assigned 
to the Second Brigade, General Kane ; Second Division, General Geary ; 
Twelfth Corps, General Slocum. While at Acquia Creek the One Hundred 
and Eleventh was one of ten regiments selected out of the whole army, for the 
excellent condition in which they were found upon inspection. The regiments 
thus honored were the First, Second, and Twentieth Massachusets ; Tenth and 
Nineteenth Maine ; Fifth and Tenth New York ; One Hundred and Eleventh 
Pennsylvania ; Third Wisconsin, and First Minnesota Volunteers. 

On the 27th of April, under command of Colonel Cobham, Schlaudecker 
having resigned in November, 1862, the regiment marched out to participate 
in the Chancellorsville campaign. On this march the men carried each one 
hundred rounds of cartridges, and eight days' rations, and accomplished a dis- 
tance of sixty miles in less than three days. In the battle which ensued the 
regiment was actively engaged and was changed about from one threatened or 
advantageous position to another ; but its losses were rather light — six killed, 
eight wounded, and three missing 

With its division the regiment arrived within two miles of Gettysburg 
on the evening of July i, and bivouacked on the left of the Baltimore Pike. 
On the following morning it advanced to a position on Gulp's Hill, where 
earthworks were erected. It rested behind these, undisturbed, until five P. M., 
when it was led, with other troops of the division, to the assistance of the left, 
then being hard pressed. The enemy on the left having been repulsed, Gen- 
eral Geary led his troops back to re-occupy his abandoned breastworks. But 
in the mean time the enemy had pushed through and taken possession of the 
ground far out toward the Baltimore Pike. At eleven o'clock P. M., Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Walker was ordered to lead the regiment forward, and post the 
men in the trenches. He proceeded to execute this command, under the sup- 
position that no enemy was in the vicinity. Two companies on the left, which 
were in front, had been brought into position, when they received a volley 



198 History of Warren County. 

from the hill, scarcely six rods from the flank and rear of the command. The 
remaining companies were immediately brought into line perpendicular to the 
works, and facing in the direction from which the fire had come. Skirmishers 
were at once sent out, who soon discovered that the whole hill and woods on 
the right were occupied by the enemy. This fact was reported to Colonel 
Cobham, then assisting General Kane, still enfeebled by his wounds, in bring- 
ing up the brigade, who again ordered the regiment to be led into the breast- 
works; but, on being shown that the line would then be exposed to an enfi- 
lading fire from the enemy, the position already taken was ordered to be held. 
In this it remained, keeping close watch upon the enemy in front, until three 
in the morning, when it was determined that the line should be moved a little 
to the rear, so as to get the advantage of a wing of the breastworks held by 
General Greene. 

"I was endeavoring," says Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, "to move my men, 
a man at a time, with the utmost caution, when our watchful enemy detected 
a move and, supposing we were about to retire, opened fire upon us. My men 
returned the fire, silencing theirs, and then moved to the position assigned them, 
awaiting daylight for the work to begin. At about a quarter before four, the line 
of the enemy advanced with a yell. We opened fire briskly, quickly compell- 
ing them to take the shelter of the rocks, and of our trenches that were in their 
possession. We continued fighting in this way until four minutes of six o'clock, 
when we were relieved, and retired for the purpose of renewing our ammuni- 
tion. After filling our boxes and wiping our guns we returned to the position 
which we had left. At eleven o'clock the enemy gave up the contest, and we 
re-occupied the works we had built for defense. In this fight about half of my 
regiment was in open line, fighting a desperate enemy to regain possession of 
the very rifle pits we had built for our protection. We expended one hundred 
and sixty rounds of ammunition to the man." Nevertheless the regiment's 
losses were comparatively light, being but six killed and seventeen wounded. 

During the latter part of September following, the regiment, with the 
Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, was ordered to proceed by rail towards Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn. It reached Murfreesboro October 6, with a loss of one hundred 
men by desertion. These renegades consisted of drafted men, substitutes, and 
bounty jumpers, who had recently joined the regiment, and during the move- 
ment z'ia Washington, D. C, Harper's Ferry, Belleair, Columbus, Indianapolis, 
Louisville, Nashville, etc., they had ample opportunities to sneak away. From 
Murfreesboro the command marched in a leisurely manner southward, crossing 
the Tennessee River at Bridgeport, Ala., October 26, and arriving at Wau- 
hatchie on the 28th. 

The movements of the command — which consisted of a part of Geary's 
Division of the Twelfth Corps — on the afternoon of that day were closely 
watched by the enemy's signal corps, from a station on Lookout Mountain, 



One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment. 199 

overlooking the valley along which the Union troops were marching. At 
about five o'clock in the evening the command bivouacked at the junction of 
the roads leading to Kelly's and Brown's ferries, over which trains were moving 
with supplies for the Army of the Cumberland, a few miles away at Chatta- 
nooga. Between eleven and twelve o'clock that night a very determined at- 
tack was made upon this small force in bivouac, by three brigades of the rebel 
army, which had moved stealthily from their lines on Lookout Mountain, with 
the design of surprising and making of it an easy prey. The One Hundred 
and Eleventh was the first to form in line, taking position facing the mountain, 
and was the first struck, receiving the attack on its left flank, the enemy ad- 
vancing in heavy lines up the valley. Discerning the direction from which the 
attack was to come, it immediately, under a heavy fire, changed front to rear 
on first company, and presented a barrier to his further advance, until the other 
regiments of the brigade could form on its left and prolong the line. The at- 
tack was made with much determination, but was met with a valor unsurpassed, 
and when the line was once formed it stood immovable until the enemy yielded 
the ground and withdrew, with ranks fearfully decimated from the contest. 
The regiment here sustained a loss of two officers and eleven men killed, six 
officers and twenty-five men wounded, and one enlisted man missing. Among 
the killed was Lieutenant Marvin D. Pettit, of a Warren county company. 

After the battle the regiment moved to a spur of Raccoon Mountain, where 
it was encamped for nearly a month. On the 24th of November it proceeded 
early from quarters to join in a movement upon Lookout Mountain. The part 
taken by the regiment in this and in the subsequent movements, which swept 
Bragg from his strongholds environing the Union army, and sent him in flight 
and confusion from its front, will be best shown by the following extracts from 
Lieutenant-Colonel Walker's report. Colonel Cobham then being in command 
of the brigade of which the One Hundred and Eleventh formed a part. 

" I was aroused, at about five o'clock of the 24th, by an order to report 
forthwith, without knapsacks and with one dky's rations, at headquarters. 
We were soon under way and, arriving at the headquarters of the division, 
were conducted to the ford over Lookout Creek, some three miles above the 
north point of the mountain. On the road we were joined by the Twenty- 
ninth Pennsylvania, the Third Brigade, and Whitaker's Brigade of the Fourth 
Corps. Together with these troops, we were massed and screened from view 
behind one of a series of knobs that lie adjacent to the creek, until the pioneers 
and some details had succeeded in constructing a foot-bridge over the stream. 
This was accomplished without resistance, and at nine o'clock A. M. my regi- 
ment was crossing the creek, following the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania, and 
closely followed by the Third Brigade, the Sixtieth New York joining us. 
We continued marching by the flank until we had gained about two-thirds of 
the slope of the mountain, when we halted, fronted, dressed, threw out a strong 



History of Warren County. 



skirmish line to cover the front, and awaited the order of the general com- 
manding to move forward. The front line had thus attained its position, and 
the reserve — General Whitaker's Brigade — was well on its way when the 
order was brought. As we went forward our skirmishers soon became 
engaged, and pressed the enemy's, without being for a moment delayed. We 
continued to move in line, excepting two short halts for breathing spells, until 
we approached and could get a glimpse of the point of the mountain. The 
line now moved so that the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania, which had the right, 
should crown the main spur just below the peak. The enemy was now pour- 
ing a sharp fire from the cover of every rock; but with cheers the line moved 
steadily on, capturing and sending to the rear many prisoners without escort. 
The position of the One Hundred and Eleventh, in conjunction with the 
Twenty-ninth, in the line, was such that our advance continually turned the 
intrenchments of the enemy, while regiments on our left charged to their very 
teeth. As we crowned the north ridge, immediately under the point of the 
mountain, we saw the enemy lying in their intrenchments below us, and the 
the troops of the Third Brigade rushing forward with the bayonet. We fired 
but few shots here, as our superior position and the steel of our troops was too 
much for the enemy, and they either surrendered or fled. At twelve o'clock 
M., in conjunction with the Twenty-ninth, we were in line from the point of 
the mountain down the main spur. From this position we faced to the right 
and filed to the left, close around the cliffs, going to the east side. We here 
fronted, occupying the highest available part of the slope, and remained until 
relieved, about ten o'clock P. M., by fresh troops. We bivouacked, after sup- 
plying ourselves with one hundred rounds of ammunition per man, in the old 
camp of the enemy. 

" Early on the morning of the 25th we moved out by the left, the Twenty- 
ninth following, and posted on the west slope of the mountain, the left resting 
against the cliffs, to guard against any approach along this side of the mount- 
ain. We left this position about twelve o'clock M., marched down the east 
slope of the mountain, across the valley to Missionary Ridge, and turning to 
the left kept down the ridge for some distance, moving in column doubled on 
the center, until ordered up the slope. Before reaching the summit the enemy 
had fled. We now bivouacked at the foot of the hill, and at a little past ten 
A. M. of the 26th we started on the road to Ringgold. We marched this day 
without provisions, and at night reached Pigeon Ridge, where we bivouacked. 
We were under arms at daylight, and started again, hungry — the supply trains 
not having come up — and reached the town of Ringgold about eleven .\. M., 
and were ordered into line in the old cornfield, on the right front of the depot, 
where we lay, submitting, without return shots, to the fire of the enemy's 
sharpshooters concealed in the forest that lined the slope of Taylor's Ridge, 
on which they were posted. We remained here until the heights were carried 



One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment. 



on the left, when my regiment was moved forward to hold the gap." During 
this series of engagements the regiment lost only three killed and seven 
wounded. 

On the 1st of December the regiment marched back to its old camp, on 
Raccoon Mountain, and on the 28th, many of its original members having 
re-enlisted for a second term of three years, it departed for home, on its well- 
earned veteran furlough, arriving at Erie on the afternoon of the 14th of Janu- 
ary, 1864. 

At the expiration of the furlough the command assembled at Pittsburgh, 
and moved thence by railroad to Bridgeport, Ala., where it reported to Gen- 
eral Geary, and was assigned by him to the Third Brigade, Second Division, 
(Geary's) Twentieth Army Corps. 

Early in May Sherman's Atlanta campaign opened, and on the morning of 
the 3d the division crossed the Tennessee, and, moving via Shell Mound, 
Whiteside, and Wauhatchie, crossed Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga Hills, 
and Taylor's Ridge, and on the 8th came up with the enemy, where the regi 
ment acted as support to the cavalry. Early in the day it went into position at 
Snake Creek Gap, where it awaited the arrival of McPherson's Army of the 
Tennessee. At five P. M. it was relieved, and, counter-marching, rejoined the 
division at Mill Creek Church. On the 12th the troops passed through Snake 
Creek Gap 01 route to Resaca, and on the following day went into position in 
reserve at the junction of the Dalton, Calhoun, and Sugar Valley roads, where 
it intrenched. The morning of the 14th found it on its way to the left of the 
army, and upon taking position was engaged in covering the front with rifle 
pits. On the following day it returned to the right, where the entire corps 
was massed, to charge the enemy upon the opposite hills. The One Hundred 
and Eleventh moved against a four gun battery posted in a natural basin, a 
little in front of the fortified line of the enemy. The advance was gallantly 
made, and at the parapet the men took shelter and picked off the rebel gun- 
ners, but were unable to gain the interior on account of the enemy's concen- 
trated fire. At nightfall tools were brought up, and the work of digging 
through the parapet to obtain the guns was commenced. At half-past ten 
fresh troops were sent in, who continued the work, and before midnight the 
guns were reached and triumphantly brought off. In this assault the regiment 
lost four killed, twenty-four wounded, and two missing. 

During the night the enemy fell back, and the Union troops pressed on in 
pursuit. On the 23d the division crossed to the south side of the Etowah 
River, followed up Raccoon Creek, thence over the Allatoona Mountains, and 
on the 25th passed over Pumpkin Vine Creek. Here the division met the ad- 
vance of the enemy and halted, while the One Hundred and Eleventh was 
sent through the woods to the right to open communication with Williams's 
Division, which had crossed below. This was successfully accomplished, and 



History of Warren County. 



the regiment had returned, when, at nightfall, it was advanced through a wood 
against the enemy, in position near New Hope Church. In this night en- 
counter it sustained a loss of five killed or mortally wounded, thirty-five 
wounded, and three missing. 

From this time forward, for many weeks, skirmishing and fighting heavy 
battles was of almost daily occurrence with all of the troops under the com- 
mand of General Sherman. The combined forces included three armies — 
Army of the Cumberland, Army of the Tennessee, and Army of the Ohio ; 
seven army corps — the Fourth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, 
Twentieth, and Twenty-third ; aggregating more than one hundred thousand 
effective fighting men at the beginning of the campaign ; and all were needed 
(besides constant additions to make good losses in battle and by disease), in 
the work of pushing back, step by step, Johnston's rebel army from Dalton to 
Atlanta. 

Thus did the One Hundred and Eleventh, with its brigade, division, and 
corps, push forward during those eventful days. It participated in the actions 
fought at Dallas, Ackworth, Big Shanty, Kenesaw and Pine Mountains, Grier's 
Plantation, the crossing of the Chattahoochie River, and on the evening of July 
19 arrived on the bank of Peach Tree Creek, at a point about six or eight 
miles distant and northeast from the rebel stronghold, Atlanta. 

This creek was crossed before dark, the enemy's skirmishers being driven 
from the opposite bluff's, with a loss to the regiment of one killed and three 
wounded. A strong line of earthworks was thrown up, but at noon of the fol- 
lowing day (the 20th) the brigade was moved forward and massed, as was 
understood, in rear of the First and Second Brigades. At three o'clock P. M. 
the enemy attacked in full force, and with unusual impetuosity. The One 
Hundred and Eleventh was immediately thrown forward to meet him, and, 
advancing across a ravine and up the opposite slope, found, on arriving at the 
summit, its right suddenly enveloped, front, flank, and rear, by the foe, who 
was advancing through a gap in the line, and was now struggling fiercely for 
the mastery. Without support, and taken at a great disadvantage, the regi- 
ment made a heroic stand, but was finally forced back a short distance, where 
the line was re-formed and held. The fighting was, at times, hand to hand, 
and very severe. Near the close of the struggle, which resulted in a complete 
victory for the Union arms. Colonel Cobham fell, mortally wounded, and ex- 
pired on the field. Of the regiment, seventeen were killed and twenty-seven 
wounded, in the action known as the battle of Peach Tree Creek, besides a 
considerable number taken prisoners. 

In describing scenes and incidents connected with this battle a correspond- 
ent for a Cincinnati paper said : " For the first time in the campaign, a fight 
took place with neither party behind works. Almost the whole of Hooker's 
Corps was struck simultaneously while it was moving by flank toward the left. 



One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment. 203 

although, as the wave of battle rolled from right to left, Ward's division was 
engaged a minute or two sooner than the others [Williams's and Geary's], 
Face to face the combatants stood, firing deadly volleys into each other's 
bosoms. At times the lines were not more than fifteen feet apart. On Col- 
onel Harrison's front a hand to hand conflict actually took place, in which offi- 
cers as well as men were engaged. On Colonel Cobham's center the lines met 
each other so furiously that they passed one beyond the other, and each changed 
front [about faced] to renew the conflict." 

Again, the New York Times, in speaking of Colonel Cobham's death, says : 
" He was surrounded by the enemy and called upon by an officer to surren- 
der. With a rare nobility of character he refused to yield, and for refusing 
was shot through the body by order of the rebel who made the demand. Mor- 
tally wounded, but not killed, Cobham turned, and with the calm dignity that 
always characterized him, ordered a soldier who stood near him to ' shoot that 
fellow.' The order was promptly obeyed, and the murderer paid with his life 
the penalty of killing one of the noblest soldiers that the army ever contained." 
Colonel Cobham was shot through the left lung, and expired four or five hours 
later. 

Thereafter the corps formed part of the Union forces engaged in the in- 
vestment of Atlanta. During the latter part of August, when Sherman, with 
the major portion of his army, moved thirty miles to the southward and de- 
feated the enemy at Jonesboro, thus compelling the hasty evacuation of Atlanta 
by the rebels, the Twentieth Corps retired northward to Pace's Ferry on the 
Chattahoochie, where formidable works were erected, and the results of 
Sherman's bold movement awaited. As soon as it was ascertained that the 
enemy had fled as a result of the defeat of their main body at Jonesboro, the 
Twentieth Corps returned towards the now prostrate, helpless city, and on the 
morning of September 2 the advance column of the command entered the 
town and took possession without resistance. The colors of the One Hundred 
and Eleventh, and the Sixtieth New York were at once unfurled from the city 
hall, amidst the wildest enthusiasm of the troops. 

The corps remained at Atlanta until November 16, when the march through 
Georgia was commenced by the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Seventeenth, and Twen- 
tieth Army Corps. The outer works defending Savannah were reached De- 
cember 10, and on the morning of the 2ist of the same month, the rebel de- 
fenders having fled, the city was occupied by the Federal volunteers. 

On the 27th of January, 1865, the division started on the march through 
the Carolinas, and arrived at Goldsboro, N. C, two months later, where much- 
needed supplies were obtained. The One Hundred and Ninth and One Hun- 
dred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Regiments, having served side by side since 
the spring of 1862, at the request of their commanding officers, seconded by 
the men, were here consolidated, eight hundred and eighty-five strong, as the 



204 History of Warren County. 

One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment. After the surrender of Johnston, 
which soon followed, the command moved to Raleigh, and thence 7na Rich- 
mond to Washington, where it participated in the grand review of the Army 
of the Potomac, and Sherman's armies of "Georgia " and the "Tennessee." The 
regiment was here ordered to report to General Augur, commandant of the 
city, by whom it was assigned to duty in guarding the Old Capitol, Carroll, 
and other prisons, and where it remained until the 19th of July, when it was 
mustered out of service. 

The major portion of the Warren county men who served in the regiment 
are shown in the following lists : 

Field .\nd St.\ff. 

Colonel George A. Cobham, promoted from lieutenant-colonel November 
7, 1862, to brevet brigadier-general July 19, 1864; killed at Peach Tree Creek, 
Ga., July 20, 1864. 

Adjutant Albert G. Lucas, promoted from first sergeant Company B Sep- 
tember 13, 1864; mustered out with regiment. 

Company B. 

Captain Arthur Corrigan, killed at Antietam September 17, 1862. 

Captain W. P. Langworthy, discharged on surgeon's certificate February 
9, 1863. 

Captain Wallace B. Warner, wounded at Wauhatchie October 29, 1863; 
resigned March 15, 1864. 

Captain William Geary, discharged April 8, 1865, expiration of term. 

Captain John J. Haight, mustered out with company. 

Second Lieutenant Marvin D. Pettit, killed at Wauhatchie October 29, 
1863. 

First Sergeant George King, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

First Sergeant Mills F. Allison, wounded at Gettysburg; transferred to 
Veteran Reserve Corps. 

Sergeant William H. Hawkins, mustered out with company; veteran. 

Sergeant George W. Chappel, wounded at Gettysburg; mustered out with 
company ; veteran. , 

Sergeant lilliott C. Young, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Sergeant William F. Rush, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Sergeant Joseph A. McGee, discharged on surgeon's certificate March 2, 
1863. 

Sergeant Kdson C. Hills, killed at Chanccllorsville May 3, 1863. 

Sergeant Walker H. Hoguc, killed at Dallas, Ga., May 31, 1864. 

Sergeant Robert I\L Watson, died at Winchester, Va., July 6, 1862. 

Corporal James McAuley, sr., mustered out with company; veteran. 



One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment. 205 

Corporal William A. Selby, wounded at Wauhatchie ; mustered out with 
company ; veteran. 

Corporal Charles B. Haight, wounded at Antietam ; mustered out with 
company; veteran. 

Corporal Henry W. Ellsworth, wounded at Antietam, and at Culp's Farm, 
Ga.; mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Corporal Austin W. Merrick, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Corporal Edward A. Young, wounded at Cedar Mountain ; discharged by 
reason of same ; re-enlisted 1864; discharged July 7, 1865. 

Corporal J. R. Broughton, sr., discharged on surgeon's certificate May 16, 
1862. 

Corporal William Gray, discharged on surgeon's certificate November i, 
1862. 

Corporal David McNeil, discharged April 9, 1865, expiration of term. 

Corporal Miletus Tuttle, discharged by general order June 21, 1865 ; vet- 
eran. 

Corporal John S. Good, killed at Antietam September 17, 1862. 

Musician Rufus M. Ross, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Musician Phineas Burnham, died at Alexandria, Va., July 18, 1862. 

Privates. 

Thomas Arters, wounded at Culp's Farm, Ga.; mustered out with company; 
veteran. 

Thomas J. Anderson, mustered out with company; veteran. 

Samuel Arbuckle, substitute, mustered out with company. 

Milo Alger, discharged on surgeon's certificate May 16, 1862. 

Isaac Armitage, discharged on surgeon's certificate February 6, 1863. 

Benjamin Blizzard, mustered out with company; veteran. 

William Blizzard, mustered out with company; veteran. 

William Black, mustered out with company; veteran. 

Edward Baker, mustered out with company; veteran. 

George Buhl, substitute, mustered out with company. 

William Brown, substitute, wounded at Wauhatchie; mustered out with 
company. 

Thomas Brown, substitute, wounded at Savannah, Ga.; mustered out with 
company. 

John Barberick, discharged on surgeon's certificate May 16, 1862. 

Charles Brown, discharged on surgeon's certificate January 17, 1863. 

William Benedick, discharged on surgeon's certificate January 30, 1863. 

Reuben Brown, discharged on surgeon's certificate February 4, 1863. 

Gottlieb Bendel, discharged by general order June 6, 1865. 

William F. Blanchard, wounded at Dallas, Ga.; transferred to Veteran 
Reserve Corps December 30, 1864. 



2o6 History of Warren County. 

J. R. Broughton, jr., killed at Dallas, Ga., May 31, 1864. 

Gilbert S. Connor, wounded at Gettysburg; mustered out with company; 
veteran. 

William Campbell, substitute, absent in arrest at muster out. 

Edgar Cobb, discharged by general order June 6, 1865. 

Norman Calhoun, wounded at Gettysburg; discharged on surgeon's cer- 
tificate April 28, 1864. 

William Collett, discharged May i, 1865, expiration of term. 

Abel Conner, discharged on surgeon's certificate October 13, 1862. 

Marvin A. Caldwell, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 29, 1862. 

John W. Cook, discharged on surgeon's certificate January, 15, 1863. 

Andrew J. Cevell, wounded at Chancellorsville; transferred to Veteran 
Reserve Corps. 

Alexander Dixon, mustered out with company. 

Thomas B. Disney, mustered out with company. 

John Downey, substitute, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps. 

Patrick Donahue, absent, sick, at muster out. 

Silas A. Dannals, discharged on surgeon's certificate March 18, 1863. 

Frank Dewey, discharged June 17, 1865. 

Adelbert DoUiver, discharged June 10, 1865; veteran. 

William B. Disney, discharged by general order June 6, 1865. 

Samuel Doud, died at Louisville, Ky., September 17, 1864. 

Henry Ernest, absent, sick, at muster out. 

Henry J. Evans, discharged on surgeon's certificate May 16, 1862. 

Thomas J. Fleming, mustered out with company. 

William G. Glenn, mustered out with company. 

George A. Goodwill, wounded at Wauhatchie October 29, 1863; absent, 
sick, at muster out. 

George F. Goodell, substitute, wounded at Wauhatchie ; died at liridge- 
port, Ala., May 12, 1864. 

Aaron B. Goodwill, died at Louisville, Ky., July 21, 1864. 

William Gerobe, killed at Wauhatchie October 29, 1863. 

Benjamin Hasson, mustered out with company; veteran. 

William H. Houster, mustered out with company. 

Milo D. Hays, discharged on surgeon's certificate May 16, 1862. 

George Hughey, discharged on surgeon's certificate November 21, 1862. 

Richard Haskell, died at Harper's Ferry November 14, 1862. 

William Johnson, substitute, transferred to United States Navy. 

William Koch, substitute, wounded at Wauhatchie ; transferred to Veteran 
Reserve Corjjs. 

Charles Kuhn, substitute, killed at Wauhatchie October 29, 1863. 

Springer Ludwig, mustered out with company. 



One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment. 207 

Charles Lobdell, wounded at Cedar Mountain; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate November 19, 1862. 

Edward Long, discharged on surgeon's certificate February 14, 1863. 

Mathew Lawrence, discharged by general order June 6, 1865. 

William H. Light, discharged on surgeon's certificate February li, 1865; 
veteran. 

Frank Locker, discharged by general order June 6, 1865. 

James M. Littlefield, died April 9, 1864, at Pittsburgh, Pa. 

William Mathews, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Thomas W. Mathews, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Samuel R. Mick, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Homer J. Merrick, mustered out with company. 

Mike Mulherring, absent in arrest at muster out. 

John Myers, discharged on surgeon's certificate ; died at Chattanooga 
June 27, 1864. 

Freeland Moore, absent, sick, at muster out. 

John Manley, substitute, transferred to United States Navy. 

James T. Miller, wounded at Wauhatchie; transferred to Company D, date 
unknown. 

Charles Miller, killed at Gettysburg July 3, 1863. 

Patrick Murphy, substitute, died October 30 of wounds received at Wau- 
hatchie October 29, 1863. 

Frederick Miller, substitute, died at Louisville, Ky., August 6 of wounds 
received at Pine Knob, Ga., June 15, 1864. 

Perry McDonald, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Charles McLaughlin, discharged August 26, 1865. 

William McGanthey, discharged by general order June 6, 1865. 

William J. McGill, discharged on surgeon's certificate October 13, 1862. 

James P. McGee, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 16, 1862. 

John J. McGee, discharged on surgeon's certificate March 5, 1863. 

Henry McGinness, discharged by general order June 6, 1865. 

William McClellan, killed at Cedar Mountain August 6, 1862. 

Chauncey McClellan, killed at Antietam September 17, 1862. 

Daniel McNally, died at Bolivar Heights December i, 1862. 

Joseph B. Nobbs, killed at Gulp's Farm, Ga., June 17, 1864; veteran. 

Joseph B. O'Brian, substitute, died at Murfreesboro, Tenn., January 23, 
1864. 

James Pike, mustered out with company; veteran. 

John R. Patton, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Edward P. Pratt, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 29, 1862, 

John Phillips, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps. 

George E. Parshall, died at Nashville, Tenn., November 19, 1864. 



2o8 History of Warren County. 

Henry Pike, died at Fairfax, Va., October 21, 1862. 

John W. Roner, substitute, discharged September 6, to date July 19, 1865. 

Milo D. Rounds, discharged on surgeon's certificate July 2, 1862. 

J. J. Rushenberger, discharged on surgeon's certificate February 13, 1863. 

M. C. Richmond, substitute, discharged by general order June 15, 1865. 

John M. Richardson, killed at Gettysburg July 3, 1863. 

George B. Reuss, substitute, missing in action at Grier's Farm, Ga., June 
30, 1864. 

John J. Smith, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

George W. Swineford, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

William Selfridge, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

John O. Smith, mustered out with company. 

Frederick Seyert, substitute, mustered out with company. 

Gemmel Sutley, absent, sick, at muster out. 

Silas Shay, discharged October 6 for wounds received at Cedar Mountain 
August 9, 1862. 

William Snyder, substitute, mustered out with company. 

John Sidmore, discharged on surgeon's certificate October 10, 1862. 

Alexander Swartz, discharged on surgeon's certificate February, 14, 1863. 

Orrin Sweet, wounded at Wauhatchie; discharged June 10, 1865 ; veteran. 

James Shaffer, substitute, discharged on surgeon's certificate March i, 1865. 

Henry Starmer, substitute, wounded at Wauhatchie ; transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve Corps. 

Hollis Streeter, died at Fort McHenry, Md., July i i, 1S62. 

George Smith, substitute, killed at Dallas, Ga., May 31, 1864. 

James Sidmore, killed at Gulp's Farm, Ga., June 17, 1864; veteran. 

Robert P. Smith, died at Atlanta, Ga., October 22, 1864. 

Samuel Sturgess, killed near Broad River, S. C, February, 1865 ; veteran. 

Henry Smith, substitute, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps. 

John T. Tubbs, discharged on surgeon's certificate October 9, 1862. 

Manlcy Tuttle, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 30, 1862. 

H. T. Thompson, discharged on surgeon's certificate February 14, 1863. 

Ibhar Thompson, substitute, transferred to United States Navy. 

Jonathan Van Horn, substitute, killed at Wauhatchie, Tcnn., October 29, 
1863. 

William H. Williams, mustered out with company. 

George Wilson, substitute, mustered out with company. 

Frank Wallace, mustered out with company. 

John Winters, discharged by general order May 26, 1865. 

Jacob Wagner, discharged by general order June 6, 1865. 

David White, discharged on surgeon's certificate May 16, 1862. 

John T. Watson, wounded at Cedar Mountain ; discharged on surgeon's 
certificate December 18, 1862. 



One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment. 209 

David Williams, discharged October, 1864, expiration of term. 

Daniel Writner, substitute, transferred to Company F October, 1863. 

George W. White, died at Baltimore, Md., May 10, 1862. 

Bruno Zimmerman, substitute, wounded at Pine Knob, Ga. ; discharged on 
surgeon's certificate April 11, 1865. 

There were, besides, twenty-four enlisted men, chiefly substitutes, who de- 
serted from this company after serving but a few days, whose names do not 
appear in the above list. 

Company D. 

Captain Elias M. Pierce, resigned April 25, 1862. 

Captain W. J. Alexander, promoted from first lieutenant to captain April 
25, 1862; commissioned major March 31; lieutenant-colonel April 7, 1865; 
not mustered as a field officer; resigned April 8, 1865. He also served for a 
time as provost marshal. Second Division, Twelfth Army Corps. 

Captain H. R. Sturdevant, captured at Peach Tree Creek, Ga.; mustered 
out with company. 

First Lieutenant Nelson Spencer, resigned May 13, 1863. 

First Lieutenant C. W. Culbertson, prisoner from July 20, 1864, to June 
23, 1865; mustered out with company; veteran. 

Second Lieutenant Warren M. Foster, resigned February 23, 1863. 

First Sergeant George A. Head, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

First Sergeant James T. Shutt, killed at Cedar Mountain, Va., August 9, 
1862. 

Sergeant Benson Jones, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Sergeant Edward O'Donnell, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Sergeant Calvin H. Blanchard, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Sergeant Walter G. Mead, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Sergeant Christopher G. Herrick, discharged November 2, 1864, expira- 
tion of term. 

Sergeant Oliver P. Alexander, transferred to Company K December, 1863 ; 
veteran. 

Corporal Lewis Pearson, mustered out with company; veteran. 

Corporal Charles F. Prophater, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Corporal Philip Beyer, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Corporal Henry Lowman, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Corporal Warren Mann, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Corporal Eugene Chase, discharged February, 1865, expiration of term. 

Corporal Matthias Arnold, wounded at Dallas ; transferred to Veteran Re- 
serve Corps; veteran. 

Corporal James S. Newcomb, killed at Cedar Mountain August 9, 1862. 

Corporal George C. Oliver, wounded at Antietam ; captured at Peach Tree 
Creek ; veteran. 



History of Warren County. 



Musician James Curren, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Musician Edward Richmond, discharged on surgeon's certificate July 17, 
1862. 

Musician George Richmond, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 
5, 1862. 

Privates. 

Isaiah A. Ashbridge, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Robert Atwell, discharged by general order June 6, 1865. 

Darius Aber, discharged January 13, 1863, for wounds, with loss of arm, 
received at Antietam, Md. 

Nelson Anderson, discharged January 13, 1863, for wounds received at 
Antietam. 

John Anderson, died October 14, of wounds received at Antietam. 

Thomas Ackley, died at Brandy Station, Va., September 26, 1863. 

Nathan J. Branch, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Albert P. Berg, mustered out with company. 

Stephen Baker, wounded at Cedar Mountain and at Peach Tree Creek ; 
absent at muster out. 

James Burns, substitute, discharged by general order July 6, 1865. 

John Boyle, sr., discharged June 2, 1865, expiration of term. 

De Witt C. Brasington, discharged for wounds received at Antietam. 

A. H. Brasington, discharged on surgeon's certificate September 5, 1862. 

Stephen Baker, discharged on surgeon's certificate December i, 1862. 

David M. Boyd, discharged on surgeon's certificate September 5, 1862. 

John T. Blakesley, died at Erie, Pa., January 18, 1862. 

Arthur Bartch, died at Winchester, Va., July 8, 1862. 

Francis S. Brown, died at Winchester, Va., July 30, 1862. 

David L. Brown, killed at Antietam. 

John W. Culver, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Robert Culverson, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

John D. Coleman, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Alphonzo Carman, mustered out with company; veteran. 

George O. Collins, mustered out with company. 

L. J. Chase, absent, sick, at muster out. 

Nathaniel Casper, discharged on surgeon's certificate January 13, 1863. 

Henry Chase, discharged on surgeon's certificate February 14, 1863. 

William Culverson, discharged on surgeon's certificate March 14, 1863. 

Orville Chandler, discharged November 2, 1864, expiration of term. 

William J. Campbell, discharged April 8, 1865, expiration of term. 

Austin Chandler, died at Winchester, Va., July 8, 1862. 

Reuben Clark, died at PVont Royal, Va., July 11, 1862. 



One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment. 



Vernon F. Cady, died at Washington, D. C, July 29, 1862. 

Herman T. Cross, discharged by general order June 30, 1865. 

John M. Dillon, substitute, mustered out with company. 

John Davenport, substitute, mustered out with company. 

Charles P. Dager, mustered out with company. 

John H. Duross, discharged August 17, 1865; veteran. 

Charles Dougherty, discharged by general order June 6, 1865. 

William Dixon, discharged on surgeon's certificate April 20, 1865; veteran. 

Nicholas Dych, discharged by general order June 2, 1865. 

James Donaldson, discharged June 21, 1865, for wounds received at Dallas; 
veteran. 

Emil Dorr, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps. 

Lenford Elliott, mustered out with company. 

Abraham Eggleston, wounded at Resaca; discharged June li, 1865; vetr 
eran. 

Jacob Fahlman, wounded at Antietam, and at Dallas, Ga.; absent at muster 
out; veteran. 

William Fairfield, discharged on surgeon's certificate November 19, 1862. 

William Fredenburgh, died November 8, 1862, of wounds received at An- 
tietam. 

Philip Graham, mustered out with company; veteran. 

John Graham, mustered out with company; veteran. 

Edward Gemmil, mustered out with company. 

James Glenn, discharged by general order May 31, 1865. 

Frederick Gormanly, substitute, absent, sick, at muster out. 

William Gibson, discharged on surgeon's certificate, January 6, 1863. 

Joel Gardner, discharged October 17, 1862, for wounds received at Cedar 
Mountain. 

William Green, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps August, 1864. 

Isaac Howard, wounded at Dallas, discharged by general order July 15, 
1865. 

William H. Hagerty, substitute, discharged by general order June 9, 1865. 

Jesse Hellam, discharged by general order June i, 1865. 

Andrew Hultberg, captured at Peach Tree Creek; discharged at expira- 
tion of term. 

Charles Hultberg, killed at Peach Tree Creek, Ga., July 20, 1864. 

David L. Hodges, captured at Peach Tree Creek July 20, 1864; veteran. 
Died as a prisoner of war. 

Henry W. Jobson, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Robert Johnson, discharged by general order May 15, 1865. 

George W. Kinnear, mustered out with company. 

Edward Kerr, absent, sick, at muster out. 



History of Warren County. 



Truman Kidder, discharged on surgeon's certificate, June 9, 1863. 

Henry Kay, discharged November 2, 1864, expiration of term. 

Joseph Kay, wounded, Resaca; discharged November 25, 1864, expiration 
of term. 

Adam Knopf, died October 11, 1862, of wounds received at Antictani. 

George W. King, discharged on writ of habeas corpus. 

Thomas Lacy, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Humphrey D. Law, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Samuel Look, discharged on surgeon's certificate April 22, 1863. 

Peter Lind, died at Alexandria, Va., September 15, 1862. 

Frederick Lamer, substitute, died at Chattanooga June 17, 1864, of 
wounds received at Dallas, Ga., May 25, 1864. 

Morris Lee, captured at Peach Tree Creek, died in Southern prison Janu- 
ary 24, 1865. 

George J. Morritz, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

Archibald Murray, mustered out with company. 

Thomas Maxwell, mustered out with company. 

Charles Meachan, substitute, mustered out with company. 

Reuben Morse, wounded at Pine Knob, Ga. ; absent at mustrr out ; 
veteran. 

Sheldon J. Merchant, discharged on surgeon's certificate September 4, 1862. 

John C. Marsh, discharged on surgeon's certificate February 4, 1S63. 

John M. Mack, died at Baltimore, Md., April 19, 1862. 

Levi Marsh, died at Alexandria, Va., July 23, 1862. 

John Myers, died at Chattanooga, Tenn., June 27, 1864, of wounds re- 
ceived at Pine Knob, Ga., June 15, 1864. 

James T. Miller, killed at Peach Tree Creek, Ga., July 20, 1864. 

Chester L. Morton, died at Philadelphia, Pa., October 7, 1864. 

Alexander Morton, wounded at Dallas, Ga. ; captured at Peach Tree 
Creek, Ga.; died at Annapolis, Md., March 25, 1865 ; veteran. 

George G. McClintock, discharged April i, 1865. 

Peter O'Neil, mustered out with company; veteran. 

Henry Osgood, discharged on surgeon's certificate March 7, 1863. 

William Plumb, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

William Pulfrey, mustered out with company. 

Abner Ploss, discharged on surgeon's certificate September 5, 1862. 

Jacob Ploss, discharged on surgeon's certificate February 23, 1863. 

Timothy Ploss, discharged on surgeon's certificate April 3, 1863. 

Wheeler Ploss, killed at Antictam September 17, 1862. 

George Peters, killed at Resaca May 15, 1864; veteran. 

Robert Ray, mustered out with company; veteran. 

Charles H. Rainbow, mustered out with company. 



One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment. 213 

Matthias Stonaker, wounded at Cedar Mountain, and at Dallas; mustered 
out with company; veteran. 

Edward F. Stone, mustered out with company; veteran. 

John Schraeder, mustered out with company; veteran. 

Jacob Schuler, mustered out with company; veteran. 

James Scahill, mustered out with company; veteran. 

Elisha Spencer, mustered out with company. 

Bernard Schnell, mustered out with company. 

Philip Schirk, wounded at Peach Tree Creek; mustered out with com- 
pany. 

Orin F. Strickland, wounded at Gettysburg; absent, sick, at muster out. 

Edgar Smith, died at Alexandria, Va., August 6, 1862. 

William H. Simmons, discharged December 11, 1862, for wounds received 
at Antietam. 

Charles Sodagreen, discharged January 11, 1863, for wounds received at 
Antietam. 

Thomas J. Spencer, discharged November 2, 1864, expiration of term. 

Patrick Sheehan, discharged April 8, 1S65, expiration of term. 

Franklin Stilson, discharged May 29, 1865, for wounds received at Peach 
Tree Creek. 

Peter G. Sweet, transferred to 109th P. V. December 27, 1863; veteran. 

John Salman, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps. 

James A. Stapleton, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps. 

John Sheemer, killed at Gettysburg July 3, 1863. 

Peter N. Stanford, killed at Kenesaw Mountain June 27, 1864. 

George C. Siggins, died at Chattanooga June 27, of wounds received at 
Dallas, Ga., May 25, 1864. 

D. Porter Siggins, killed at Peach Tree Creek July 20, 1864. 

John Smith, killed at Peach Tree Creek July 20, 1864. 

D. W. Spencer, died at Pittsburgh, Pa., March 20, 1864. 

Lloyd Trask, discharged on surgeon's certificate August 21, 1862. 

William Taylor, discharged on surgeon's certificate August 4, 1862. 

Job T. Toby, died at Pittsburgh March 25, 1864. 

Joseph R. White, substitute, wounded at Dallas ; discharged by general or- 
der August 24, 1865. 

George Weiderhold, discharged by general order May 27, 1865. 

Benjamin Westbrook, discharged on surgeon's certificate November 18, 1862. 

R. A. Winchester, wounded, with loss of arm, at Antietam ; discharged 
December 31, 1862. 

David Williams, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 11, 1862. 

Robert J. Wilson, died at Bridgeport, Ala., November 10, 1863, of wounds 
received at Wauhatchie. 



214 History of Warren County. 

Henry Zeigler, wounded at Cedar Mountain ; discharged on surgeon's cer- 
tificate January 15, 1863. 

From this company, also, thirty-five men, principally substitutes, deserted. 
Their names do not appear in the foregoing list. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEENTH AND ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIFTH 

REaiMENTS. 

The One Hundred and Tliirteenth Regiment of the Line or Twelfth Cavalry — Organized 
near Philadelphia — .Joins Pope in Virginia — Subsequent Services in the Shenandoah Valley — 
The First Command to Discover Lee's Northward Movement in 1863 — Nearly Surrounded 
at Winchester — Cutting its Way Out — On the Upper Potomac — In Pursuit of Early — Its Last 
Battle — Muster Out — Roster of Company K — One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment — Com- 
pany F Recruited at Tidioute — ^The Regiment is Ordered to the Front Without Adequate 
Equiment& — In Line at Antietam — Assigned to the Second Corps — Its Desperate Struggle at 
Fredericksburg — Great Looses — Chancellorsville — With Hancock at Gettysburg — In the Wil- 
derness with Grant — Charging the Enemy's Works at Spottsylvania — Cold Harbor — Peters- 
burg — Part of the Regiment Captured — Other Movements and Battles — Names, etc., of Ita 
Warren County Members. 

One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment — Twelfth Cavalry. 

THIS command, of which Major Darius Titus, of Warren county, was one 
of its original officers, was organized near Philadelphia late in the autumn 
of 1 86 1. It remained there until about the ist of May, 1862, when it was 
ordered to Washington, D. C, where it received arms. On the 20th of June 
it was ordered to Manassas Junction, and was employed in guarding the 
Orange and Alexandria Railroad. It was past the middle of July, however, 
before the command was mounted, and little progress had been made in train- 
ing and discipline before active operations commenced. 

At midday of the 26th of August Colonel Pierce received a telegram from 
General Sturgis, at Alexandria, acting under the direction of General Pope, 
then in command of the Union forces in Northern Virginia, directing him to 
proceed to White Plains and ascertain the strength and position of the enemy 
in that locality. Colonel Pierce, who was in a feeble state of health, and in 
the absence of Lieutenant- Colonel Kohler, placed the regiment under com- 
mand of Major Titus. The regiment was scattered along the road, a distance 
of twelve miles, on guard, and it was six o'clock before the forces could be as- 
sembled and in readiness to start. Darkness soon came on, and, being without 
reliable guides, and having a distance of twenty miles to traverse in an enemy's 



One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment. 215 

country, some difficulty was experienced in keeping the direct route. One 
company was left at Pope's Run, and a battery of two pieces at Manassas. In 
the neighborhood of Gainesville a rebel picket was captured, who disclosed the 
fact that half the rebel army was in its immediate front, " Stonewall " Jackson 
having turned the right of Pope's army. Soon firing was heard at Manassas, 
and a great light showed but too plainly that the enemy was already in pos- 
session. Without stopping for rest the column retired towards Bristoe ; but 
as it approached the town found it already occupied by Jackson, with his ar- 
tillery and infantry in commanding positions. To escape the enemy's clutches 
seemed impossible ; but, determined to cut his way through or sell his com- 
mand at severe rebel cost, Major Titus turned towards Manassas. Discovering 
his designs the enemy opened with his artillery and infantry, and closing in 
upon it inflicted a loss of two hundred and sixty in killed, wounded, and pris- 
oners — Major Titus being among the latter. 

The command now devolved on Major Congdon, who withdrew his shat- 
tered column to Centreville. He was immediately ordered to retire to Alex- 
andria, where he reported to General McClellan in person, giving the first 
reliable intelligence of the presence of Jackson at Manassas. On the following 
day the regiment was ordered to cross the Potomac, and patrol and picket the 
left bank of the river from the Chain Bridge to Edward's Ferry, in which duty 
it continued until the enemy crossed above, to enter upon the Antietam cam- 
paign. 

During the battle of Antietam, the command rendered efficient service in 
watching the enemy's movements upon our flanks and in bringing up strag- 
glers and checking disorder. Subsequently it participated in the raid on Moore- 
field, the expedition to Woodstock, and a hot encounter at Fisher's Hill. When 
Lee so stealthily left his camps on the Rapidan, and began his march into 
Pennsylvania in June, 1863, the Twelfth was the first to discover the move- 
ment, though the facts as reported by the commander of the I'egiment were at 
first discredited. This delusion was soon dissipated, however, and the correct- 
*ness of the report made apparent, by the advance of the whole of Lee's army 
on all the roads leading from the south. As Lee continued to advance down 
the valley, General Milroy, in command of the Union forces, posted his small 
army in an advantageous position, at Winchester, Va., and for three days held 
the entire rebel army in check with a force of less than twelve thousand men. 
The enemy refused to assault, but gradually gathered in around the town, until 
nearly every way of escape was cut off. At a council of war, held on the night 
of Sunday, June 14, it was decided that an attempt should be made by the 
command to cut its way out, and push for the Potomac. Under cover of dark- 
ness the brigade moved out a little after midnight, in the order of their num- 
bers. Four miles out, on the Martinsburg road, the enemy was encountered 
in strong force, and a heavy night engagement took place, in which the Twelfth 



2i6 History of Warren County. 

participated, sustaining considerable loss. Lieutenant-Colonel Moss, in com- 
mand of the regiment, had his horse shot under him, and was severely injured 
by the fall, the command then devolving on Major Titus.' Taking advantage 
of the noise of the contest, Milroy's troops separated into two columns, to their 
mutual advantage, one moving towards Harper's Ferry, the other, by way of 
Bath and Hancock, to Bloody Run. The Twelfth was with the latter. 

At the close of the Gettysburg campaign the Twelfth marched to Sharps- 
burg, Md., where it remained until August 3. It then moved to the vicinity 
of Martinsburg, Va., where it performed scouting and picket duty until the 
opening of the campaign in May, 1 864. Meanwhile many of the men had re- 
enlisted, and its ranks were otherwise strengthened by recruits. When the 
rebel Early made his demonstration on Washington in the summer of 1864, 
he was, in his advance and retreat, opposed and harassed at every step by the 
Union cavalry under General Averell. The Twelfth was a conspicuous organ- 
ization in this command, and it rode in the thickest of the fray at Solomon's 
Gap, Pleasant Valley, Crampton's Gap, Winchester, and Kernstown. Upon 
the accession of General Sheridan to the chief command of the army in the 
Shenandoah Valley, the regiment was assigned to General Torbert's Division. 
Under that general it participated in many other minor actions in the same 
valley, which continued to afford an ample field for hostile demonstrations 
until the close of the war. Its last battle was fought at Hamilton, Va., March 
22, 1865, where it sustained a loss of six killed and nineteen wounded. It 
was mustered out of service at Winchester, Va., July 20, and and returned in 
a body to Philadelphia. 

The Warren county men in this regiment served chiefly in Company K, 
whose members were accounted for at muster out as follows : 

Company K. 

Captain Nathaniel Payne, discharged April 21, 1865, expiration of term. 

First Lieutenant Addison R. Titus, discharged April 3, 1865, expiration of 
term. 

First Lieutenant Harvey Russell, mustered out with company; veteran. 

Second Lieutenant Deloss Chase, killed at Hamilton, Va., March 22, 1865. 

Second Lieutenant Stephen B. Sterrett, mustered out with company; vet- 
eran. 

First Sergeant John Thomas, mustered out with company; veteran. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant George H. Sill, absent on detailed service at mus- 
ter out; veteran. 

Sergeant William G. Lambertson, mustered out with company; veteran. 

Sergeant Coryell Douglass, mustered out with company; veteran. 

Sergeant Charles T. Widdifield, mustered out with company; veteran. 

1 M.ijor Titus was honorably discharged April 25, 1864. 



One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment. 217 

Sergeant George H. Hollman, mustered out with company; veteran. 
Sergeant Andrew J. Burns, mustered out with company; veteran. 
Sergeant Nathaniel Siggins, discharged April 25, 1865, expiration of term. 
Corporal Andy Daum, discharged by general order June 3, 1865 ; veteran. 
Corporal Thomas Nelson, mustered out with company ; veteran. 
Corporal Augustus L. Selden, mustered out with company ; veteran. 
Corporal John H. Siggins, mustered out with company ; veteran. 
Corporal Darius M. Ford, mustered out with company ; veteran. 
Corporal Merrill D. Morley, mustered out with company ; veteran. 
Corporal John H. Green, discharged on surgeon's certificate June 5, 1865. 
Blacksmith Isaac Douglass, mustered out with company ; veteran. 
Farrier Erastus Mead, mustered out with company ; veteran. 
Saddler George F. Green, mustered out with company. 

Privates. 

John Anderson, mustered out with company. 
Riley Averill, mustered out with company. 
George W. Arters, mustered out with company. 
John A. Aikens, mustered out with company ; veteran. 
William A. Beddow, mustered out with company ; veteran. 
Charles F. Black, mustered out with company. 
John Black, mustered out with company. 
John D. Beebe, mustered out with company ; veteran. 
Jared L. Barton, mustered out with company ; veteran. 
Perry L. Barton, mustered out with company. 
William F. Burdick, mustered out with company. 
Adam Bonn, discharged April 25, 1865, expiration of term. 
Thomas Bohn, died of wounds received at Charlestown, Va., February 7,. 
1865. 

Samuel Burris, discharged by general order June i, 1865. 

George W. Briggs, discharged December 6, 1865 ; veteran. 

James Brogan, discharged by general order November 18, 1865 ; veteran. 

Charles Covell, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

John Cook, mustered out with company. 

James E. Clark, mustered out with company. 

James Carroll, absent, sick, at muster out. 

Peter Conway, discharged on surgeon's certificate Januar\- 20, 1865. 

William Cosgrove, discharged April 21, 1865, expiration of term. 

William H. Clark, discharged by general order June i, 1865. 

Luther Carpenter, discharged, date unknown. 

John Davis, mustered out with company. 

I'rederick Deiter, mustered out with company. 



2i8 History of Warren County. 

Chauncey Dunbar, discharged by general order June 22, 1865. 

Andrew Diven, discharged by general order June i, 1865. 

Albert E. Ellsworth, discharged April i, 1865, expiration of term. 

Nathaniel C. Enos, killed at Hamilton, Va., March 22, 1865; veteran. 

Jacob Frey, discharged by general order June i, 1865. 

Abraham Garlick, mustered out with company. 

John C. Griffin, discharged by general order June i, 1865. 

William J. Griffin, discharged by general order June I, 1865. 

Adam Garlick, discharged by general order November 24, 1865. 

Michael Heintz, mustered out with company. 

Robert W. Hudson, discharged by general order March 7, 1865. 

Alfred S. Hatfield, died April 3, 1865. 

Martin Illtis, mustered out with company. 

George W. Irvine, discharged April 21, 1865, expiration of term. 

Augustus Jones, mustered out with company; veteran. 

William Johnson, discharged by general order June i, 1865. 

Samuel Jones, discharged on surgeon's certificate August 26, 1862. 

Frederick Knapp, mustered out with company. 

Alanson Kibly, absent, sick, at muster out. 

Henry C. Keefer, discharged by general order June i, 1865. 

Jason Libby, mustered out with company. 

James Lesh, mustered out with company ; veteran. 

John Lindsey, discharged by general order June I, 1865. 

Monroe Martin, transferred to Company B, date unknown ; veteran. 

William McGinty, discharged by general order March 29, 1865. 

Alex. McLaughlin, mustered out with company. 

Archibald McDonald, mustered out with company. 

William McAuley, discharged on surgeon's certificate May 26, 1865 
veteran. 

Charles McCallen, died at Sandy Hook, Md., June 29, 1864. 

James McAfee, killed at Hamilton, Va., March 22, 1865. 

Jacob Nyheart, mustered out with company. 

George H. Nobbs, discharged by general order September 11, 1865 
veteran. 

Patrick O'Harra, mustered out with company; veteran. 

Hiram Parrish, mustered out with company. 

Henry Rupp, mustered out with company. 

James H. Randall, died, date unknown; buried at Antictam. 

Joseph S. Rogers, died August 22, 1862. 

Jacob Showalter, mustered out with company. 

William Simpson, mustered out with company. 

James B. Smith, mustered out with company. 



One Hundred and Forty-Fifth Regiment. 219 

James Smith, mustered out with company. 

Jacob Strausbury, mustered out with company. 

John W. Slonaker, discharged by general order June I, 1865. 

George Vanguilder, mustered out with company. 

WiUiam Watt, mustered out with company. 

Jacob Weist, discharged by general order June i, 1865. 

Thomas L. Young, absent, sick, at muster out. 

One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment. 

Company F of this regiment was recruited at Tidioute, by Captain Kim- 
ball H. Stiles, in the summer of 1862. The regimental rendezvous was the city 
of Erie — the camp previously occupied by the Eighty-third and the One 
Hundred and Eleventh Regiments — where a regimental organization was 
effected on the Sth of September, 1862. Its original field officers were Hiram 
L. Brown, colonel ; David B. McCreary, lieutenant-colonel ; John W. Patton, 
major. The latter died May 15, of wounds received at Chancellorsville, Va., 
May 3, 1863. 

Without arms, and with scarcely any knowledge of military duty, the regi- 
ment left Erie on the nth of September, and proceeded toward the front via 
Harrisburg to Chambersburg, Pa., arriving in thirty-six hours within sound 
of the enemy's cannon, Lee having already crossed the Potomac and pene- 
trated to the South Mountain. Halting at Camp McClure for two days, the 
men were supplied with the old Harper's Ferry musket, and then moved under 
orders from General John F. Reynolds, in the direction of Hagerstown. But 
partially supplied with equipments, and men and many officers fresh from civil 
life, the command experienced much suffering from exposure and inadequate 
supplies. 

At daylight on the morning of the 17th the regiment was under arms, the 
heavy booming of cannon on the field of Antietam, ten miles away, being 
distinctly heard. Colonel Brown was ordered forward with his command, and 
a little after noon arrived upon the extreme right of the Union lihe, at this 
time desperately engaged with the troops under " Stonewall " Jackson. It 
•was moved into position between the Federal right and the Potomac, holding 
the tow-path and the road which runs along under the high bluff skirting the 
river, thus preventing the enemy from flanking the Union forces in that direc- 
tion. This position was held without loss until McClellan permitted the ene- 
my to retire almost without molestation. The regiment was then assigned to 
the duty of burying the dead and caring for the wounded. The stench that 
filled the air was exceedingly offensive — the dead having lain as they fell for 
four days — and this, together with the exposure and severe duty imposed 
upon men unaccustomed to campaigning, resulted in wide-spread sickness. 
Indeed, within a month from the time of taking the field, between two and 

15 



History of Warren County. 



three hundred men of the regiment were unfit for duty. Many died or were 
permanently disabled, and were discharged from service. 

From Antietam the regiment proceeded to Harper's Ferry, where it was 
assigned to duty with Meagher's Irish Brigade, and continued with that com- 
mand until just before the beginning of the Fredericksburg campaign, when 
it was attached to the First Brigade, First Division of the Second Army Corps, 
and moved with the army under Burnside against the enemy. The morning 
of December 1 1 broke clear and crisp along the Rappahannock, and early the 
whole army was astir. The One Hundred and Forty-fifth, with its division, 
crossed on the upper pontoon bridge on the afternoon of the J2th, and formed 
in line upon a street running parallel with the river, where it remained during 
the succeeding night. On the morning of the 13th it moved forward two or 
three squares, its right resting near the court-house, where it came under a 
heavy artillery fire, and an incessant fusillade from sharpshooters concealed 
from view. 

About noon the division marched by the flank up the streets and out upon 
the plain, between the town and the battery-crowned hills that encircled it 
beyond. The regiment moved forward with the steadiness of veterans, over 
various obstacles, towards the fatal stone wall at the foot of Marye's Heights, 
though its ranks were shattered and torn by the fire from concealed infantry, 
and the batteries which confronted and enfiladed it, until it reached the front 
line of the Union forces. Here it remained until after nightfall, and until the 
fighting ceased, when the division was relieved and returned to town. " Of 
the five thousand men," says Swinton, " Hancock led into action, more than two 
thousand fell in that charge ; and it was found that the bravest of these had 
thrown up their hands and lay dead within five and twenty paces of the stone 
wall." On the night of the .15th the army recrossed the river, and on the 
following morning the fragments remaining of the One Hundred and Forty- 
fifth took possession of its old quarters on Stafford Heights. On the morning 
previous to the battle five hundred and fifty-six men reported for duty. A 
portion of two companies were upon the skirmish line when the rest of the 
regiment moved for the field, and consequently did not accompany it. Of 
those who crossed the river, less than five hundred in number, two hundred 
and twenty-six, nearly one half were either killed or wounded. 

On the 1st of May, 1863, while being mustered for pay, the first gun in the 
battle of Chancellorsville was fired. The Second Corps was immediately thrown 
forward on the road leading to Fredericksburg, the First Division in advance. 
At evening it was marched back to a slight ravine, where, in a dense wood, 
nearly the entire night was spent in throwing up breastworks, and in cutting 
and forming an abatis in front. The enemy opened fire at intervals upon the 
troops while at work, but with little effect. At daylight the main body of the 
command was moved back three-quarters of a mile near to the Chancellor 



One Hundred and Forty-Fifth Regiment. 



house, a heavy skirmish hne only being left in the advanced works. During 
the day of the 2d artillery firing occurred at intervals, and at night the enemy 
made his fierce assault, which resulted in the discomfiture and rout of the 
Eleventh Corps, posted on the extreme right of the Union lines. The night 
was passed in intense excitement along the whole line, the battle raging fiercely 
on the right center. On the morning of the 3d a detail of one hundred and 
fifty men, from the One Hundred and Forty-fifth, and one hundred from other 
regiments of the brigade, under Lieutenant-Colonel McCreary, was ordered to 
the relief of the skirmish line left in the works thrown up on the night of the 
1st. The remainder of the regiment was engaged in supporting the batteries 
around the Chancellor house, which had been massed to resist the troops of 
Jackson, now led by Stuart. It was here exposed to a severe fire of musketry 
and artillery. Here Major Patton was mortally wounded by a piece of shell. 
The men under Lieutenant-Colonel McCreary were hotly engaged during the 
early part of the day, and, with the troops on their right, successfully resisted 
repeated assaults of the enemy under Anderson and McLaws, and completely 
foiled all attempts to turn the left and reach Hancock's main line of battle. 
When the army fell back towards the river, the troops upon this skirmish line 
failed to receive the order to retire, and fell into the enemy's hands, most of 
the detail from the One Hundred and Forty- fifth being among the captured. 

The Second Corps reached the field of Gettysburg on the morning of the 
2d of July, the First Division taking position on the left center, and in rear 
of the line taken up by the Third Corps. Towards evening, and when the 
lines of the Third Corps had been shattered and driven back, the division was 
sent to their relief The brigade, now led by Colonel Brooke, passed over the 
low grounds to the right of Little Round Top and, crossing the road leading 
out to the Peach Orchard, soon came upon the Wheat Field, where the battle 
had raged and was now raging fearfully. With great daring Brooke led his 
devoted band against the enemy, holding the fastnesses of wood and rock 
wrenched from the Third Corps, drove him in confusion from his dearly- 
bought ground, and silenced a battery which was annoying the Union troops. 
But the advantage, so bravely won, could not be held ; for the rebels, in heavy 
force, were flanking the position on the right and exposing the brigade to 
capture or annihilation, and no alternative existed but to retire. The One 
Hundred and Forty-fifth held the extreme right of the brigade in this terrible 
encounter, and suffered severely. It entered the battle two hundred strong, 
and lost in killed and wounded mpre than eighty men. On the 3d the regi- 
ment was posted with the division on the left of the corps, and, during the fierce 
struggle of the afternoon, was exposed to a fearful artillery fire, but in the 
infantry engagement which followed, was not involved, the enemy being 
repulsed before it could reach the scene of close conflict. 

During the following winter the thinned ranks of the regiment were filled 



History of Warren County. 



by new recruits, so that at the opening of the spring campaign of 1864 it was 
ready to again assail the enemy, with nearly its original strength in numbers. 
The Rapidan was crossed on the 5th of May, and the enemy under Lee was 
met in the Wilderness. Upon arriving at the Po River, Hancock, who com- 
manded the Second Corps, found the enemy on the opposite bank, in a good 
defensive position, well fortified. In the face of these obstacles, Hancock, on 
the afternoon of the loth, threw a portion of his command across, but subse- 
quently, by order of General Meade, attempted to withdraw it. The enemy, 
discovering this retrograde movement, immediately attacked with great spirit 
and determination. The brigades of Brooke and Brown, the former of which 
included the One Hundred and Forty-fifth, received the weight of the blow; 
but so determined was the front they presented, and so deadly the volleys that 
poured into the faces of the foe, that he was forced to retire. At this juncture 
the woods in the rear of these two brigades took fire from the enemy's shells, 
making their position one of great peril. They finally recrossed the river, 
but not without having sustained serious loss, some of the wounded perishing 
in the flames, from which it was impossible to rescue them. 

Failing to carry the enemy's position by direct assault, General Grant 
ordered a blow at his left. The Second Corps was selected to deliver it. 
Moving over from the extreme right to the left of the Union line, under cover 
of the darkness of the night of the i ith, Hancock attacked at dawn of the 12th. 
Barlow's Division had the advance, Brooke's and Miles's Brigades in the first 
line. Brown's and Smyth's in the second. The enemy was taken by surprise. 
His skirmish line was swept away with but little opposition, and the abatis 
crossed and the intrenchments carried before he fully realized the situation. 
But the struggle soon commenced in earnest, and was at close quarters until he 
was forced to yield the ground, large captures of men and material being made. 
Attempts to carry his inner line were unsuccessful, and he struggled fiercely to 
regain his lost works, piling the ground with his slain, but to no purpose. 
The One Hundred and Forty-fifth was in the lead in this assault and lost heav- 
ily. The struggle was continued until the 20th, when the Union army again 
moved forward and crossed the North Anna, only to encounter again the 
enemy in impregnable works. 

The Second Corps was but little engaged here, and upon recrossing the 
stream pushed on to Cold Harbor, where, in face of a defiant enemy and over 
difficult ground, it charged close up to his intrenchments, but failed to carry 
them. The ground gained was held, and a line of fortifications was thrown 
up. So close were the opposing lines here, that a stone could be easily tossed 
from one to the other. It was instant death to expose any vital part of the 
person. The regiment again suffered severely in gaining and holding this 
position. 

On the 12th of June the corps withdrew from its position at Cold Harbor, 



One Hundred and Forty-Fifth Regiment. 223 

and on the night of the 14th the First Division crossed the James. After a long 
and fatiguing march it arrived in front of Petersburg, and on the evening of 
the 1 6th three brigades of the division charged at different points and inde- 
pendently of each other. The movement proved disastrous to the troops en- 
gaged, and Lieutenant-Colonel McCreary, commanding the One Hundred and 
Forty-fifth, together with eight other commissioned officers, and about eighty 
enlisted men belonging to the regiment, were taken prisoners. The men were 
hurried away to Andersonville, and the officers to Macon, and were afterwards 
held at Charleston, Savannah, and Columbia, being kept in confinement until 
March, 1865, enduring all the hardships and sufferings which at this period 
were visited upon Union prisoners of war, many yielding up their lives. Only 
about two hundred men were present for duty when the charge was made, and 
of this number about fifty were either killed or wounded. On the 22d of 
July the regiment was again warmly engaged, and in resolutely attempting to 
hold their position against a superior force of the enemy, a number were killed, 
wounded, and captured, among the latter Major Lynch, then in command of 
the survivors. 

During the remainder of the summer the handful of men left was ever at 
the post of duty in the trenches, and almost constantly under fire. It partici- 
pated in the battles of Reams's Station and Deep Bottom, sustaining losses in 
each. It spent the fall and winter in the trenches, in close proximity to the 
worried enemy, engaged in picket and fatigue duty. Upon the opening of 
the spring campaign of 1865 the corps was early put in motion, and in the 
battle of Five Forks the division was detached and sent to the aid of Sheri- 
dan, rendering efficient service. After the surrender of Lee the regiment 
returned through Richmond with the corps, to Alexandria, and a few days 
later participated in the grand review at Washington, D. C. It was mustered 
out of service on the 31st of May, and arrived at Erie, Pa., on the 5th of June, 
when it was disbanded. 

Its members, credited to Warren county, were as follows : 

Company F. 

Captain Kimball H. Stiles, discharged June 16, 1864. 

First Lieutenant Richard Magill, discharged March 30, 1862. 

First Lieutenant Jeremiah Birtcil, discharged June 17, 1864. 

Second Lieutenant Stephen H. Evans, discharged March 30, 1863. 

Second Lieutenant Louis B. Carlile, discharged May 17, 1865. 

First Sergeant Charles C. Merritt, commissioned captain May 22, 1865, 
not mustered ; mustered out with company. 

Sergeant John L. Cohell, commissioned first lieutenant May 22, 1865, not 
mustered ; mustered out with company. 

Sergeant Charles H. Hill, mustered out with company. 



224 History of Warren County. 

Sergeant William H. Broughton, mustered out with company. 

Sergeant O. S. Brown, died, date unknown, of wounds received in action. 

Sergeant John T. Roberts, died at Alexandria, Va., June 2i, 1864, of 
wounds received in action. 

Sergeant Nicholas Sheppard, not accounted for. 

Sergeant Gregory L. Root, wounded at Chancellorsville ; discharged, date 
unknown. 

Corporal Benjamin Richards, mustered out with company. 

Corporal Jonathan Lemon, mustered out with company. 

Corporal Henry Gibbons, mustered out with company. 

Corporal Marvin Gilson, taken prisoner ; discharged by general order June 
29, 1865. 

Corporal John Stewart, discharged by general order June 24, 1865. 

Corporal Darius W. Hunter, died January 4 of wounds received at Spott- 
sylvania C. H., Va., May 10, 1864. 

Corporal Jethro Doty, discharged on surgeon's certificate, 1863. 

Corporal Aaron M. Vincent, not accounted for. 

Corporal Wilton M. Lindsey, discharged on surgeon's certificate January 
27, 1863. 

Corporal J. H. Richardson, discharged February, 1863, for wounds received 
at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862. 

Privates. 

George W. Alcorn, captured; died at Andersonville July 28, 1864. 
Richard J. Arters, killed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862. 
Thomas Acox, died near Falmouth, Va., November, 1862. 
George W. Arters, discharged on surgeon's certificate, date unknown. 
William Berkey, mustered out with company. 
Henry R. Baker, mustered out with company. 
Joseph J. Burnett, mustered out with company. 

William H. Barnhart, prisoner; discharged by general order June 29, 1S65. 
Sullivan Baker, died 1862. 

J. C. Bennesholtz, killed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862. 
Jolin Belford, captured ; died at Andersonville, Ga., July 5, 1864. 
Frederick Birch, killed at Spottsylvania C. H. May 12, 1864. 
John D. Burdick, dishonorably discharged February 15, 1867, expiration 
of term. 

Lloyd Bailey, not accounted for. 

Lewis Bimber, discharged on surgeon's certificate, date unknown. 

James Conrad, mustered out with company. 

Shamb't Chambers, died February 2, 1863, near Washington, D. C. 

Stephen Chambers, died March 30, 1863, near Washington, D. C. 



One Hundred and Forty-Fifth Regiment. 225 



Philemon Clark, killed at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. 

Samuel S. Clark, died, date unknown. 

J. Clonay, died at Andersonville, Ga., September 22, 1864. 

Thomas Clark, killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1864. 

Christian Cheeks, died at Andersonville, Ga., date unknown. 

Thomas A. Cox, died at Falmouth, Va., December 2, 1862. 

Daniel Cochran, died, date unknown, of wounds received in action. 

Henry Cope, discharged for wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va. 

James Donald, discharged by general order June 24, 1865. 

James Deacon, died at Andersonville, Ga., date unknown. 

James R. Dye, transferred to Company A, 53d P. V., date unknown. 

John J. Gorman, died at Harper's Ferry October 20, 1862. 

Charles W. Grove, died at Florence, S. C, date unknown. 

William A. Goodhard, discharged on surgeon's certificate, date unknown. 

James N. G. Graham, not accounted for. 

John Gunn, discharged for wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va. 

William Gunn, discharged for wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va. 

Leonard Horn, died at Florence, S. C, date unknown. 

Henry Holliworth, died January 4, 1864, buried at Culpepper, Va. 

David E. Jones, died at Andersonville, Ga., September 26, 1864. 

Eli Jason, discharged for wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va. 

Ransom Kendall, died December 23, 1863. 

Jesse Knightlinger, died October 7, 1864, of wounds received in action. 

Samuel C. King, died as a prisoner at Salisbury, N. C. 

Virgil Libbey, died at Philadelphia, Pa., June 24, 1864. 

Joshua Lloyd, died at Andersonville, Ga., September 20, 1864. 

Morris J. Lonnen, not accounted for. 

George W. Magee, absent, sick, at muster out. 

Edward Mellen, discharged by general order June 24, 1865. 

John Martin, discharged by general order September 8, 1865. 

Brooks Minker, discharged by general order July 22, 1865. 

Samuel May, died September i, 1863. 

Thomas J. Magee, died, date unknown. 

William Magee, died at Charleston, S. C, date unknown. 

George B. Miller, killed at Bristoe Station, Va., October 13, 1863. 

Isaac Magee, not accounted for. 

James L. Magill, discharged on surgeon's certificate, 1862. 

O. Willard Miller, discharged on surgeon's certificate April, 1863. 

David McKinley, mustered out with company. 

Owen McClure, discharged by general order July 5, 1865. 

Charles H. McCoy, not accounted for. 

Sidney McKee, discharged on surgeon's certificate October, 1862. 

Samuel Parrish, discharged by general order June 29, 1865. 



226 History of Warren County. 

John M. Pearce, died June 4, 1863, of wounds received in action. 

P. Quinn, captured; died at Richmond, Va., March 3, 1864. 

Simeon J. Roosa, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 

John Rutledge, killed at Fredericksburg December 13, 1862. 

George S. Richardson, transferred to 53d P. V. 

C. J. Richardson, discharged for wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa. 

William H. Rungan, not accounted for. 

Harrison Stoddard, mustered out with company. 

Byron Sutherland, discharged by general order July i, 1865. 

George W. Shay, captured ; died, date unknown. 

William Shreve, died December 19, 1862. 

Reuben Swaggart, died January 20, 1863. 

John P. Small, died at Philadelphia, Pa., August 11, 1863. 

Edward Spangler, died June 19, 1864. 

Walter R. Stanton, not accounted for. 

John D. Stedwell, discharged for wounds received in action. 

John Stewart, discharged for wounds received in action. 

Jacob Smith, substitute, not accounted for. 

James Thompson, mustered out with company. 

Charles Thompson, killed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862. 

John Thompson, died November 22, 1862. 

John Tuttle, killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 

Abraham L. Van Epps, mustered out with company. 

Henry Van Keuren, not accounted for. 

Lewis A. Van Tassel, discharged on surgeon's certificate, date unknown. 

Samuel L. Willard, mustered out with company. 

Alex. C. Williams, mustered out with company. 

Thomas Williams, mustered out with company. 

Andrew J. Westfall, discharged by general order May 29, 1865. 

William T. Westfall, discharged for wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va. 

George Wheeler, discharged on surgeon's certificate June, 1863. 

William Whitman, discharged on surgeon's certificate. 

George W. Williams, discharged on surgeon's certificate. 

Hiram K. Young, captured; died at Andersonville, Ga., October 17, 1864 ; 
grave 1 1 ,040. 

The foregoing roster of Company F tells a remarkable story. Thus, of the 
one hundred and thirteen men who belonged to it, all of whom, with a few 
exceptions, were mustered into service August 20, 1862, ten were killed in bat- 
tle; six died of wounds received in action; fourteen died from neglect and 
starvation in rebel prison pens, and seventeen died of disease in United States 
hospitals, making a total death-roll of forty-seven. Ten were discharged by 
reason of wounds received in battle, and only eighteen men, good and true, 
were mustered out with the company. 



One Hundred and Fifty-First Regiment. 227 



CHAPTER XXn. 

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIRST AND ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-NINTH 

REGIMENTS. 

One Hundred and Fifty-first Regiment — Company F Recruited in Warren County — 
Regimental Organization — Colonel Harrison Allen, of Warren, in Command ^ Joins the Army 
of the Potomac — Assigned to the First Corps — The Chancellorsville Campaign — The Weary 
March to Gettysburg — The Battle — Heroic Conduct During the First Day's Fight — Fright- 
ful Losses — Retiring through the Town to a New Position — Continuance of the Battle — 
Victory, Though at a Fearful Cost — The Regiment Highly Complimented by General Doubleday 
— It.s Warren County Men — One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment, Otherwise Fourteenth 
Cavalry — Names of Its Warren County Members — Regiment Organized at Pittsburg — Its 
Field Officers — Ordered to Harper's Ferry — Campaigning in the Shenandoah Valley — At- 
tached to General Averell's Command — A Series of Raids and Battles — Brilliant Success 
Attending the Raid on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad — Great Destruction of Rebel Prop- 
erty — A March over the Alleghenies in Midwinter — Swimming Icy Torrents and Swollen Riv- 
ers — Co-operating with General Crook — Hunter's Lynchburg Campaign — Another Terrible 
March Accomplished — Details of Other Feats Performed and Battles Fought — Close of the 
War — Transferred to Fort Leavenworth — Muster Out. 

One Hundred and Fifty- first Regiment — Nine Months' Service. 

COMPANY F of this organization was recruited in Warren county by Cap- 
tain Harrison Allen, who had served for a few months as major of the 
Tenth Reserve. It left Warren borough Thursday morning October 23, 1862, 
and proceeded to Harrisburg, the regimental rendezvous, where it was mustered 
into service on the 30th of the same month. A few days later Captain Allen 
was commissioned colonel of the regiment, George F. McFarland, of Juniata 
county, lieutenant-colonel, and John W. Young, of Susquehanna county, major. 

The regiment moved forward towards Washington on the 26th of No- 
vember, and upon its arrival encamped on Arlington Heights. Soon after it 
was attached to the brigade commanded by Colonel D'Utassay, and with that 
command performed picket duty at Union Mills for several weeks. About 
the middle of February, 1863, it was transferred to Belle Plain, where it was 
assigned to a brigade, for a time commanded by Colonel James R. Porter, but 
subsequently by General Thomas A. Rowley, known as the First Brigade of 
the Third Division of the First Corps, General Doubleday commanding the 
division, and General Reynolds the corps. 

Just previous to the opening of the Chancellorsville campaign, the Third 
Division was sent to Port Conway, on the Lower Rappahannock, for a 
diversion in favor of the operations soon to commence. The movement was 
successful, inducing "Stonewall " Jackson to move, with his entire corps and 
train, to a point on the opposite bank. The division was out forty-six hours, 
during thirty-six of which the rain fell incessantly, making the march a diffi- 



228 History of Warren County. 

cult and trying one. The command was present at the battle of Chancellors- 
ville, but it appears that it did little more than to skirmish with the enemy 
without loss. 

Gettysburg was the one battle wherein the One Hundred and Fifty-first 
won all of its honor and glory. After weary days of forced marches at the 
rate of thirty-five miles per day, the First Brigade, now commanded by Colonel 
C. Biddle, in conjunction with its corps, the First, and the Eleventh Corps, 
arrived upon the field of battle (to this time chiefly maintained upon the Union 
side by Buford's cavalry) at half-past ten A. M. of July i, and took position upon 
the extreme left flank of the corps, the One Hundred and Fifty-first, under 
command of Lieutenant-Colonel McFarland, holding the left of the brigade 
line. As it moved into position it was saluted by the booming of cannon and 
the rattle of musketry, and soon was whispered the sad intelligence of the fall 
of General Reynolds. Without delay it was pushed forward by orders of Gen- 
eral Rowley, now in command of the division, the men unslinging knapsacks 
as they marched, and advanced obliquely to the top of a ridge to the west 
of the Theological Seminary, where it remained some time. All firing now 
ceased for nearly an hour, the enemy having been driven back, and General 
Archer captured with eight hundred of his men. About noon, however, the 
enemy again opened fire on both front and right. The latter being a flank fire, 
to which the brigade was exposed, it was ordered back into the hollow, and 
here, supporting Cooper's Battery, and subjected to a constant fire from the 
enemy's artillery, it maintained its position for two hours and a half, only vary- 
ing its line to avoid the destructive cross-fire of the enemy. At half-past two 
P. M. the regiment was detached from the brigade by General Rowley, to be 
held as a reserve, and was posted behind a fence along the south end of Sem- 
inary Grove, and facing north. A few moments later it changed front forward 
on the left company, and occupied a temporary breastwork, erected by the 
Second (Robinson's) Division earlier in the day, just in rear of the seminary, 
facing west. By this time the enemy had concentrated in large force and 
began closing in. With only this single regiment in reserve, and with but a 
single line, Doubleday was opposing thrice his numbers, coming on three lines 
deep, and reaching out far beyond him on either flank. This great pressure 
soon began to tell upon the integrity of the Union line. A gap, occasioned by 
severe losses, was soon made between the brigades of Biddle and Meredith, of 
Rowley's Division, which was threatening to prove fatal to the entire left wing. 
Into this gap, by order of General Rowley, the One Hundred and F'ifty-first was 
thrown, to stay the tide which was fast sweeping on — the last reserve thrown 
into action. In perfect order it moved forward and closed up the broken line, 
Company D standing directly in front of, and about twenty-five yards distant 
from, the point of woods where General Reynolds was killed. The fighting 
now became terrific, and the losses of the enemy in front of the regiment were 



One Hundred and Fifty-P'irst Regiment. 229 

heavy. But the contest was too unequal to continue long. The one atten- 
uated line was terribly cut up. The celebrated Iron Brigade, having borne the 
brunt of the battle for five hours, was finally withdrawn, thus exposing the 
right of the One Hundred and Fifty-first. The regiments on its left were like- 
wise overpowered, and one after another was forced back, until this was left 
almost alone to resist the enemy's raking fire. Finally, when more than half its 
number had fallen, the order was given to retire. At the barricade of rails in 
the edge of the grove back of the seminary it again took position, where frag- 
ments of other regiments had assembled, and as the enemy advanced a deadly 
fire was delivered upon them, which again checked their victorious advance. 
But here a new danger threatened. Finding that he could not walk over even 
the remnants of the First Corps, by direct advance, the wily rebel leader had 
sent a heavy force to envelop the Union left. The movement was speedily 
successful, and before a warning of the enemy's presence had been given, the 
regiment received a heavy enfilading volley, by which Lieutenant-Colonel Mc- 
Farland was shot down, receiving severe wounds in both legs, necessitating 
the amputation of one, and large numbers of the men were disabled. The 
moment had come when it could no longer stand the repeated blows of an 
overpowering enemy, and with remnants of other commands it retreated rap- 
idly towards the town of Gettysburg. General Early, who had closed in on 
the extreme Union right, was already in the streets, and here, the way being 
impeded by trains and disorganized masses of troops, a number of the regi- 
ment fell into the enemy's hands. 

Upon its arrival on Cemetery Hill the regiment numbered but ninety-two 
men. This number was soon after increased to about one hundred and twenty 
by the arrival of stragglers and others who had been cut off from the column 
in passing through the town. Captain Owens was now in command. About 
five o'clock P. M. of the 2d the command was marched on the double-quick to 
the support of Sickies's troops. In moving down the Taneytown Road, and 
when approaching Round Top, the line of the brigade was broken by troops 
moving in a diagonal direction across its path, and the One Hundred and Fifty- 
first, with the Twentieth New York State Militia, became separated from the 
rest of the brigade, and amidst the great confusion prevailing failed to regain 
their position. Finding themselves thus cut off, or lost, as it were. Colonel 
Gates and Captain Owens decided to act as an independent command, and 
moved up on the front line, taking position on the left of the Second Corps, 
where it remained during the night. When, on the afternoon of the 3d, the 
enemy made his grand charge, these two regiments hastened to the right to 
to the support of the troops at the menaced front. Reaching a knoll where a 
battery of the Second Corps was posted, and in front of which the enemy was 
advancing, they made a stand and assisted in driving the enemy from a slash- 
ing, in which he had taken refuge from a flank attack of Stannard's (Vermont) 



230 History of Warren County. 

Brigade. The enemy was finally driven at all points, many throwing down 
their arms and surrendering, and the great, dear-bought victory was won. At 
this point Adjutant Samuel T. Allen, brother of Colonel Allen, was severely 
wounded. On the morning of the 4th these regiments rejoined their brigade. 

Of the twenty-one officers and four hundred and sixty-six enlisted men of 
this regiment, who went into battle, two officers and sixty-six men were killed, 
twelve officers and one hundred and eighty-seven men were wounded, and one 
hundred were missing. The brave Lieutenant-Colonel McFarland and his 
regiment received the highest meed of praise from General Doubleday, who 
said: "I can never forget the services rendered me by this regiment, directed 
by the gallantry and genius of McFarland. I believe they saved the First 
Corps, and were among the chief instruments to save the Army of the Poto- 
mac, and the country from unimaginable disaster." Colonel Allen, who had been 
passing some time at home on leave of absence, returned to his command just 
as the battle ended, and continued with it until its muster out of service, at 
Harrisburg on the 27th of July, 1863. 

The Warren county men who served in this regiment were reported as 
follows : 

Field and Staff. 

Colonel Harrison Allen, promoted from captain Company F November 1 1, 
1862; mustered out with regiment. About two years later or March 13, 1865, 
was commissioned brevet brigadier-general. 

Adjutant Samuel T. Allen, mustered out with regiment ; wounded. 

Company F.' 

Captain Harrison Allen, promoted to colonel November 11, 1862. 
Captain John H. Mitchell, mustered out with company. 
First Lieutenant William 0. Blodgctt, mustered out with company. 
Second Lieutenant Theodore Chase, mustered out with company. 
First Sergeant James L. Lott, mustered out with company. 
Sergeant Paul W. Brown, mustered out with company. 
Sergeant Robert E. Miller, absent, sick, at muster out. 
Sergeant Benjamin F. Miller, absent, sick, at muster out. 
Sergeant A. D. Frank, mustered out with company. 
Corporal Sylvanus Walker, in hospital at muster out. 
Corporal George Merchant, absent, sick, at muster out. 
Corporal Leander W. Wilcox, mustered out with company. 
Corporal Nathan J. Cooper, mustered out with company. 
Corporal Robert T. Cummings, mustered out with company. 
Corporal Raymond B. Jones, absent in hospital at muster out. 



'Those whose names are italicized were wounded at Gettysburg. 



One Hundred and Fifty-First Regiment. 231 

Corporal Samuel A. Tnttlc, mustered out with company. 
Corporal Clifford Wetmore, mustered out with company. 
Corporal Nathaniel A. Billings, discharged on surgeon's certificate January 
5. 1863. 

Musician Ralph F. Ames, discharged on surgeon's certificate June 2, 1863. 

Privates. 

Robert Abbott, mustered out with company. 

John W. Allen, absent in hospital at muster out. 

George W. Briggs, mustered out with company. 

Ichabod Buck, mustered out with company. 

James Bates, mustered out with company. 

Richard Barlow, mustered out with company. 

Jared F. Bartlett, mustered out with company. 

John C. Bagley, mustered out with company. 

Richard Brooks, mustered out with company. 

Jehiel Can; absent in hospital at muster out. 

William C. Carr, mustered out with company. 

Charles S. Chapman, absent, sick, at muster out. 

Lafayette Cole, mustered out with company. 

Perry F. Chandler, mustered out with company. 

Isaac Culbertson, discharged on surgeon's certificate April 4, 1863. 

James Cotton, died July 4, of wounds received in battle July I, 1S63. 

Ithiel Dodd, mustered out with company. 

Nathan Dodd, died at Washington, D. C, June 15, 1863. 

Abram A. Enos, mustered out with company. 

Jacques Guentl, mustered out with company. 

Andrew Gauts, mustered out with company. 

David W. Gibson, mustered out with company. 

William H. Guignon, mustered out with company. 

William Guy, absent in hospital at muster out. 

John G. Gregory, died near Union Mills, Va., December 31, 1862. 

James Green, killed at Gettysburg July i, 1863. 

Pardon Hazeltine, absent, sick, at muster out. 

Clinton Hazeltine, mustered out with company. 

Marcus Jaquay, killed at Gettysburg July i, 1863. 

John Knupp, absent in hospital at muster out. 

Wilbur Kimball, killed at Gettysburg July i, 1863. 

Lodewick Loveland, mustered out with company. 

Alfred C. Lacy, mustered out with company. 

Frank Lyon, died July 19 of wounds received in battle July i, 1863. 

John Myers, absent, sick, at muster out. 



232 History ok Warren County. 

Isaac W. Mott, mustered out with company. 
James M. Miller, mustered out with company. 
Edzviit Mattcson, mustered out with company. 

John W. Morrison, discharged on surgeon's certificate March 21, 1863. 
Peter Miller, died January 10, 1863. 
John Mclutyre, mustered out with company. 
Christopher VV. McKelvey, mustered out with company. 
James McManus, mustered out with company. 
James E. Norris, mustered out with company. 
Marvin Norris, absent, sick, at muster out. 
George Newsbuckle, mustered out with company. 
F. E. Perkins, mustered out with company. 
John J. Patchin, mustered out with company. 
David B. Peck, mustered out with company. 
Daniel Porter, wounded and missing in action July i, 1863. 
Pearson C. Phillips, mustered out with company. 
James Park, discharged on surgeon's certificate March 14, 1863. 
Norman C. Smith, mustered out with company. 
Orlando Smith, mustered out with company. 
Williavi Swectland, mustered out with company. 
William P. Starrett, mustered out with company. 
Hiram Stnrdevant, mustered out with company. 
Stephen Sweet, mustered out with company. 

John Stanton, captured at Gettysburg; mustered out with company. 
James Stanton, mustered out with company. 
Israel Slye, mustered out with company. 
Orin H. Slye, mustered out with company. 
George A. Schuyler, mustered out with company. 
Samuel A. Samuelson, mustered out with company. 
Walter Thompson, mustered out with company. 
D. T. Van Vechten, mustered out with company. 
Charles Walker, mustered out with company. 

Daniel Weed, wounded near Union Mills January, 1863 ; mustered out with 
company. 

M. G. Whcelock, mustered out with company. 

Philander Wright, mustered out with company. 

Charles D. Way, absent, sick, at muster out. 

Lyman D. Willson, captured at Gettysburg; mustered out with company. 

Robert Young, killed at Gettysburg July 1, 1863. 

One llUNDKKI) .\N1) FlKIV-NINTIl REGIMENT FOURTEENTH CaVAERV. 

On tiie 26th of .September, 1862, First Lieutenant George R. Wetmore, 
with some thirty or more men recruited for the cavalry service, left Warren 



One Hundred and Fifty-Ninth Regiment. 233 

for Erie to join another detachment under Captain Miles, and thus was formed 
the command subsequently known as Company I, of the Fourteenth Cavalry. 
The men who left with Lieutenant VVetmore were named as follows : Quarter- 
master-sergeant, Reuben Mason ; Sergeant David R. Alexander ; Corporals 
Allen E. B. Mann, William V. Ford, John S. Turner, Horace Robinson ; Sad- 
dler Bennett M. Metier ; Privates John P. Baxter, Edmund R. Cowell, Levi 
W. Crouch, Van Rensselaer Farey, M. D. Ford, Elias Frear, Francis H. Free- 
man, Albert G. Hamblin, Francis Hook, Philip Hoffman, Charles L. Jeffords, 
John C. Jordan, Patrick Keefe, Alvah H. Mann, L. Phillips, William Prindle, 
Reuben Rhoads, Joseph B. Rhinehart, Joseph Sands, Leroy Turner, James 
Upton, John Upton, William H. Wentworth, Ashley F. Winchester, and Rich- 
ard W. Winchester. 

The regiment rendezvoused in camp near Pittsburgh, where, on the 24th 
of November, a regimental organization was completed by the choice of James 
M. Schoonmaker as colonel ; William Blakely, lieutenant-colonel ; Thomas 
Gibson, Shadrack Foley, and John M. Daily, majors. On the same day the 
regiment moved forward towards Hagerstown, Md., where horses, arms, and 
accoutrements were received and a spirited training for cavalry service com- 
menced. On the 28th of December the command moved to Harper's Ferry, 
and went into camp on the Charlestown Pike, the advance post of General 
Kelly's command. It was here actively engaged in picketing all the approaches 
from the south and east, and scouting the region on both sides of the Shenan- 
doah River, extending far into the passes of the Blue Ridge, and occasionally 
skirmishing with the guerrilla bands of White and Imboden. On the night of 
April 13, 1863, Lieutenant Wetmore, in command of the picket guard, hand- 
somely repulsed an attack of dismounted rebel cavalry on the Keyes Ford 
road, and was highly complimented in general orders by the general in com- 
mand. 

Early in May, 1863, the regiment was attached to General Averell's com- 
mand, and for a time assisted in holding the towns of Phillippi, Beverly, and 
Webster, in guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and in numerous scouts 
and movements against the enemy. When the rebel army retreated from the 
field of Gettysburg the regiment joined in the pursuit, and formed a junction 
with the Army of the Potomac at Williamsport, Md., on the 14th of July; but 
Lee had made good his escape across the Potomac the day before. 

On the 4th of August General Averell moved with his command on what 
was known as the Rocky Gap raid. When approaching Moorcfield, Captain 
Kerr, of the Fourteenth, with a detachment of about fifty men who had been 
ordered to move on a mountain road to the left, after having captured some 
guerrillas, fell into an ambuscade, and though fighting manfully was worsted, 
and made his escape with only a fragment of his command, with difficulty. 
Moving through Petersburg and Franklin, continually skirmishing by the way. 



234 History of Warren County. 

and driving " Mudwall" Jackson, after a brisk engagement at Warm Springs, the 
command, on the 29th of August, encountered the rebel General Jones near 
Greenbrier White Sulphur Springs, and at once attacked. The Fourteenth 
dismounted, and held the right of the line. The battle raged fiercely until 
nightfall. The enemy contested the ground stubbornly, but he was pushed 
back about three hundred yards. Three determined infantry charges of the 
rebels were handsomely repulsed by the Fourteenth. During the night skir- 
mishing was kept up, the enemy delivering an occasional volley. Assistance 
was momentarily expected from General Scammon, commanding in the Kana- 
wha Valley, and who was supposed to be at Lewisburg, ten miles distant. 
The enemy was reinforced during the night, and the battle was renewed on the 
following morning; but no assistance coming to the Union forces, and their 
ammunition running low, a retreat was ordered. The loss in the Fourteenth 
was eighty in killed, wounded, and missing. Beverly was reached on the 
31st, the command having been on the march or closely engaged for twenty- 
seven consecutive days, and traveled over six hundred miles. 

On the 1st of November General Averell again led his command south- 
ward on the Droop Mountain raid. Crossing Cheat Mountain, he reached 
Huntersville on the 4th, whence, after detaching the Fourteenth Pennsylvania 
and the Third West Virginia Cavalry, he sent them by a detour from the main 
road on which he advanced, to cut off a brigade of the enemy, said to be sta- 
tioned at Greenbrier Bridge, under command of " Mudwall " Jackson. But 
both roads were found obstructed by fallen timber, and the wily rebel made 
good his escape. At Droop Mountain the Fourteenth came up with the 
enemy and drove him rapidly to the summit. Here he had intrenched, and 
was prepared with artillery to fight, but by flanking the position with infantry, 
and pressing closely in front with dismounted cavalry, he was driven with the 
loss of two pieces of artillery and almost his entire train. Pursuit was made 
as far as Lewisburg, but the troops failed to again overtake him. 

By easy marches the command then returned to New Creek, on the Balti- 
more and Ohio Railroad, with the expectation of going into winter quarters ; 
but on the 8th of December Averell was again in the saddle, faced for Salem. 
By rapid marching, much of the time in the midst of heavy rains, he arrived 
at his destination on the i6th, and immediately commenced the work of 
destruction of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and the immense stores of 
the rebel army there collected. Several long bridges, and miles of track were 
destroyed, besides depots, mills, and warehouses, with grain, meat, salt, cloth- 
ing, and merchandise, to the value, as was estimated, of from two to five mil- 
lions of dollars. Intelligence of this daring movement, and the immense 
destruction effected, soon spread, and the enemy in heavy force was moving 
up rapidly on all sides for Avcrell's capture. The retreat was accordingly 
commenced and ])ushcd with all celerity, though greatly retarded by heavy 



One Hundred and Fifty-Ninth Regiment. 235 

rains and swollen streams. The rebels believed that the capture of the entire 
command was sure, and were already debating among themselves upon the 
kind of punishment that should be meted out to the bold " Yankees." By 
skillful demonstrations, however, the route of the column was concealed, and 
Averell succeeded in eluding the hostile forces. " I was obliged " says Aver- 
ell in his report, " to swim my command, and drag my artillery with ropes 
across Craig's Creek, seven times in twenty-four hours." The creek was deep, 
the current strong, and filled with drifting ice. On the 20th, at Jackson 
River, the Fourteenth, while in rear struggling with the wagon trains, which 
could with difficulty be moved, the horses and mules being worn out with inces- 
sant marching, was cut off from the main column by the destruction of the 
bridge, and was supposed at headquarters to have been captured. General 
Early had demanded its surrender under a flag of truce ; but, setting fire to 
the train which was completely destroyed, it forded the stream and made 
good its escape, rejoining the column between Callahan's and White Sulphur 
Springs. That night the command swam the Greenbrier, now swollen to a 
perfect torrent, and, crossing the Allegheny Mountains by an old bridle-path, 
moving the artillery by hand, it finally reached Hillsboro, at the foot of Droop 
Mountain, at midnight, and encamped. The roads were now icy, the horses 
were smooth shod, and to ride was impossible. From this point to Beverly, 
where the troops arrived on the 25th, the cavalrymen walked, leading their 
horses. Here much-needed supplies were received, and proceeding on to Web- 
ster they were moved by rail to Martinsburg, where winter quarters were estab- 
lished. The loss to the regiment in this raid in killed, wounded, and missing, 
was about fifty. Its members, as well as those of other commands, returned 
with shoes worn out and clothing in tatters ; hence, in recognition of the great 
service which these troops had performed, the war department ordered the 
issue of a complete suit of clothing to each member, as a gift from the govern- 
ment ; the only instance, it is believed, of the kind during the war. 

On the 1 2th of April, 1864, the entire command — a full cavalry division 
under General Averell, of which the Fourteenth formed part of the First Brig- 
ade, Colonel Schoonmaker in command — was moved by rail to Parkersburg 
on the Ohio River, from whence it started on the 2d of May on a separate but 
co-operative movement with General Crook's forces through West Virginia, to 
the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. As the command moved forward, ob- 
structed roads and bushwhackers, lying in ambush, were met at every step ; but 
the enemy usually received the worst of it when it came to fighting. It was 
General Averell's purpose to destroy the salt works at Saltville ; but, anticipat- 
ing his designs, the enemy had posted a strong force for its defense, who were 
found well fortified and supplied with artillery. Averell had no guns, and hence,, 
deeming it imprudent to attack, moved on to form a junction with Crook. But 
the enemy had now concentrated a heavy force in his front, and at Cove Gap, 



236 History of Warren County. 

on the morning of the loth, attacked him. After four hours of hard fighting, 
in which the advantage was on the Union side, the enemy brought up artillery 
and Averell was obliged to withdraw. The loss of the Fourteenth in this 
engagement was twelve killed and thirty-seven wounded. Averell then pushed 
on to Blacksburg, on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, destroying bridges 
and stores on the way, and finally came up with Crook at Union, the united 
forces moving on to Lewisburg. Here the two commands remained until the 
3d of June, when they were ordered to Staunton to join the army of General 
Hunter, then moving on the Lynchburg campaign. 

The combined forces moved forward on the 9th and, after several skirmishes 
by the way, appeared in front of Lynchburg on the isth. The enemy's cavalry 
made a stout resistance, but were driven back within the fortifications defend- 
ing the town. During the following night, however, General Early, with an 
entire corps from Lee's army, came up. On the next day considerable fight- 
ing took place, the enemy maintaining his position within the works, and pre- 
pared with ample artillery to make a successful defense. Accordingly, at 
night Hunter gave the order to retire, Schoonmaker's brigade forming the 
rear guard. At Liberty the enemy's advance came up and attacked. For 
four hours this single brigade maintained the contest, holding him in check 
until the main column was well on its way towards the Kanawha Valley. The 
loss in the regiment in the engagement was six killed and eighteen wounded, 
the loss in other regiments of the brigade being much more severe. Subse- 
quently, at a gap in the mountains north of Salem, Rosser's rebel cavalry sud- 
denly attacked and captured thirteen pieces of artillery. Schoonmaker's Brig- 
ade, happening to be just at hand, was ordered in and retook the guns, with 
some prisoners, sustaining a loss in the Fourteenth of two killed and six 
wounded. Hastening forward over mountains and through valleys, parched 
by a summer's sun, the army, after enduring untold sufferings, finally reached 
Parkersburg, whence it returned by rail to Martinsburg. Portions of the com- 
mand, while upon the march to Parkersburg, were five days without food, and 
many died from the combined effects of fatigue and hunger. 

Meanwhile the rebel General Early had advanced down the Shenandoah 
Valley unopposed, crossed into Maryland, and was now thundering at the 
gates of the national capital. Worn down with fighting, marching, and untold 
sufferings and privations by the way. Hunter's troops were in no condition for 
hard marching or fighting. But Averell was not the leader to avoid an en- 
counter when an enemy was near, and accordingly attacked the rebel troops 
at Winchester on the 20th of July, and routed them, capturing one general, 
one colonel, and two hundred men, killing and wounding three hundred, and 
taking four guns and several hundred small arms. The Fourteenth was an 
active participant in this brilliant affair, but only lost three men wounded. 
Four days later, however, the commands of Averell and Crook were attacked 



One Hundred and Fifty-Ninth Regiment. 237 

by Early's combined forces and driven with severe loss, Colonel Mulligan (of 
the Chicago Irish Brigade — otherwise known as the Twenty-third Illinois In- 
fantry, and the hero of the battle of Lexington, Mo., fought in 1861), com- 
manding a brigade, being killed. The command fell back slowly towards the 
Potomac, contesting the ground stubbornly, and finally witlidrew to Hagers- 
town. The enemy followed up, swarmed across the Potomac, and a raiding 
party under McCausland burned the town of Chambersburg, Pa. Meanwhile 
Averell had retired to Greencastle. However, as soon as the line of march of 
McCausland from Chambersburg was ascertained, Averell gave chase. Through 
McConnellsburg and Hancock — where it was reinforced — Berkley Springs 
and Romney, the command pushed forward at headlong speed, and at Moore- 
field, on the south branch of the Potomac, came up with the enemy. The 
charge was sounded and "Chambersburg" was the battle-cry. The Four- 
teenth had the right of the first line. With a wild shout the command dashed 
forward, driving the enemy in confusion, and capturing two of his guns. 
Following up the advantage, the command rushed across the stream, captured 
two more guns, four hundred and twenty prisoners, four hundred horses, kill- 
ing and wounding one hundred men, and completely routing and dispersing 
the combined commands of McCausland, Johnson, Gillmore, and McNeill. The 
loss in the Fourteenth was ten killed and twenty-five wounded. Captain Kerr, 
in command of the regiment, was among the severely wounded. 

The command returned to Martinsburg, and soon after was placed under 
the orders of General Sheridan. On the 19th of September opened that series 
of brilliant engagements under Sheridan, in the Shenandoah Valley, which will 
ever render his name illustrious. In the battle which was fought on that day 
the enemy was driven at all points. The Fourteenth, under command of Cap- 
tain Duncan, was posted on the extreme right of the cavalry division, and 
charged, with great heroism and daring, an earthwork, which it captured. The 
loss was very severe. Captain Duncan being among the killed. Three days 
later it assisted in routing the rebels at Fisher's Hill. On the 27th it was prom- 
inent in the defeat of Fitz Hugh Lee, at Wier's Cave. Again, at Cedar Creek 
on the 19th of October, the men of the Fourteenth, particularly those under 
Captains Miles and Duft", rendered valiant service. Still later, or on the 12th 
of November, the regiment participated in a severe engagment at Front Royal, 
with the rebel General McCausland, defeated him, and captured all of his guns 
and supply trains. The Fourteenth here sustained a loss of fifteen in killed 
and wounded. 

During the following winter, which was passed near Winchester, two ex- 
peditions undertaken by detachments from the regiment, one under Captain 
William W. Miles, on the nth of December, to Millwood, and a second under 
Major Gibson, on the 19th of February, 1865, to Ashby's Gap, resulted disas- 
trously, the commands losing heavily in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Cap- 



238 History of Warren County. 

tain Miles, who commanded the company (I) in which the Warren county men 
were serving, being among the killed. Its fighting, however, ceased with these 
expeditions. The hostiles had deserted the valley. Lee surrendered on the 
9th of April, Mosby on the iSth, and on the 20th of the same month the reg- 
iment was ordered to Washington, D. C, where it remained nearly two months. 
On the nth of June it was ordered to' Louisville, Ky., but while en route its 
destination was changed to Fort Leavenworth, Kans. Soon after its arrival at 
its destination it was consolidated into a battalion of six companies, all surplus 
officers being mustered out. Company A, of the new organization, under Cap- 
tain H. N. Harrison, was detailed as escort to General Dodge, commanding 
the department, and accompanied him on a tour of inspection which extended 
to the Gunpowder River. On the 24th of August the companies remaining 
at the Fort were mustered out of service, and returned in a body to Pittsburgh, 
where they were disbanded. Company A was mustered out on November 2, 
soon after the return from its tour. We will add that Captain George R. Wet- 
more was promoted from first lieutenant to captain of Company I, upon the 
death of Captain Miles, and commanded that company until the consolidation 
mentioned above took pla~e, when he was assigned to the command of Com- 
pany C, of the battalion. He was honorably mustered out with the latter com- 
pany August 24, 1865. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SECOND REGIMENT AND OTHER COMMANDS. 

One Hundred and Eight)' -second of the Line, Otherwise the Tvrenty-fir.st Cavalry — Its 
Warren County Contingent — Serves a Six Months' Terra — Reorganized to Serve for Three 
Years — For Four Months Renders Gallant Service as an Infantry Regiment of the Fifth Corps 

— Its Battles — Remounted and Assigned to Gregg's Division — Sub.^equent Marclies and 
Engagements — Names, etc., of the Warren County Men — One Hundred and Ninety-third 
Regiment — Part of Company I Recruited in Warren County — Regiment Serves One Hun- 
dred Days — Two Hundred and Eleventh Regiment — Term One Year — Contains a Full 
Warren County Company — In Virginia — Makes a Brilliant Record — Roster of Company 6 

— Captain James's Independent Company — An Account of iLs Services — Names of Members 

— Captain Baldwin's Company of Militia of 1862 — List of members. 

One Hundred and Iughty-second Regiment — Twenty-First 
Cavalry. 

ABOUT the 1st of July, 1863, a small detachment of volunteers, who had 
enlisted for a term of six months in the cavalry service, left the town of 
Warren for the regimental rendezvous under the command of Captain Jacob J. 



One Hundred and Eighty-Second Regiment. 239 

Dennison. These men subsequently composed the greater portion of Com- 
pany M, of the Twenty-first Cavalry, of which Captain Dennison became 
the commander. The companies of the regiment were equipped and mounted 
at Camp Couch, near Harrisburg, and were thence sent to camp of instruction 
near Chambersburg. On the 23d of August the regiment was ordered to Har- 
risburg, whence a detachment, consisting of Companies C, E, K, H, L, and, 
M, was sent for duty to Pottsville and Scranton, and Company B to Gettys- 
burg. The remaining five companies, under command of Colonel Boyd, pro- 
ceeded to Harper's Ferry, and during the fall and winter were engaged in 
arduous duty in the department of the Shenandoah. 

In January, 1864, authority was given to reorganize the regiment for three 
years' service, and about the 1st of February its scattered ranks were concen- 
trated at camp, near Chambersburg, where the troops who did not choose to 
re-enlist were mustered out of service; the remainder were mustered for the 
long term, and its depleted ranks were filled with new recruits. About the 
middle of May the regiment was ordered to Washington, where, upon its arrival, 
it was dismounted, armed and equipped as infantry, and sent by transport to 
join the Army of the Potomac. It arrived at the front on the 1st of June, 
and was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division of the Fifth Corps, 
where it was associated with the Sixty-second Pennsylvania, and Twenty- 
second and Twenty- third Massachusetts, commanded by Colonel Sweitzer. 
The army was then in front of Cold Harbor, and at noon of the 2d the regi- 
ment was sent to the left of the Fifth Corps, where it was ordered to throw up 
breastworks. These ,'were hardly completed before the enemy opened upon 
it by a flank fire from his artillery, from which Lieutenant Richard Waters was 
instantly killed. On the following morning it was ordered a half mile to the 
right, to the support of a battery, and at seven A. M. the enemy brought his 
twenty-four pounders into play, killing two men and three horses belonging to 
the battery. The regiment was subsequently ordered to the front line, and in 
reaching it was obliged to pass over a grain field, which was raked by the 
enemy's infantry and artillery fire. The advance across this was gallantly 
made, but with a loss of eight killed and nineteen wounded. A galling fire 
was kept up during the entire day from behind the breastworks, and, notwith- 
standing it had this protection, it suffered considerable additional loss, the 
entire number being eleven killed and forty-six wounded. 

On the 1 8th of June the regiment was again engaged in front of Petersburg. 
" We were marched," says a member of the regiment, " over the field where 
the Second Corps had been engaged the day before, and the ground was cov- 
ered with dead. We came to a halt in a woods, where we were ordered to lie 
down. The rebels then commenced to shell us. We lost a great many men, 
killed and wounded. We were ordered to go forward and charge across a 
large field, and came to the Petersburg and Suffolk Railroad. Here we halted 



240 History of Warren County. 

and kept up a brisk fire with the rebels, who were behind their works in front 
of us about half a mile. In the evening we were ordered to charge a large rebel 
fort. We fixed bayonets and went up the hill on a yell, while the rebels opened 
upon us a perfect hail-storm of iron and lead from their muskets and from six- 
teen pieces of artillery. If Cold Harbor was hard, the fight of the 18th was 
harder. We charged to the brow of the second hill, and the rebel fort lay di- 
rectly in front of us, at a distance of about one hundred and fifty yards. Here 
we found that we could go no further. He who went beyond this went to his 
grave. Four times were our colors shot down, and four times were they raised 
again. Finding that we could do no more we halted and formed, and while 
some carried rails and built works, others kept up a heavy fire on the fort, 
which eftectually silenced their artillery. After forming a line of works we lay 
behind them, keeping up a fire with the rebels until morning, when we were 
relieved and taken to the rear." In this engagement the loss was eleven killed, 
seventy-nine wounded, and one missing, among the wounded being many offi- 
cers ; and the command of the regiment consequently devolved upon Major 
Knowles. 

On the 22d the regiment was again engaged on the Jerusalem plank road, 
losing two killed and three wounded. Early in July the Sixty- second Regi- 
ment was mustered out of service by reason of expiration of its term, and the 
Ninety-first Pennsylvania was assigned to the brigade, to the command of 
which Colonel E. M. Gregory succeeded. The regiment remained for some 
time in heavy works near the Ninth Corps line, where it was subjected to a 
vigorous shelling. On the 30th of July, upon the occasion of exploding the 
mine, it was under fire and sustained some loss ; but no advantage was gained, 
and the routine of duty behind the works was resumed. On the 1 8th of August 
a descent was made upon the Weldon Railroad, in which the Twenty-first par- 
ticipated, and was engaged in destroying the track when the enemy attacked ; 
but by the timely arrival of a portion of the Ninth Corps he was repulsed, and 
the portion of the road possessed was held. The loss in the regiment was one 
killed and twenty-seven wounded. 

Early in September the Twenty-first was brigaded with the One Hundred 
and Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania, Major Knowles commanding. About the 
middle of the month, upon the withdrawal of the last-named regiment from 
the front, the Twenty-first was transferred to the First Brigade, General Sick- 
el in command, where it was associated with the One Hundred and Ninety- 
eighth Pennsylvania. On the 30th the brigade joined in a movement to the 
left, and at Poplar Spring Church came upon the enemy's works, which were 
triumphantly carried, with a loss in the Twenty-first of sixteen killed and 
wounded. On the following day the regiment was attacked while lying 
upon the ground, in a large open field, but held its position without serious 
loss. For its gallantry in this engagement it received a complimentary order 



One Hundred and Eighty-Second Regiment. 241 

from General Griffin, in command of the division. With this battle closed 
the connection of the regiment with the infantry arm of the service. 

On the 5th of October the Twenty-first was sent to City Point, where it 
was equipped and mounted, and ordered to the division commanded by Gen- 
eral D. McM. Gregg, in which it was assigned to the First Brigade, composed 
of the First Maine, Sixth and Thirteenth Ohio, Second New York, and Twen- 
ty-first Pennsylvania, commanded by Colonel C. H. Smith. On the 27th of 
October the regiment was in a sharp engagement at the Boydton Plank Road, 
where the division went to the support of the Second Corps, which was hard 
pressed. The fighting was severe, and the Union forces were obliged to 
retire, the cavalry holding the line until the infantry and artillery were well 
out of the way, and then cutting its way out after nightfall. The Twenty-first 
lost three killed, thirty-three wounded, and eighteen missing, among the 
wounded being Captain George F. Cooke, of Warren county. On the 1st of 
December the division proceeded to Stony Creek Station, destroying the sta- 
tion and rebel supplies. The regiment was of the rear guard on the return 
march, and sustained some loss. On the 4th, Company E was detailed for 
duty at headquarters of the Sixth Corps, with which it remained until near the 
close of its service. On the 6th the regiment was again in motion upon the 
Bellefield raid, and on the loth was engaged, losing two killed, five wounded, 
and one lieutenant, John A. Devers, a prisoner. In the mean time Major 
Knowles was promoted to colonel, and Captain Richard Ryckman to major. 

On the 5th of February, 1865, a heavy force of the Union army moved 
across Hatcher's Run, for the purpose of opening the way to the left, and ex- 
tending the lines towards the South Side Railroad. It was met by the enemy, 
and heavy fighting ensued, but the Union forces held the ground. Gregg's 
Cavalry co-operated, and moved on to Dinwiddle Court House, meeting some 
opposition, but having no serious fighting. Colonel Knowles had command 
of the brigade in this expedition. During the winter the Twenty-first was re- 
cruited to the full maximum strength, and on the 1st of March was transferred 
to the Second Brigade of the Second Division, which was composed of the Sec- 
ond, Fourth, Eighth, Sixteenth and Twenty-first Pennsylvania Regiments, com- 
manded by General J. Irvin Gregg. The dismounted men of the Twenty-first, 
comprising nearly half its entire strength, were ordered to City Point, under 
command of Captain James Mickley, and with the dismounted men of the brig- 
ade, participated, under command of Major Oldham, of the Eighth Pennsyl- 
vania, in the final assault upon the defenses of Petersburg. 

" On the 29th of March " says Major Bell, " the cavalry corps moved out 
on the left flank of the army, the Eighth Pennsylvania having the advance. 
By some mistake this regiment mistook the road, which left the Twenty-first 
in advance, and gave it the honor of making the first charge in the campaign, 
striking the rebels near Dinwiddle Court House, carrying their barricades and 



242 History of Warren County. 

capturing some prisoners, from whom important information, pertaining to the 
rebel cavalry under Fitz Hugh Lee, was obtained. The Twenty-first was not 
in the fight of the 31st, which well-nigh proved a disaster, it having been de- 
tailed to hold a bridge over Stony Creek. When it was discovered that the 
cavalry line was unable to hold its ground. Colonel Forsythe, of Sheridan's 
staff, ordered the Twenty-first to throw up a line of works across the road, in 
rear of the court-house, and said, with emphasis, ' This must be held at all haz- 
ards until morning, when the Fifth Corps will be up.' Fortunately the rebels 
did not follow up their advantage, and the regiment was undisturbed during the 
night. The Second Brigade was only partially engaged at Five Forks, it being 
posted to prevent any flanking attacks on the left. On the 5th of April the 
Second Division struck the rebel wagon train and captured a battery, destroyed 
two hundred wagons, and brought in some nine hundred mules. The First 
Brigade made the captures, while the Second and Third did most of the fight- 
ing. Out of two hundred and thirty-four engaged, the Twenty-first lost ninety- 
eight in killed, wounded, and missing in less than half an hour. On the next 
day the regiment was in the fight at Sailor's Creek, capturing a number of 
prisoners. On the 7th the brigade had a sharp, and in a measure disastrous, 
fight at Farmville, in which General Gregg was captured, and the regiment 
sustained some loss, mostly prisoners. At daylight on the 9th the brigade, 
under Colonel Young, of the Fourth, was thrown across the main road to Lynch- 
burg, upon which the rebel army was retreating, and had some sharp work, 
contesting the ground in front while Rosser's Rebel Cavalry hung upon its 
rear. Finally, the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth corps came up, and the 
division turned upon Rosser, who was driven nearly a mile, when he made a 
determined stand, and preparations were made to charge him in force. The 
Third Brigade had the center, and the Twenty-first led on the main Lynch- 
burg road. At the sound of the bugle the regiment dashed forward, driving 
in the rebel skirmish line ; but by the time his main force was reached, it was 
discovered that the regiment was entirely unsupported, and fearfully exposed 
to capture. A precipitate retreat was made, in which some prisoners were 
lost. On its way back it was greeted with the glad tidings that Lee had sur- 
rendered, the other brigades having received the intelligence just as the Twen- 
ty-first went forward." 

From Appomattox Court House the command marched back to Burkesville, 
and shortly after to Petersburg. It had been but a few days in camp when 
Sheridan moved with his entire cavalry corps for North Carolina. Upon his 
arrival at the Dan River, learning that General Johnston had surrendered, he 
turned back, and retired again to Petersburg. Thereafter the brigade of which 
the regiment formed part was sent to Lynchburg, and a detachment to 
Danville, where provost duty was performed until about the middle of June, 
when the Twenty-first was concentrated at Lynchburg. Here on the 8th day 
of July it was mustered out of service. 



One Hundred and Eighty-Second Regiment. 243 

As will be noticed, the active duty of the regiment really commenced on 
the first day of June, 1864, at Cold Harbor, and virtually ended on the 9th of 
April, 1865, at Appomattox Court House, a period of a little more than ten 
months. In that time it had three field officers severely wounded, one staff 
officer slightly wounded ; one died of disease, and one was discharged to accept 
promotion in the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania. Of the line offi- 
cers, four were killed in battle or mortally woundejl, ten were wounded, and 
four were captured. Of the enlisted men, one hundred and forty-seven were 
killed in battle or died of disease, and two hundred and fifty-three were 
wounded. 

The following list embraces the names of the Warren county men who 
joined the regiment for a term of six months, in July, 1863. Those shown as 
transferred were men who, after serving six months, re-enlisted to serve in the 
same regiment for a term of three years : 

Company M. 

First Lieutenant George F. Cooke, transferred to Company H February 
20, 1864; promoted to captain Company H May 1 1, 1864; wounded at Boyd- 
ton Plank Road ; mustered out with company July 8, 1865. 

Second Lieutenant Warren M. Foster, mustered out with company Feb- 
ruary 20, 1864. 

First Sergeant Albert R. Griffith, mustered out with company February 
20, 1864. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant Calvin B. Starrett, mustered out with company 
February 20, 1864. 

Commissary-Sergeant Robert A. Falconer, mustered out with company 
February 20, 1864. 

Sergeant Henry S. Thomas, mustered out with company February 20, 
1864. 

Sergeant John A. Akin, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

Sergeant William M. Gibson, mustered out with company February 20, 
1864. 

Sergeant William T. Allison, transferred to company E January 26, 1864; 
mustered out as sergeant July 8, 1865. 

Sergeant Charles E. Pettis, transferred to Company E January 26, 1864; 
promoted to second lieutenant Company C September i, 1864; to first lieu- 
tenant April 5, 1865 ; mustered out with company July 8, 1865. 

Corporal Romyan Horner, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

Corporal Mason S. Cogswell, mustered out with company February 20, 
1864. 

Corporal Augustus N. Jones, mustered out with company February 20, 



244 History of Warren County. 

Corporal Reuben Barrett, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

Corporal Henry Gates, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

Corporal Luman White, mustered out with company February 20, 1864 

Corporal Levi Hare, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

Corporal Oscar F. Bowers, transferred to Company E January 26, 1864; 
died October 28 of wounds received at Boydton Plank Road October 27, 1864. 

Bugler George F. Lidy, mustered out with company February 20, 1864 

Blacksmith Matthias Amann, mustered out with company February 20, 
1864 

Farrier James Dunn, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

Privates. 

Smith N. Brown, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

James Bump, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

David O. Babbitt, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

William C. Baker, transferred to Company E February 20, 1 864 ; mus- 
tered out with company July 8, 1865. 

William A. Billings, transferred to Company H February 20, 1864. 

Dana L. Bean, transferred to Company F January 26, 1S64; mustered 
out with company July 8, 1865. 

Marion H. Baker, transferred to Company E February 20, 1 864 ; died at 
City Point, Va., June 26 of wounds received at Petersburg June 19, 1864. 

Thomas A. Blanchard, transferred to Company E January 26, 1864; pro- 
moted to sergeant February 20, 1864; to commissary-sergeant September i, 
1864; commissioned first lieutenant June 9, 1865, not mustered; mustered 
out as commissary-sergeant July 8, 1865. 

Joseph Caughlin, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

John Caughlin, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

Henry L. Chapel, transferred to Company E January 26, 1864; mustered 
out with company July 8, 1865. 

Samuel Eicles, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

Peter Fertig, transferred to Company E January 26, i S64 ; promoted to 
sergeant June 30, 1864; mustered out with company July 8, 1865. 

Winficid Harris, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

James W. Hinton, transferred to Company E January 26, 1864; mustered 
out with company July 8, 1865. 

Asa L. Phillips, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 
oseph Pentz, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

De Forest Pratt, transferred to Company E January 26, 1864; died June 
20 of wounds received at Betiiesda Church, Va., June 2, 1864. 

George W. Roper, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

Adelbert Reeves, transferred to Company I February 20, 1864. 



One Hundred and Ninety-Third Regiment. 245 

Charles J. Samuelson, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 
George W. Steele, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 
Elijah Shepard, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 
James Smith, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 
John Z. Walling, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 
Harmon Way, transferred to Company I February 20, 1864; killed at 
Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27, 1864. 

Charles R. Youngs, mustered out with company February 20, 1864. 

One Hundred and Ninety-third Regiment. 

This regiment was recruited in compliance with the call of Governor Cur- 
tin, to serve for one hundred days, upon the occasion of the raid made by the 
rebel cavalryman, Harry Gilmore, upon the railroads leading into Baltimore, 
in July, 1864. Company E was from Lawrence county, and a part of com- 
pany I from Warren. The remaining companies were recruited at Pittsburgh, 
and were from Allegheny county. They rendezvoused at Camp Howe, near 
Pittsburgh, where a regimental organization was eftected on the 19th of July, 
with the following field officers : John B. Clark, colonel ; James W. Ballentinci 
lieutenant-colonel; Horatio K. Tyler, major. 

Soon after its organization it proceeded to Baltimore, and for two weeks 
was encamped at Mankin's Woods, where it formed part of a brigade com- 
manded by Colonel Nagle, and was thoroughly drilled. On the loth of Au- 
gust Company B was ordered to Wilmington, Del., for the performance of pro- 
vost duty, and Colonel Clark was directed to station the remaining companies 
to guard the bridges on the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad, 
with headquarters at Havre-de- Grace, which was promptly executed. About 
three weeks after this disposition had been made. Colonel Clark was ordered 
to turn over his command to Lieutenant-Colonel Ballentine, and proceed with 
Companies A, F, D, and I to Wilmington, and take command of the district. 
This he proceeded to do, and placing the companies which he had taken with 
him in camp, made details from them daily, for various service, as the exigen- 
cies of his duty as commandant of the district required. This disposition re- 
mained unchanged until after the expiration of the term of service, when the 
command assembled at Baltimore, and thence proceeded to Pittsburgh, where 
on the 9th of November it was mustered out of service. Before leaving the 
field, however. Captain McMunn, of Company A, secured the re-enlistment 
of a considerable number of men from the several companies to serve during 
the war, who, upon their arrival at Baltimore, were distributed according to 
their preferences among cavalry and infantry regiments then serving at the 
front. 

Of the Warren county men who served in Company I, Captain George J. 
Whitney is the only one whose name has been ascertained. 



246 History of Warren County. 

Two Hundred and Eleventh Regiment. 

This command was composed of men recruited for a term of one year in 
the counties of Crawford, Jefferson, McKean, Mercer, Erie, Warren, and West- 
moreland. Thus Company A in Crawford, B in Jefferson, C in McKean and 
Jefferson, D in Mercer, F in Erie, G in Warren, and E, H, I, and K in West- 
moreland. The companies assembled at Camp Reynolds, near Pittsburgh, 
where, on the i6th of September, 1864, a regimental organization was effected, 
with the following field officers: James H. Trimble, colonel; Levi A. Dodd, 
lieutenant-colonel ; Augustus A. Mechling, major. 

Soon after its organization it moved to the front, and on the 20th was placed 
in the intrenchments at Bermuda ^Hundred, where it was incorporated with a 
provisional brigade in the Army of the James. It had scarcely reached its 
position when it was ordered to mount the parapets, in full view of, and in 
point blank range of, the enemy's guns. The sudden appearance of the long 
lines of men upon the sand-bags, of which the works were constructed, attracted 
his attention, and he immediately opened upon them with his batteries. Two 
men of Company F were instantly killed ^by a shell. The object of thus ex- 
posing the command was to divert attention from the storming party, which was 
about to move upon Fort Harrison and which gallantly carried that work. 

The picket line, which the regiment was j^required to hold, extended from 
the James River on the right, opposite Dutch Gap, through a dense pine wood 
to an open space where was the regimental encampment. This space, a fourth 
of a mile in width, had been cleared of timber by converting it into an impen- 
etrable slashing, over which an unobstructed view of the enemy was obtained. 
The line after leaving the river was nearly straight until it reached this slash- 
ing, where it made an abrupt bend, leaving the apex of the angle close to the 
enemy's line. At this point many rebel deserters came into the Union lines. 
So common had this practice become that it was proving a serious drain upon 
the rebel strength ; so much so that General Pickett, who was in command, deter- 
mined to stop it. The most friendly relations had existed between the oppos- 
ing picket lines, the men frequently meeting for social conference and barter. 
But on the night of the 17th of November, quietly massing a picked body of 
men, the rebel leader suddenly burst upon the Union pickets, and before they 
could rally, or supports could come to their aid, captured fifty-four of their 
number, seized this projecting angle, and before morning had built a redoubt 
and so strengthened his lines that General Grant, after a careful survey of the 
ground, deemed it inexpedient to attempt to retake it. This was the end of 
the truce on the part of the pickets, hostilities never ceasing afterwards for an 
instant; and so long as the regiment remained on that line the men were obliged 
to hug the breastworks, or lie close in the bomb-proofs. 

On the 27th of November the Two Hundred and Eleventh, with other 
Pennsylvania regiments with which it had been brigaded, was relieved by a 



Two Hundred and Eleventh Regiment. 247 

brigade of colored troops, and was ordered to join tlie Army of tlie Potomac 
on the south side of the Appomattox. These regiments were subsequently 
organized into a division which became the Third of the Ninth Corps, to the 
command of which General Hartranft was assigned, the Two Hundred and 
Eleventh, Two Hundred and Fifth, and Two Hundred and Seventh, under 
command of Colonel Matthews, forming the Second Brigade. During the 
winter the regiment was thoroughly drilled, and made occasional expeditions 
with other troops of the corps, but without becoming engaged, though a con- 
siderable amount of fortifying was done in the movement upon Hatcher's Run, 
and the troops were there held in momentary expectation of bloody work. 

Before the opening of the spring campaign Colonel Trimble resigned, and 
was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Dodd. The camp of the regiment was 
located midway between Fort Howard and Fort Alexander Hays, on the 
Army Line Railroad, to the extreme left of the division, which was posted in 
rear of, and acted as a support to, the Ninth Corps line. At the moment when 
this line was broken at Fort Steadman, at early dawn on the morning of the 
25th of March, 1865, and the fort and a considerable portion of the line was 
captured, the Two Hundred and Eleventh was resting in its camp, nearly four 
miles away. The colonel and major were absent, and the lieutenant-colonel 
was sick in hospital. The command consequently devolved on Captain Will- 
iam A. Coulter. It was quickly summoned to the scene of disaster, and, 
marching rapidly, reached division headquarters at half-past six A. M. With 
little delay it was led, by order of General Hartranft, to the high open ground 
about Meade Station, just in rear of Fort Steadman, where it was formed 
and awaited the order to charge. The other regiments of the division, which 
were all nearer the scene of conflict than this, had been gathered in, and hav- 
ing checked the enemy's advance, were holding him at bay. A strong line 
had been formed around the fatal break, and the best possible disposition of 
the division for strength and efficiency had been made. 

General Hartranft felt satisfied that the enemy could make no further 
advance, and that by a united assault his division could retake the captured 
works. His plan of attack was most ingenious. He already had five of his 
regiments posted in the immediate front, advantageously formed for a dash 
upon the enemy, who was swarming upon the fort, the covered ways, and the 
bomb-proofs. The Two Hundred and Eleventh was a mile away, but on high, 
open ground. It was a large regiment, and if put in motion drawn out in line, 
would instantly attract the attention of the foe, and, as he believed, would 
draw the fire of his artillery upon it. His other regiments, thus relieved from 
peril, could rush upon and overpower him. He accordingly sent word to their 
commanders to hold themselves in readiness to charge in fifteen minutes, and 
the signal to start should be the forward movement of the Two Hundred and 
Eleventh, which was in full view of them all. The general determined to lead 



248 History of Warren County. 

this regiment in person, and, though he expected that it would be sacrificed by 
the fire which the enemy could instantly bring to bear upon it, he was ready 
to share its perils, in order that his division might be victorious. The regi- 
ment was formed with nearly six hundred muskets in line, and put in motion. 
In the most perfect order it moved forward; but, contrary to the expectation of 
Hartranft, the enemy, at sight of the advance of this single regiment, instead 
of turning all his guns upon it, began to waver, and when the combined forces 
of the division rushed forward, he had little heart to offer opposition, and the 
fort, guns, small arms, and many prisoners were speedily taken. At the 
moment when all the plans had been perfected, and the columns were upon the 
point of moving. General Hartranft received an order from General Parke, in 
command of the corps, not to attempt to retake the fort until reinforcements 
from the Sixth Corps, which were on their way to his support, should arrive. 
But the order to move had already gone forth, and it could not be safely 
recalled. He therefore decided that it was better to disregard than to obey 
orders, and when the moment came, dashed forward with his men, winning an 
easy victory. 

Great activity all along the Union lines was soon after inaugurated, and on 
the night of the 30th preparations were made by the division to assault. It 
was, however, deferred until the morning of the 2d of April. At a little before 
midnight of the 1st the regiment moved to the camp of the Two Hundred and 
Seventh, where it remained until half-past three of the following morning. It 
then moved to the front, passing around the right of Fort Sedgwick, and was 
formed with the brigade in column by regiments, the left resting on the Jeru- 
salem Plank Road, the First Brigade standing in like formation just in the rear. 
A strong force of pioneers was detailed from the leading brigade, well provided 
with axes and spades, all under command of Lieutenant Alexander of the Two 
Hundred and Eleventh. When all was in readiness, the word to advance was 
given. The pioneers, closely followed by the division in close column, and 
joined on the right and left by other troops of the corps, went forward, and a 
few moments later the heavy blows of the ax-men upon the well-adjusted abatis 
and chevaux-de-frise were heard. The work of destruction was scarcely begun, 
however, when a fearful discharge of grape and canister was brought to bear 
upon them, before which the stoutest heart might quail. But closing up where 
their ranks were swept away, they soon broke the obstructions, and, assisted 
by the ready hands of the troops which followed, made an ample opening for 
the advance of the column. With a rush, the ground in front of the rebel works 
was passed over, and pushing up the steep and slippery sides of the forts, the 
troops were soon in complete possession, the enemy either captives or in full 
retreat, and the rebel main line of works, from a short distance beyond the 
Jerusalem Plank Road on the left to a point four hundred yards to its right, was 
triumphantly carried and held by the division. The guns were immediately 



Two Hundred and Eleventh Regiment. 249 

turned upon the foe, and with his own ammunition, death and destruction was 
dealt upon him. Though not without a fierce struggle was the ground held, 
for the enemy, intent on regaining his lost position, made repeated charges. 
But hastily throwing up lunets for the protection of the gunners, and rifle-pits 
for the infantry, the division succeeded in repulsing every assault. But this 
signal victory was not gained without great loss. Of the Two Hundred and 
Eleventh, four officers and seventeen enlisted men were killed, four officers and 
eighty-nine men wounded, and twenty-one missing ; an aggregate of one hun- 
dred and thirty-five. Few more desperate assaults, and none more successful, 
were delivered during the war than this. 

During the following night the enemy quietly withdrew from the front, and 
evacuating the city under cover of darkness, retreated rapidly. The division 
entered on the following morning with little opposition. The Two Hundred 
and Eleventh was immediately ordered forward to the Appomattox, to picket 
the river bank. The railroad bridge and foot bridge were both found on fire. 
By vigorous efforts the former was saved and part of the latter. Towards noon 
the regiment marched back to camp. The remainder of its history is quickly 
told, for hostile operations were now at an end. It followed along the South 
Side Railroad in charge of trains until it reached Nottoway Court House, where 
news was received of the surrender of Lee's army, and where it remained until 
the 20th, and then proceeded via City Point to Alexandria. Here it encamped, 
and here, on the 2d of June, it was mustered out of service. 

The members of Company G, the Warren county company, were as fol- 
lows : We will here explain, however, that there are no muster-out rolls of 
this and several other companies of the regiment on file at the adjutant-gen- 
eral's office of the State, consequently the record of the individual members 
cannot be shown. 

Captain, Arial D. Frank ; first lieutenant, David B. Peck ; first ser- 
geant, William D. Johnson ; sergeants, Joel R. Gardner, Perry L. Brooks, 
William A. Stewart, William Weld ; corporals, William Jewell, Henry S. 
Thomas, wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865, discharged by general 
order May 23, 1865 ; Hall A. Turrell, William A. Younie, Dwight W. Buel, 
Aaron M. Jones, Daniel P. Porter, John Russell ; privates, J. P. Aylesworth, 
Thomas Allen, George W. Allen, James F. Aikley, Charles C. Abbott, Cyrus 
Arters, William A. Billings, George A. Baker, John C. Brailey, William W. 
Briggs, Allen S. Briggs, J. L. Burroughs, John O. Baker, Levi F. Brown, 
wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865 ; Jared F. Bartlett, wounded at 
Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865 ; Reuben Barrett, David Bump, Joseph F. 
Babcock, wounded at Fort Steadman March 25, 1865 ; William Chandler, 
George W. Cooke, George W. Cogswell, Thomas Cooper, Green Clark, jr., 
John P. Enos, wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865; Levi L. Everett, 
Samuel H. Fisher, wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865 ; Delos 



250 History of Warren County. 

Franklin, wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865; Darius Fulkerson, 
Thomas Fulkerson, George Fox, David VV. Gibson, Arthur W. Gregg, 
wounded at Fort Steadman, Va., March 25, 1865; William Gibson, John C. 
Hatton, A. T. Hackney, Jonathan Hall, Nelson B. Herrick, Darius D. Ham- 
lin, John R. Howard, Calvin Johnson, George Jones, Levi Jones, Lorenzo 
Kastator, died April 16 of wounds received at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865 ; 
John Knupp, George A. Lanning, Robert Love, John P. Lawson, Ludewick 
Loveland, James Mair, James Mathers, Samuel Mentell, Orrin D. Madison, 
Eugene McKinney, Andrew H. McLane, Edward J. McKee, Alonzo Nesmith, 
Henry Pilling, Andrew J. Parker, James O. Parmlee, Joseph H. Reynolds, 
Seth W. Rowley, Asa Rounds, wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865; 
Thaddeus Reig, Ferdinand W. Sterrett, wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 
1865 ; Frank Stephenson, Melvin Sharp, Marshall Stanton, Samuel Smith, 
James A. Smith, James F. B. Shattuck, wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 
1865, died, date unknown ; Mortimer Stanford, Myron Sturdevant, Thomas 
Strickland, James M. Tabor, George E. Tuttle, Samuel Vredenburg, wounded 
at Petersburg, April 2, 1865 ; Jefferson P. Vansile, T. J. Widdifield, Charles A. 
Waters, wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865 ; Martin T. Wetmore, 
wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865 ; Anson R. Whitney, Squire Weld, 
Franklin C. Wade, wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865; Augustus 
B. Wade, George W. Weaver. 

Independent Company C (Infantry). 

This company was recruited in Warren county, in the summer of 1862, for 
the One Hundred and Forty- fifth Regiment; but before reaching the camp 
of this regiment at Erie, the requisite number of companies had been accepted. 
It was accordingly mustered into service as an independent company, under 
Captain De Witt C. James, on the 4th of September, and immediately proceeded 
to Harrisburg. It was promptly armed, and sent forward into the Cumberland 
Valley with a provisional battalion, the rebel army being at this time in Mary- 
land, and threatening an invasion of the State. While the battle of Antietam 
was in progress on the i6th and 17th, the company was posted on picket across 
the valley near the State line, where it remained some ten days, picking up 
during that time one hundred and fifty rebel stragglers. Towards the close of 
the month it returned to Harrisburg, where Captain James was made provost 
marshal of the city, and the company was employed in provost duty, under the 
direction of Captain W. B. Lane, chief mustering and recruiting officer, being 
chiefly engaged in arresting deserters in the counties of Dauphin, Lebanon, 
Lancaster, Cumberland, Franklin, and Fulton. On the 2d of F"cbruary, 1863, 
Second Lieutenant Eben N. Ford was mortally wounded while attempting to 
arrest a deserter in Fulton county. Pa. 

On the 20th of March the company was transferred to Washington, D. C, 



Other Commands. 251 



where it performed provost duty until the 13th of May, when it was sent to 
Alexandria, under command of Lieutenant George W. McPherson, and was 
attached to Independent Battery H, Captain Borrowe. When the rebel Gen- 
eral Early made his demonstration upon Washington in July, 1864, this com- 
pany was ordered to the front, and posted on the picket line. In September, 
1864, it was relieved from duty with the battery, and was assigned to guard duty 
at the military prisons in Alexandria. While engaged in this service about ten 
thousand persons, who had been arrested as deserters, were conducted to 
the front by this single company. In March, 1865, Captain James was ap- 
pointed an additional paymaster, and was confirmed by the Senate on the 6th 
of April, his commission dating April 14, being the last one signed by Presi- 
dent Lincoln. The company was mustered out of service at Harrisburg on the 
20th of July, 1865. Its members were as follows: 

Captains, De Witt C. James, resigned March i, 1865 ; Sylvester H. Davis, 
mustered out with company. First lieutenants, Sylvester H. Davis, promoted 
to captain ; George W. McPherson, mustered out with company. Second 
lieutenants, Eben N. Ford, died at McConnellsburg, Pa., Febuary 1 3, of wounds 
received in attempting to arrest a deserter February 2, 1863 ; Amos E. Good- 
rich, mustered out with company. First sergeants, Robert Illingsworth, mus- 
tered out with company; Stacy W. Cogswell, discharged June 7, 1865 ; Mor- 
ris W. Gibbs, promoted to second lieutenant. Independent Battery H, Penn- 
sylvania Artillery, July 22, 1864. Sergeants, James Maloney, Joseph Longs- 
dorfif, John Landers, Hiram P. Belknap, James H. Cole, Rasselas D. Moore, S. 
E. Orr, promoted to second lieutenant, United States Signal Corps, October 
6, 1864. Corporals, George C. White, John Goheen, Oliver W. Yundt, Jerome 
Davis, Jacob W. Tomes, William K. Harmon, John W. Flatt, Leroy S. Strong, 
Lewis J. Kinnear, John E. Lyle, Amariah Cook, Lewis Hidecker. Privates, 
John W. Amlong, Delos M. Ackley, Lorenzo D. Allen, William H. Burger, 
David I. Ball, Philip Biglar, James Brown, William Bell, jr., Orange C. Bab- 
cock, Merritt Babcock, Edwin R. Bumpus, James Black, John Clark, Peter 
Campbell, James H. Carr, John Conners, John Carr, Thomas Covell, George 
Currie, James Coulter, Patrick Dillon, John Fitzeimmings, Samuel Filer, Oscar 
Fox, Nelson O. Fenton, Wallace L. Filer, Samuel Golden, William Godfrey, 
John W. Groover, Ira A. Goodrich, Lester Graham, Charles Hotelling, Rich- 
ard C. Hunter, Clarence C. Hull, William H. Harrison, George W. Hoffman, 
William Irvine, George Joy, Henry T. Jones, Charles Keenan, William Ken- 
nedy, C. S. Kirkpatrick, Alexander Kitchen, William Kline, Isaac F. Loveless, 
Richard Logan, Thomas Lay, William Littlefield, Daniel Lash, Loren Labree, 
George Loffenberger, John W. Lytle, Matthias E. Lesser, George W. Lucket 
Joseph D. Magee, John Murph)', Sylvanus Martin, Lyman Martin, John W. 
Mead, Cyrus Moore, George C. Morrison, William H. Morrison, Jacob Morri- 
son, Samuel Maffett, Owen Mix, John Merchant, Michael McFarland, Robert 



252 History of Warren County. 

McCutcheon, William McKinney, Isaac McCurdy, William McKee, Walter S. 
Page, William H. Pickett, Augustus Patterson, George W. Rider, Samuel E. 
Rider, Peter Staub, Edward Sanders, Irvine Siggins, Miles Swartz waiter, Henry 
Sanborn, Jacob Shuler, Lewis Sterling, John Sweeting, William R. Sweeting, 
James S. Smeadley, Calvin Stoddard, Alonzo Stevenson, Jacob Trushel, Rob- 
ert Till, Samuel P. Walker, George W. Winfield, William H. \'ork, William 
Zibble. 

Independent Company Militia of 1862. 

During the excitement attendant upon the rebel invasion of Maryland and 
Pennsylvania in 1862, and 1863, great numbers of Pennsylvanians were called 
out for short terms of service. They were termed militia or emergency men, 
though mustered into the service of the general government. One of these 
companies was recruited in Warren county. Its members (who were mustered 
into service August 28, 1862, and discharged June 5, 1863) were as follows: 
Captain, Charles E. Baldwin ; first lieutenant, Jacob J. Dennison ; second 
lieutenant, Julius L. Burroughs (discharged February 22, 1863); first ser- 
geant, Walter Scott; sergeants Melvin P. Sharp, Simeon Trim, Orrin L. Davis, 
George A. Parkeson; corporals, Charles Whaley, Ezra King, Thomas W. Al- 
lison, James A. Morton, Isaac Gordon, Myron R. Wickwire, Charles B. Ham- 
lin, Conrad Rowland; musicians, John B. Kelley, German L. Kelley; privates, 
John A. Akin, James Broderick, Whitman Burdick, Plympton Babcock, Jerome 
T. Babcock, William Bartlett, Perry L. Brooks, Odell Baker, Charles S. Black, 
Timothy Brown, James F. Brander (died at Harrisburg, Pa., December 28, 
1862), Albert Belden, Willard Clark, William B. Campbell, William Chase, 
John Dunham, Bradford Darling, James Elderkin, Oliver C. IClderkin, Abram 
P. Eddington, Richard A. Follett, Joseph D. Gray, William A. Gordon, Jona- 
than N. Gordon, George W. Gordon, Zacheus F. D. Greeley, Dennis Greene, 
Benjamin Hutchinson, Franklin P. Hull, John H. Hayes, James H. Hewet, 
James Hayes, George F. Hall, Loren L. Hills, Henry Holmes, Charles Hins- 
dale, Grant Johnson, Charles J. Johnson, Christopher C. Kelts, William H. 
King, John Lawson, John A. Luce, George A. Lanning, James H. Lobdell, 
John W. Montegue, jr., Gilbert D. Mandeville, Joseph C. Montegue, GitTord 
F. Mandeville, Willard Moffit, Luther R. McDowell, Ira Nichols, Thomas 
Oviat, Lucius Perkins, William Pierce, Amos Peck, James Phillis, Michael 
Roland, Solomon A. Robinson, Murray Raymond, William Robinson, Stephen 
Ragan, Aaron Randall, Silas S. Robinson (died at Harrisburg, Pa., January 18, 
1863), William A. Stewart, William F. Stewart, Alonzo R. Scott, Charles O. 
Smith, Nathaniel Sweet, Andrew Smith, William H. Stewart, Henry Smith, 
Warren W. Spencer, Hugh W. Sample, William Sharp (died at Harrisburg, 
Pa., October 24, 1862), Jeremiah G. Titcomb, h-lphanan W. Tubbs, Ezra 
Tubbs, Job Whipple, Ashbel H. Whilden, Charles H. Whilden, Carlton F. 
Waid, h'rastus B. Whaley, Martin T. Wetmore. 



County Buildings, Etc. 253 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

COUNTY BUILDINGS, ETC. 

Utilizing the Rooms of Private Dwellings for Public Purposes — The First .Jail — The Vil- 
lage School-House Used as a Court- Room — Reminiscences Concerning Jail Breakers — The 
First Court-House — The Second Jail — Stone Office Building — Destruction of Same by Fire 
— Another Erected of Brick — The Third or Present Jail — The New Court-House — County 
Farm. 

AS related in a previous chapter, the county commissioners held their first 
meeting on the i6th day of October, 1819, at the house of Ebenezer Jack- 
son, which stood upon the corner now occupied by the Carver House. James 
Benson and Asa Winter were present. They appointed John Andrews clerk 
pro teinp07-e, and also contracted with Ebenezer Jackson for a room to be used 
as an office by the county commissioners, at a rental of two dollars per month. 
At a subsequent meeting, held on the loth day of November of the same 
year, the commissioners hired another room from Jackson as a place for hold- 
ing the first or November term of court, agreeing to pay for the same the sum 
of $15 for the term. 

On the 1st of December, 1819, Sheriff Bowman, of Venango county, then 
officiating for both Venango and Warren counties, made a demand upon the 
commissioners for " a jail or place for the safe keeping of prisoners." There- 
upon, on the 3d day of that month, a contract was made with Zachariah Eddy 
for a room in the lower part of his house to be used as a jail, at a rental of 
" three dollars for the month." Proposals for building a jail were invited April 
22, 1820, and on the 24th of May following a contract was closed with Stephen 
Littlefield for the erection of " a building for jail and public offices on the pub- 
lic grounds." This building was completed within a few months from the time 
of its commencement. It stood on the public grounds east of Market street, 
and was built in block-house style, of square oak timber one foot in diameter, 
20 by 36 feet, one story in height, and contained two rooms, having plank floor 
and ceilings. Behind was a yard inclosed by a stockade twenty feet high, which 
was several times scaled by unwilling boarders. 

On the 19th of September, 1820, the county commissioners concluded an 
agreement with the school committee of the town of Warren, to finish building 
the school-house, and to hold courts in the same for four years, "from the 1st 
of September past." This school-house, an unpretentious little structure, stood, 
according to the recollections of Abner Hazeltine, esq., Warren's first resident 
attorney, on or very near the site of the present court-house. M.eanwhile, until 
the school-house was rendered fit for occupancy, other early terms of court 
were held in the carpenter shop of Daniel Houghwout, on Water street, and in 



254 History of Warren County. 

the wagon-shop of one Van Buskirk, on Liberty street, nearly opposite the 
present German Evangelical Church. 

Until the jail, or " public building," as it was termed, was completed, Zach- 
ariah Eddy continued to furnish a room for the detention of prisoners, and also 
served as jailor. Of those consigned to his care and keeping, Hon. S. P. John- 
son quaintly remarks : " Some of his boarders staid, some didn't as suited their 
purpose." When the jail was completed, however, the commissioners appear 
to have been rather proud of the work of their creation — the sole public 
building in the county, for on the 4th day of March, 1822, they issued an order 
through their clerk, John Andrews,^ notifying " all persons having Sheads, Hog 
pens. Hen houses, or any other Hutts, at, or near, or adjoining to the public 
building in the town of Warren," to remove the same at once. 

In his address, delivered at the dedication of the present court-house, Judge 
Johnson said : " The first occupant of the jail was an Irishman, sentenced to 
its lonesome walls and fourteen cents- per day fare for six months, for stealing 
a watch. He stayed about a month and took French leave. The next was a 
man named Chandler, who was put in for debt. He, too, soon tired of its 
gloom and short rations, and finding the door unlocked one day, cleared out, 
leaving John Andrews, the jailor, and Sheriff Dalrymple to pay his debt. 

"In 1822 Stephen Littlefield was elected sheriff and took charge of the 
jail. During his term a young man by the name of Hodges (not Walter W.) 
was committed for stealing money on a raft. As Mrs. Littlefield passed one 
evening he called to her for water. When she entered on her mission of mer- 
cy, he ungallantly rushed past her and escaped, taking with him the chain and 
fetters with which he had been shackled. Being pursued he waded or swam 
the Conewango Creek and effectually concealed himself in the woods." 

" One day the commissioners visited the jail to look after its safety and 
found a young man named Tanner (not Archibald) confined for debt. James 
Benson, then a commissioner, said to him : ' Why don't you break out ? ' The 
fellow replied: ' I could get out in five minutes if I wanted to.' Benson, incred- 
ulous, said: ' If you will do so in five minutes I will pay your debt.' The man 
jumped on his bunk, shoved a plank overhead aside, sprang up through the 
opening, kicked some weather-boarding off the gable, jumped down, and bid 
them good-bye in just three minutes by the watch. At the next term of 
court Robert Voluntine, being foreman of the grand jury, deemed it his duty 

IJohn Andrews, the counly commis.sioners' clerk, was paid for the year beginning November I, 
1822, the sum of $156. Prior to that time he was paid at the rate of $1.25 per day for his services 
while actually at work for the public. lie was one of the earliest settlers in the county ; was a sur- 
veyor, and may have been a very good one; but he was a wretched scribe and book-keeper. Hence, 
on viewing his work, it is not to be wondered at that on the 5th day of .September, 1823, the commis- 
sioners agreed that one of their number and iheir clerk should ])roceed to the town of Krie " for the 
purpose of getting some more information relating to keeping our books and accounts." 

2 At that lime the county allowed the sheriff fourteen cents per day as pay for the boarding of each 
prisoner. 



County Buildings, Etc. 255 

to have Benson indicted for hiring a man to break jail. This, and the prison- 
er's debt, made the joke a very expensive one for Benson, and demonstrated 
the necessity of having a jaiH that would hold a prisoner over three minutes." 

During the celebrated and exciting trial of Jacob Hook for murder, in May 
and June, 1824, court was held in the then unfinished house of Johnson Wilson, 
corner of Market and Fifth streets. School was then in daily session, doubt- 
less, since the term of years for which it had been engaged as a place for hold- 
ing courts had not yet expired. 

On the 1 6th day of November, 1825, the commissioners concluded an 
agreement with William Hodges to build a court-house. One of their number, 
however, Robert Falconer, dissented, for reasons stated in his own handwriting 
on a page of the commissioners' journal, and refused to sign the contract. 
Hodges began the work of construction at once, and completed the structure 
in 1827. According to the contract, he was to be paid $7,000. Of this the 
sum of $2,000 was paid by State appropriation and the balance in wild land 
and county orders, then at a discount for cash of about twenty per cent. Finally 
lawsuits arose before these claims were fully adjusted, the last of which was 
tried nearly ten years after the completion of the court-house. This building 
was built, it has been stated, of the first brick manufactured in Warren county. 

About the the years 1 830-3 1 ^ the old stone jail and the one-story structure 
known as the "county ofiices," also of stone, were built under the personal 
supervision of the commissioners. Andrews was still their clerk. He seems, 
however, from a scrutiny of the scraggy journal kept by him^ to have been 
more intent upon calculating how much the county was indebted to him from 
day to day, than interested in the erection of county buildings ; consequently 
the only reference found in his minutes, of the building of either of the above- 
mentioned structures, is under date of October 13, 1831, as follows: "R. 

1 It was the intention, doubtless, that the jail which succeeded the (irst one should be strong enough 
to hold the prisoners therein confined, but such seems not to have been the case, since escapes from it 
were apparently easy, and altogether quite numerous. The Mail describes how a prisoner gained his 
freedom in July, 1854, as follows : 

" Sloped. A prisoner named Joshua Burdick, who was confined in our jail for stealing lumber, es- 
caped last Thursday night. He made a key of tin, with which he unlocked the padlock on the back 
door, which let him into the yard and over the wall." 

In March, 1859, another prisoner, known as Charles Williams, confined in jail for stealing some ar- 
ticles at Youngsville, belonging to Thomas Struthers, made his escape in broad daylight, while court 
was in session and two hundred men not farther away than ten rods. Some of his friends threw a rope 
over the wall, by the aid of which he easily scaled it and made good his flight. 

In May of the same year (1859) four other prisoners departed without thanking the jailor for their 
entertainment, and their example was successfully followed only five months later by four more, two 
of whom were dissolute women. 

Even the present well-constructed jail has one or two escapes charged against it, the last to de- 
part from its walls without leave being one Robertson, who in April, 1886, succeeded in crawling 
through a window only 5^ by 30 inches in size, and encased on either side by massive blocks of sand- 
stone. 

2 Since the above statement was placed in type, we have learned from an old number of the Warren 
Gazette that the stone building, termed the "County Offices," was in existence as early as 1828. 



256 History of Warren County. 

Russell to four days extra attending to the building of the Jail by order of the 
Board when the Board was not in session." 

It is unknown where the prothonotary and treasurer kept their offices be- 
fore the completion of the old stone building, other than the statement of the 
first prothonotary, Lansing Wetmore, who says that during his term the old 
block-house built by the Holland Land Company was utilized as the prothon- 
otary's office. 

On the 24th day of June, 1848, a contract was concluded, with William 
Bell and David Grindley, to build an office for the prothonotary and to repair 
the jail. The same parties entered into another contract May 2, 1849, to en- 
large the court-house. 

On the 20th of December, 1854, the stone building occupied by the various 
county officials was destroyed by fire, mysterious in its origin. In the com- 
missioners' office everything was lost except the books and papers in the vault, 
and those came near being burned. The old " Lumberman's Bank " safe which 
stood in the commissioners' office was destroyed with most of its contents. The 
contents of the other offices were all saved. It was then stated that the same 
building was partially destroyed by fire in 1832. 

At a meeting of the commissioners, held March 8, 1855, a contract was 
made with David Grindley for the erection of a new building for the use of 
county officers. This was completed in December of the same year. It was 
of brick, two stories in height, and contained four rooms (two on each floor), 
each twenty-three by seventeen feet in dimensions. 

On the 4th day of December, 1873, the grand jury condemned all the 
county buildings — the court-house, the jail, and the brick building erected in 
1855, as unfit for occupancy and the safety of records. The jail was again 
condemned at the following term of court. Thereupon the commissioners hav- 
ing employed R. S. Christy, of Tidioute, as superintendent, ground was broken 
for the new or present jail, June 18, 1874, and in the spring of 1875 it was 
completed. During the same year the commissioners sold to Thomas Struth- 
ers a lot thirty feet wide from the west side of the court-house grounds, and 
purchased from the same, lot No. 212. The south one-third of the old jail lot, 
being the northeast corner of Market and High streets, was sold to F. A. Ran- 
kin June 30, 1875. 

Meanwhile, the old court-house having been condemned a second time, 
and it being considered a waste of money to repair and enlarge it, the com- 
missioners determined to build a new one. Therefore on the i ith day of April, 
1876, the plans for a new court-house, submitted by M. E. Beebe, an architect 
of the city of Buffalo, N. Y., were adopted, being substantially the same as 
those from which were built the court-houses at Lock Haven, Williamsport, 
and Sunbury. The following day the commissioners rented " Roscoe Hall," 
for a term of eighteen months, in which to hold courts, and three days later — 



County Buildings, Etc. 257 

April 15, 1876 — the demolition of the old court-house began, under the super- 
intendence of Thomas Bell. 

Only a few days subsequently J. P. Marston was engaged to superintend 
the construction of the new building which it was estimated by the architect 
would cost, by day's work, from sixty to sixty-five thousand dollars, but, as we 
shall see, he was true to the practices of his trade or profession, and under- esti- 
mated the cost by about one-third. The work of laying the " footing course " 
for the new structure began on Wednesday, May 10, 1876, the day the Cen- 
tennial Exposition at Philadelphia opened, and on the 4th of July following the 
corner-stone was laid during a heavy rain storm. Good progress was made 
during subsequent months, and on Monday, December 3, 1877, the building 
was opened to the public and dedicated. A vast number of people were pres- 
ent. Appropriate addresses were delivered by Hon. Samuel P. Johnson, Hon. 
Rasselas Brown, Hon. Lansing D. Wetmore, and Hon. William D. Brown; and 
Judge Abner Hazeltine, of Jamestown, N. Y., contributed an interesting letter 
of reminiscences of the first term of court held in the county. Court convened 
in the new court-house for the first time December 4, 1877, Hon. L. D. Wet- 
more presiding. 

This handsome structure, pronounced by the State Board of Charities, on 
inspection, to be the " model court-house of the State," is built of pressed 
brick with stone trimmings, and finished inside with black walnut. The 
spacious corridors are laid with marble tiling, and the stairs are of iron. The 
entire building is heated by steam, is thoroughly ventilated, and cost, with 
furniture and carpets complete, $107,000. 

The County Farm. — On the 17th day of April, 1861, Hon. Henry R. Rouse, 
of South West township, Warren county, was so severely injured by the unex- 
pected ignition of gas and oil at the well of Lytle & Merrick, near Titusville, 
that he died within a few hours. Before his death he bequeathed the greater 
portion of his estate in trust to the commissioners of Warren county, the 
interest thereof to be expended one-half on the roads and one-half for the 
benefit of the poor of the county. He had taken an active interest in the 
development of petroleum when it first appeared in such abundance on Oil 
Creek. He had also been successful in other business enterprises ; therefore 
the amount of the bequest realized after the completion of arrangements found 
necessary to make it available, was about $186,000. 

The county commissioners then serving, viz. — Erastus Barnes, of Sheffield, 
Alden Marsh, of Youngsville, and Melancthon Miles, of Farmington, at once 
took measures to make the fund of the Rouse estate practically beneficial. 
They bought a farm of four hundred acres, i. e., two hundred and fifty acres 
from John McKinney, and one hundred and fifty acres from James Short, 
adjoining the pleasant little village of Youngsville, on the Brokenstraw Creek, 
at a cost of $13,500. The tract stretches across the valley, is well watered, 



2s8 History of Warren County. 

and is as capable of high cultivation and productiveness as any in the county. 
The poor-house, erected thereon during the high prices prevailing in 1865, cost 
$25,000. It is a large, plain, but imposing two-story brick building with a 
stone basement, the main part being 100 by 37 feet, and the L, or wing, 36 by 
20 feet. From its tower a fine view is obtained of the farm, the village of 
Youngsville, the picturesque valley of the Brokenstraw, and the hills beyond. 

Near the house stands a marble monument, erected in memory of Mr. 
Rouse, at a cost of $2,100. It is inclosed by an iron fence, on the gate of 
which is cast the word " charity." On each side of the monument's base in 
large letters is the name " Henry R. Rouse." Higher up on one side is the 
following inscription: "In memoriam, Henry R. Rouse, the founder of this 
Charity, born at Westfield, N. Y., October 9, 1823; died from injuries received 
at the burning of an oil well April 18, 1861. He represented Warren county 
in our Legislature two years, and was a pioneer in the development of petro- 
leum in Northwestern Pennsylvania." On another side is an extract from 
his will, thus : " I bequeath the residue of my estate in trust to the commis- 
sioners of Warren county, the interest thereof to be expended one-half on the 
roads, and one-half for the benefit of the poor of said county." 

The advantages derived from the Rouse estate are hardly appreciated by 
the people benefited. True, the sum distributed annually is not large, but it 
is a perpetual insurance against a poor-tax, unless the people shall become 
much more numerous than at present. The different townships, also, are 
materially aided by the road money, not for a single year, but for all time. 
Present and future generations should warmly commend the liberality of one 
who was so suddenly stricken down in the midst of his prosperity and useful- 
ness. Mr. Rouse was a single man and had few relatives, hence he made the 
county his principal legatee. As a legislator he was intelligent and trust- 
worthy. As a citizen he was a public-spirited, sagacious, and useful. As a 
friend he was a little eccentric and nervous, but faithful, agreeable, and true. 
He has a monument, as we have described, at the home of the county's poor, 
but his most enduring monument will be in the hearts of a people who will 
learn to appreciate his beneficence and worth. 



Township Organizations. 259 



CHAPTER XXV. 

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATIONS. 

Brokenstraw the Original Township of the County — Conewango Organized in 1808 — 
Spring Creek, Sugar Grove, Pine Grove, Kinzua, and Deerfield in 1821 — Columbus in 1825 — 
Limestone in 1829 — Elk in 1830 — Sheffield and Freehold in 1833 — Pleasant in 1834 — 
Southwest in 1838 — Eldred in 1843 — Glade in 1844 — Corydon in 1846 — Mead, Cherry Grove, 
and Pittsfield in 1847 — Farmington in 1853 — Triumph in 1878 — Watson m 1880 — Borough 
Incorporations. 

THE following account of the formation and organization of the townships 
of Warren county is the only correct one ever compiled. To prove the 
truth of this assertion it is only necessary to refer to documents on file in the 
prothonotary's office at Meadville, Franklin, and Warren, and to compare this 
statement with any and all others heretofore published. 

Brokenstraw, the original township of the county, was formed and ordered 
to be at once organized by the Crawford County Court of Quarter Sessions, at 
October term in i8oo. It then embraced all that part of Warren county lying 
west of the Allegheny River and Conewango Creek. 

Some eight years later, or, to be more explicit, during March term in 1 8o8, 
the Venango County Court of Quarter Sessions ordered that Warren county 
be divided into two townships — Brokenstraw and Conewango, the first to 
include the western part and the latter the eastern half of the county. This 
arrangement continued until March 8, 1821, when, by order of the Warren 
County Court of Quarter Sessions, these two townships were divided into twelve 
subdivisions, of which seven were soon after organized, and the remainder 
attached to the organized townships. The following is a detailed account of 
the formation, etc., of the twelve townships referred to, as shown by the 
docket : 

" At a court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace of the county of Warren, held 
at Warren in and for said county, on Monday the sixth day of March, A. D. 
1820, before the Hon. Jesse Moore, Esq., President, and his associate judges 
of the same court. 

" Upon the petition of divers of the inhabitants of said county setting forth 
that they labour under great inconveniences and expense owing to the countys 
not being set off into suitable and convenient districts, there being but two 
Townships in said county, and therefore praying the court to appoint three 
impartial men to enquire into the propriety of granting the prayer of the peti- 
tioners, and to lay off the same agreeable to law. 

" The court upon due consideration had of the premises, do order and 
appoint John Andrews, John Brown, and William Arthur, to enquire into the 



26o History of Warren County. 

propriety of granting the prayer of the petitioners, and if they or any two of 
them agree that it is proper to lay off said county into suitable and convenient 
districts, they shall proceed to lay off the same, and to make a plot or draught 
of the Townships as aforesaid laid off, and the division line or lines proposed to 
be made therein (or of the lines proposed to be altered), if the same cannot be 
fully designated by natural lines or boundaries, all which they or any two of 
them shall report to the next Court of Quarter Sessions, together with their 
opinion of the same. By the COURT." 

" To the Hon. Jesse Moore, President, and his associate Judges of the same 
Court of Common Pleas of the county of Warren, now composing a Court of 
General Quarter Sessions of the Peace in and for said county. 

"The report of John Andrews, William Arthur, and John Brown respect- 
fully sheweth that we have maturely considered the order of your Honorable 
Court, bearing date the sixth day of March last, and hereto annexed that in 
our opinion it is necessary for the interest and convenience of the inhabitants 
of this county that the same should be laid off into smaller Townships, and 
have accordingly marked out and designated them as follows : 

"No I. Township beginning at the northwest corner of the county, 
thence south along the county line six miles and one hundred and twenty 
perches, thence east eight miles to the southwest corner of lot number 123 of 
the Holland Land Company's lands, thence north along the west line of said 
lot and lots No. 121, 117, and 1 14, two miles, three hundred and six perches, 
thence west along the south line of lot No. 1 10 one hundred and eighty-two 
perches, thence north along the west line of said lot two hundred and sixty- 
one perches, thence east along the north line of the same forty-nine perches, 
thence north along the west line of lot No. 107 two hundred and seventy-one 
perches, thence east along the north line of said lot thirty-four perches, thence 
north along the west line of lot No. 185, one mile and forty perches, thence 
east along the north line of said lot, thirty-five perches, thence north along the 
west line of lot No. 186, two hundred perches to the State line at the two 
hundred and ninth mile stone, a distance of seven miles and one hundred 
perches, thence west along the State line to the place of beginning, seven miles 
and two hundred and fifty-six perches. 

" No. 2. Township beginning on the county line at the southwest corner 
of Township No. i, thence south along said line eight miles, thence east to the 
southwest corner of lot No. i68 of the Holland Company's land eight miles 
and two hundred and fifty perches, thence north along the west line of lots 
No. 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, and 176, to the south line of lot 
No. 129, six miles and two hundred and eighty perches, thence east along the 
said line to the southwest corner of lot No. 177, seventy perches, thence north 
along the west line of said lot and lots No. 178, to the southeast corner of lot 
No. 123 one mile and forty perches, in all eight miles and seventy perches, 



Township Organizations. 261 

thence west along the south Hne of lot No. 123 to the southeast corner of 
Township No. i, one mile, thence west along the south line of Township No. 
I eight miles to the place of beginning, in all nine miles. 

" No. 3. Township beginning at the northeast corner of Township No. i, 
thence along the east line of said township No. i, to the southeast corner of 
the same, thence east along the south line of lots No. 123, 179, 203, 234, 253, 
282, 303, and 308 of the Holland Company's land to the southeast corner of 
lot No. 308, eight miles and ninety-six perches, thence along the east line of 
lots No. 308, 309, 310, and 311, to the northeast corner of 311, three miles, 
thence east one hundred and sixty perches, thence north three miles and one 
hundred and twenty perches to the two hundredth mile stone on the State 
line, six miles and two hundred and eighty perches, thence west along the 
State line to the place of beginning nine miles. 

" No. 4. Township beginning at the southeast corner of Township No. 3, 
thence west along the south line of said towhship to the northeast corner of 
Township No. 2, seven miles and ninety-six perches, thence along the east line 
of Township No. 2 to the southeast corner of said township, thence east along 
the south line of lots of the Holland Company's land No. 168, 214, 223, 264, 
and 271, five miles, thence east to the Allegheny River two miles and seventy 
perches, in all seven miles and seventy perches, thence up said river to the 
southeast corner of a tract of land claimed by John Irwin above the mouth of 
Brokenstraw Creek, four miles, thence north forty-one degrees west to the north- 
east corner of the same westerly by the line of the same tract to Irwin's Run, 
up said run three miles, thence north twenty degrees west to the southeast 
corner of lot of the Holland Company's land No. 306, one mile and one hun- 
dred and sixty perches to the place of beginning. 

" No. 5. Township beginning at the northeast corner of Township No. 4, 
thence east along the south line of lots of the Holland Company's land No. 
3 1 5, 320, 327, three miles and fifty perches, thence east to the Conewango Creek, 
three miles and two hundred and seventy perches, thence over and up said 
creek to the northwest corner of lot No. 7, claimed by Hobly and Leeper 
forty perches, thence east along the north line of said tract to the south line of 
tract No. 5969 to the southeast corner of the same three miles and eighty 
perches, together ten miles and one hundred and thirty perches, thence south 
along the west line of lots of Thomas Clifford, numbered 5533, 5534, 5535, 5536, 
and 3537 to the Allegheny River, five miles and one hundred and sixty perches, 
thence down said river to the line of Township No. 4, thence along said line to 
the place of beginning. 

"No. 6. Township beginning at the northwest corner of Township No. 5, 
thence east along the north line of said township to the northeast corner, thence 
north along the west |^line of lots of Thomas Clifford, numbered 5533, 5532, 
5531. 5530. 5529, 5528, and 5569 to the State line six miles and eighty perches, 



262 History of Warren County. 



thence west along the State line to the northeast corner of Township No. 3, 
nine miles and two hundred and forty perches, thence along the east line of 
said township to the place of beginning. 

" No. 7. Township beginning at the northeast corner of Township No. 6, 
thence east along the State line to the northeast corner of the county six miles, 
thence down the county line till it leaves the Allegheny River on the east side, 
thence down said river to the southeast corner of Township No. 5, thence by 
the east line of Townships No. 5 and 6 to the State line at the place of be- 
ginning. 

" No. 8. Township beginning on the county line where the line of Town- 
ship No. 7 leaves said line, thence along the same to the southeast corner of 
the county, thence west along the south line of the county to the southwest 
corner of lot No. 3198 of the Lancaster Land Company's land, eight miles, 
thence north along the west line of said lot and lots of the same company's 
land No. 3235, 3240, 3241, 4800, 4804, and 4810 to the northwest corner of 
lot No. 481 1, thirteen miles, thence north to the Allegheny River one hundred 
and sixty perches, thence up said river to the place of beginning. 

" No. 9. Township beginning on the Allegheny River at the northwest 
corner of Township No. 8, thence south along the west line of said township 
to the county line, thence west along the county line six miles, thence north to 
the southwest corner of lot of the Lancaster Land Company's land No. 3193, 
thence north on the west line of said lot and lots No. 3014, 3010, 4839, 4838, 
4819, and 4817, thirteen miles, thence west along the north line of lot No. 
4818 to the northwest corner of the same, thence south sixty perches to the 
northeast corner of lot No. 4828, thence west along the north line of the same 
to the Allegheny River, three miles, thence up said river to the place of begin- 
ning. 

" No. 10. Township beginning on the Allegheny River at the northwest 
corner of Township No. 9, thence along the boundary of said township to the 
southwest corner of the same on the county line, thence west along tlie county 
line to the Allegheny River eight miles and eighty perches, thence up said 
river to the place of beginning. 

"No. 1 1. Township beginning on the Allegheny River at the southeast corner 
of Township No. 4, thence west along the south side of said township and 
Township No. 2, ten miles and seventy perches, thence south to the county 
line, eleven miles and two hundred perches, thence east along the county line 
to the Allegheny River four miles and three hundred and ten perches, thence 
up said river to the place of beginning. 

"No. 12. Township beginning at the northwest corner of Township No. 
II, thence south along the west line of the same to the county line, thence 
west along the county line to the southwest corner of the same, five miles and 
two hundred and fifty perches, thence north along the west line of the county 



Township Organizations. 263 

eleven miles and two hundred perches, to the southwest corner of Township 
No. 2, thence east along the south line of said township to the place of begin- 
ning, five miles and two hundred and fifty perches. 

" All of which may be more readily seen by inspection of the annexed map. 

"John Andrews. 
"John Brown. 
"William Arthur. 

" Which report being read the first time at December Sessions, 1820, and 
the second time on the 8th day of March, 1821, the court do approve of and 
confirm the same and order and direct that the same be entered of record, and 
that the Townships be laid off agreeably to said report, and that the same be 
organized and known by the following names, to wit : Number six (seventy- 
eight taxables) organized and called ' Pine Grove ' ; number eight organized 
and called ' Kenzue ' ; number seven at present to be attached to Kenzue but 
not organized and called ' Elk ' ; number five organized and called ' Cone- 
wango ' ; number nine to be attached to Conewango, but not organized and 
called ' Tionestia ' ; number eleven organized and called ' Deerfield ' ; number 
ten at present to be attached to Deerfield but not organized and called ' Lime- 
stone ' ; number twelve at present to be attached to Deerfield but not or- 
ganized and called ' Southwest ' ; number four organized and called ' Broken- 
straw ' ; number two organized and called ' Spring Creek ' ; number one at 
present attached to Spring Creek but not organized and called ' Northwest ' ; 
number three organized and called ' Sugar Grove.' By the Court, 

" L. Wetmore, Cl'k Sessions." 

On the 25th of May, 1825, it was ordered that the name of Northwest 
township be changed to Coluinbns, and the latter organized as a separate town- 
ship. The election in 1826 was held at the house of David Curtis. 

At December Sessions in 1825 the line between Sugar Grove and Pine 
Grove was changed to run as follows : " From the southwest corner of lot 
No. 315 due east to the southeast corner of said lot, thence north along the 
west Hne of lots No. 320, 321, 322, and 323, to the south line of lot No. 298, 
thence west along the said line to the southwest corner of the same, thence 
north along the west line of said lot to the northwest corner of the same, 
thence east along the north line of said lot to the southwest corner of lot No. 
297, thence north along the west line of lots No. 297, 295, 294, and 293 to the 
one hundred and ninety-ninth mile stone on the State line." 

Lhnestone was organized from the " provisional townships " of Tionesta 
and Limestone, at August Sessions in 1829. Its boundaries, as described by 
the commissioners, John Andrews, William Hodges, and William Pier, were 
as follows : " Beginning on the Allegheny River on the south bounds of the 
county, and running thence east on the county line to the southwest corner of 
the township of Kinzua, thence north on the west line of said township, ac- 



264 History of Warren County. 

cording to the present boundary, to the Allegheny River, thence west and 
south along the Allegheny River as it winds and turns to the place of 
beginning." 

Elk was organized May 3, 1830, from that part of Kinzua township lying 
west of the Allegheny River. Its boundaries at the time of organization were 
as follows : " Beginning at the Allegheny River on the line of Conewango 
and Pine Grove townships, thence north to the State line, thence east along 
the said line to the east bank of the Allegheny River and joining McKean 
county, thence down by the line of said McKean county to where the same 
joins the river going south, then to continue down by the low water or main 
channel in said river to the place of beginning." 

Sheffield was formed from Kinzua, and organized by order of court during 
June Sessions, 1833, particular day not stated. Its boundaries were then de- 
scribed as follows : " Beginning on the west line of the said township (Kinzua) 
at the northwest corner of lot No. 560, thence running due east along the line 
of lots to the northeast corner of lot No. 172 on the county line. That part 
of the said township, Kinzua, lying south of the said line bounded on the east 
by McKean county, on the south by the county of Jefferson and on the west 
by the township of Limestone to be a new township named Sheffield." 

Freehold. — This township was erected from portions of Columbus and 
Sugar Grove. The report of the commissioners was confirmed absolutely Sep- 
tember 3, 1833, and the following lines and courses designated as its bound- 
aries: "Beginning at the northeast corner of lot No. 392 in Columbus town- 
ship on the State line, thence east on said line to the northeast corner of lot 
No. 192 in Sugar Grove township, thence south along the line of said tract to 
lot No. 194, thence east to the northeast corner of said tract, thence south to 
the southeast corner of said tract, thence west to the northeast corner of lot 
No. 196, thence south to the southeast corner of the same, thence east to the 
northeast corner of lot No. 199, thence south to the southeast corner of the 
same, thence west to the northeast corner of lot No. 200, thence south along 
the lines of lots No. 200, 201, 202, and 203 to the south line of Sugar Grove 
township, thence west along the township lines to the southwest corner of lot 
No. 120 in Columbus township, thence north along the lines of lots No. 120, 
119, 1 16, 383, and 385, to the southeast corner of lot No. 386, thence west to 
the southwest corner of the same, thence north to the northwest corner of the 
same, thence north across lot No. 388 to the south line of lot No. 393, thence 
west to the southwest corner of the same, thence north to the northwest corner 
of the same, thence to the southeast corner of lot No. 392, then north to the 
State line at the place of beginning." 

Pleasant. — This township was formed from Limestone, by an order of 
court confirmed absolutely during March Sessions, 1834. The old township was 
divided by a line running as follows: " Beginning on the Allegheny River at 



Township Organizations. 265 

the northwest corner of lot No. 4826, thence running east to lot No 512, thence 
south on Hne of said lot No. 512 to the southwest corner of said lot, thence 
east to the northwest corner of lot No. 519, thence south to the county line." 
It was proposed by the inhabitants and was so recommended by the commis- 
sioners to call the new township Mount Pleasant, but the court deemed it best 
to shorten the title and name it Pleasant. 

Chatigc of Line between Sheffield and Pleasant Townships. — On the 5 th 
day of November, 1836, Lansing Wetmore, Alson Rogers, Nathaniel Sill, com- 
missioners appointed by the court for that purpose, reported that they had 
surveyed a line running as follows : " Beginning at the southwest corner of lot 
No. 577 on the north and south line between Limestone and Pleasant, thence 
due east on a line of lots three miles and two hundred and twenty perches to 
the southeast corner of lot No. 584 on the north and south line between Shef- 
field and Pleasant, and set off that part of the present township of Pleasant 
lying south of said east line and between Sheffield and Limestone and the 
county line to the said township of Sheffield, comprising thirteen and a fourth 
tier of lots north and south and eight tier of lots east and west." 

So7ithwcst. — This township was set off from Deerfield as a separate organ- 
ization by an order of court declared absolute during March Sessions 1838. 
The line between the two townships (which had been surveyed by Commis- 
sioners James A. Alexander, Stephen Littlefield, and Nathan Whitney) ran as 
follows : " Beginning on Venango county line at the southeast corner of tract 
No. 228, thence by the line of said tract to the southeast corner of lot No. 229, 
thence north to the south line of tract No. 235, a distance of four miles and 
two hundred and six perches (as per original survey and plot), thence east to 
the southeast corner of said tract No. 235, thence north to the northwest 
corner of tract No. 328 and northeast corner of tract No. 327, to a pine tree, 
the southwest corner of tract No. 154, on Spring Creek township line, being a 
further distance of seven miles (as per original survey and measurements)." 

Change of Line betzueen Various Townships. — During June Sessions in 
1838 the court confirmed the report of Commissioners Andrew H. Ludlow, 
Hewlet Lott, and Samuel Magee concerning the change in township lines 
between Spring Creek, Deerfield, and Brokenstraw, also between Spring Creek 
and Columbus. 

Alteration of Line hetzveen Columbus and Freehold Tozvnships. — Lot No. 
392 was detached from Columbus and annexed to Freehold by an order of 
court dated June 5, 1843. 

Eld red. — This township was erected from the northern part of Southwest 
township by an order of court confirmed absolutely September 8, 1843. The 
commissioners, viz., James A. Alexander, Jonathan Hamilton, and William B. 
Mead, said in their report : " We have diligently inquired into the propriety of 
granting the prayer of the petitioners, and we are of the opinion that the said 



266 History of Warren County. 

township of South West ought to be divided as follows : Beginning at the 
northeast corner of lot No. 235 and the southeast corner of lot No. 236, thence 
west along the south Hne of lots No. 195, 188, 147, 140, 99 and 92, to the 
Crawford county line. That portion on the north side of said division line to 
be called Fairfield, a plot or draft of which is hereunto annexed." 

Glade. — This township was erected from Conewango and Elk, March 8, 
1844, the report of Commissioners Andrew H. Ludlow, Shubal D. Chappell, 
and Thomas demons, then having been read a second time and confirmed 
absolutely. Its original boundaries were described as follows : " Beginning at the 
northeast corner of the Borough of Warren, thence east across the Conewango 
Creek, thence up the east side of said creek to the south line of Pine Grove 
township and northwest corner of tract No. 5488, thence east with the north 
line of said lot No. 5488, and the south line of lot No. 5969 to the west line 
of No. 5533, in Elk township, thence south with the west line of said lot to 
the northwest corner of No. 5534, thence east with the north lines of No. 
5S34> 5544- 5553> ^'^^ 55^2, to the Allegheny River, thence down said river to 
the confluence of the Conewango Creek at the Borough of Warren, thence up 
the north and west bank of said creek to the place of beginning. Taking from 
Conewango township that part lying east of the Conewango Creek and north 
of the Allegheny River, and that part of Elk township lying south of the south 
lines of lots No. 5333, 5343, 5552, and 5561, and forming said new town- 
ship, which we would propose to call Point township, a draft of plot whereof 
is hereunto annexed." 

Corydon. — This township was erected by order of court confirmed abso- 
lutely March 20, 1846, from territory then recently set off from McKean 
county. The report of the commissioners — i. e., Andrew H. Ludlow, Benja- 
min Marsh, and James Cargill — was as follows: "We, the undersigned, ap- 
pointed by the annexed order of court commissioners to enquire into the pro- 
priety of forming a new township out of that part of Corydon township form- 
erly McKean county and establishing the line between Kinzua township and 
McKean county, do report, that in pursuance of said order having been respect- 
ively sworn or affirmed according to law, we have examined the premises, and 
are of opinion that all that part of McKean county lately set off to Warren 
county being part of Corydon township and part of Hamilton township, be 
erected into a new township to be called Corydon township." 

Mead. — This township was erected from parts of Sheffield, Kinzua, and 
Pleasant by an order of court confirmed absolutely June 7, 1847. The com- 
missioners, Andrew H. Ludlow, Lansing Wetmore, and James H. Eddy, de- 
scribed its original boundaries as follows : " Beginning at the Allegheny River 
at the northeast corner of Tract No. 2921, thence south with the east line of 
said tract to the southeast corner of the same, thence with the south line of 
said tract west to the northeast corner of tract No. 2837, thence south with the 



Township Organizations. 267 

east line of said tract No. 2837 to the southeast corner of the same and north- 
east corner of Tract No. 38, thence with the east line of Tracts No. 38, 51, 58, 
75, 82, 103, 1 10, 159, 166, and 199 south to the southeast corner of Tract No. 
199, thence west with the south lines of tracts No. 199, 200, 201, 202, 586, 
585, 584, 583, 582, and 581, to the southwest corner of said tract No. 581 ; 
thence north with the west lines of tracts No. 581, 564, 553, 534, 523, 502, 
491, 470, and 459, to the northwest corner of said tract No. 459, thence with 
the north lines of tracts No. 459 and 460 east to the southwest corner of tract 
of land known as the J. Benson tract, thence with the west line of said Ben- 
son tract and the west line of the R. Arthur tract north to the Allegheny River, 
thence along the south bank of said river to the place of beginning." 

Cherry Grove. — This township was erected from Sheffield by an order of 
court confirming report of commissioners, )ii si, June 7, 1847, and absolutely 
Dec. 7, 1847. The commissioners, Andrew H. Ludlow, Lansing Wetmore 
and James H. Eddy, described its boundaries as follows: " Beginning at the 
northeast corner of tract No. 587, thence with the lines of the tracts south to 
the county line in the east line of tract No. 756, thence with the county line 
west to the west line of tract No. 3 142, thence with the lines of the tracts north 
to the northwest corner of tract No. 598, thence with the lines of the tracts 
east to the place of beginning." 

Pittsficld. — This township was formed from Brokenstraw and Spring Creek 
townships in 1847. If" response to numerous petitioners the court on the 9th 
day of September, 1846, issued an order naming Andrew H. Ludlow, Carter 
V. Kinnear and Stephen Littlefield as commissioners to inquire into the pro- 
priety of granting the prayer of the petitioners, to make survey, report, etc. 
These commissioners rendered their report June 5, 1847, but the order of court 
confirming the same does not appear on record. The boundaries of the town- 
ship, as described by the commissioners in 1847, were as follows : "Beginning 
at the northwest corner of tract No. 125 in Spring Creek township and in the 
south line of Freehold township, thence running south with the west lines of 
tracts No. 125, 128, 131, 134, 137, 140, 143, 146, 149, 152, and 155, to the 
southwest corner of tract No. 155, and to the north line of Deerfield township, 
thence east along the north line of said Deerfield township and the south line 
of tract No. 155, 156, 168, 214, and 223, thence north along the east line of 
tract No. 223 to the northeast corner of the same, thence east along the south 
line of tract No. 224 to the southeast corner of tract No. 224, thence north 
along the east line of tracts No. 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 
and 233 to the northeast corner of No. 233, and the south line of Sugar Grove 
township, thence west along the north line of tracts No, 233, 204, 178, 126, 
and 125 to the place of beginning." 

Change of Toivnship Lines. — On the 7th of June, 1847, a change in the 
line dividing Conewango and Pine Grove townships resulted in increasing the 
area of the first-named division by a few hundred acres. 18 



268 History of Warren County. 

On the 23d of October, 185 1, it was ordered by court that two tier of tracts 
in Deerfield township, commencing at the northwest corner of Deerfield town- 
ship and running thence east as far as the east line of Pittsfield township, be set 
off from Deerfield and attached to Pittsfield. 

Farniington. — This township was formed from Pine Grove by an order 
of court confirmed absolutely October 7, 1853. Its original boundaries were 
described by the commissioners as follows : " Being the western part of said 
township (Pine Grove) and commencing at the New York State line at the 
northeast corner of the Holland Land Company's lands at the northeast corner 
of tract No. 359, thence by said company's line, to the line of Conewango 
township at the southeast corner of tract No. 351, thence by said Conewango 
township line to Sugar Grove township at the southwest corner of tract No. 
321, thence by Sugar Grove township line to the New York State line afore- 
said at the northwest corner of tract No. 293, thence by said State line to the 
place of beginning." 

Change of Tozvnsliip Lines. — During December Sessions, 1854, part of lot 
No. 233 was taken from Pittsfield and attached to Brokenstraw. During the 
same term, also, a small part of Freehold was annexed to Sugar Grove. 

At January adjourned term in 1855 tracts No. 5528, 5529, 5530, 5531, 
5532, 5533, and part of 5569 were detached from Elk township and annexed 
to Pine Grove. 

On the 9th of January, 1856, lots No. 5544, 5553. and 5562 were taken 
from Glade and added to Elk. 

Triumph. — This township was formed from Deerfield by an order of court 
dated March 7, 1878, confirming report of commissioners, and in accordance 
with the wishes of a majority of the voters of Deerfield, as shown at an election 
held P'ebruary 19, 1878. The boundaries of the township as then formed were 
described as follows : " Beginning on the northern boundary of the Tidioute 
Creek road at the northern boundary line of Tidioute Borough ; thence along 
the north boundary of said Tidioute Creek road two miles, to the west line of 
the J. and C. Lovig lands ; thence north on said line of land three hundred 
and ten rods ; thence continue north two hundred and sixty-four rods to the 
south line of tract No. 265 Holland Land Survey ; thence west on the Holland 
Land Survey two and one-half miles to the township of Eldred, thence south 
along the eastern boundary of Eldred and South West townships eight and 
one-fourth miles to the Forest county line, thence east on said line four and 
three-fourth miles to the Allegheny River, thence up the Allegheny River and 
by the meanderings of the Borough line of Tidioute about five and one-fourth 
miles to the place of beginning." 

Walsou. — This township was erected from Limestone by an order of court 
dated March 4, 1880, thus confirming the report of the commissioners, and in 
conformity with the wishes of a majority of the voters of Limestone township, 



Agricultural Societies. 269 

as expressed at an election held on the 17th day of February, 1880, it being 
the northerly portion of tlie old township of Limestone. A map of the new 
township showing its boundaries, etc., can be found on page 541 Road Docket 
No. 3, court records of Warren county. 

Boroughs. — Warren borough was incorporated by an act of the State Leg- 
islature approved April 3, 1832, its original area being three hundred acres, 
or in other words the inlots of the town as laid out in 1795. Youngsville was 
incorporated September 4, 1849; Columbus, March 19, 1853; Tidioute, June 
7, 1862, and Clarendon, early in 1882. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 

The First "Agricultural Show " — Organization of the Warren County Agricultural Society 
— Its Officers — First Annual Fair — Names of Those to Whom were Awarded Premiums — 
Extract from Judge Wetmore's Address — Subsequent Fairs, Officers, etc. — Organization of 
the Union Agricultural Society — Sugar Grove its Headquarters — The Warren County Agri- 
cultural Fair As.sociation Organized — Its Officers — Annual Exhibitions — Remarks. 

IN the fall of 1850 an "agricultural show," as it was termed, was held at the 
village of Sugar Grove by a few of the enterprising farmers and business 
men residing in that vicinity. It was a sort of an impromptu affair, and the 
exhibits and attendance of course were comparatively meager. But it aroused 
an interest in such matters, and a desire to organize a county association. 
Nearly every county in the State of New York and the Western Reserve of 
Ohio had already in successful operation county agricultural associations ; and 
the question was asked why should Warren, bordering on such an active, go- 
ahead farming district as the county of Chautauqua, stand idly by just as she 
was changing (from necessity) from a lumbering to an agricultural district. 
Therefore, prompted by such thoughts and queries, on the 8th day of January, 
1 85 1, an article signed by N. B. Langdon, James Younie, E. C. Catlin, and 
George W. Buell was published in the county newspapers, setting forth the ben- 
efits to be derived from such an association, and requesting all persons inter- 
ested to meet at the court-house in the borough of Warren on the 28th day of 
that month. 

Pursuant to this notice a considerable number of the leading citizens of the 
county assembled at the time and place stated, and organized the meeting by 
electing James Younie, president; John Berry and Archibald Rynd, esq., vice- 
presidents ; and Thomas demons, secretary. The object of the meeting was 



270 History of Warren County. 

then stated at some length by Lansing Wetmore, esq., whereupon a committee 
composed of L. Wetmore, N. B. Langdon, E. C. Catlin, Patrick Falconer, and 
John Hackney was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of 
the meeting. After the unanimous adoption of the resolutions reported, the 
meeting adjourned to meet at Sugar Grove on the 22d day of February of 
that year. 

Agreeably to adjournment, the next meeting was held in the village of Su- 
gar Grove, February 22, 185 1, when a permanent organization was effected, 
and it was decided to hold the " first annual meeting of the society " at Sugar 
Grove, on the fourth Tuesday of September, 185 1. The officers chosen for 
the first year were Lansing Wetmore, president ; Thomas Struthers, Riley 
Preston, Robert Mclntyre, E. C. Catlin, S. Raymond, George F. Eldred, Noah 
Hand, John Wales, James McGee, Mark Dalrymple, John Sill, Squire Sprague, 
Josiah Farnsworth, Erastus Barnes, Alson Rogers, J. H. King, William Brown, 
Perry Sherman, Jason Andruss, Charles Whitney, William Siggins, and John J. 
Berry, vice-presidents ; Patrick Falconer, secretary, and George W. Buell, 
treasurer. 

As announced, the first annual fair of the Warren County Agricultural So- 
ciety was held at Sugar Grove on Tuesday, September 23, 185 1. The exhibits 
were varied and creditable, but the festivities were somewhat marred by a rain 
storm, the most severe that had occurred in two months. Lansing Wetmore, 
esq., the president of the society, delivered the address. The receipts at the 
gate were not stated, though a considerable number of exhibitors were awarded 
premiums. Their names were as follows : John Russell, Mark C. Dalrymple, 
Ransom Gardner, A.J. Irvine, Melancthon Miles, George Brown, Vestus Pond, 
Ira Baker, Joseph M. Gardner, G. H. Lott, Friend Curtis, Patrick Falconer, Na- 
thaniel Kidder, Clark Dalrymple, Hosea Harmon, Joseph Jenkins, John Ma- 
han, N. B. Langdon, John Abbott, W. S. Roney, R. E. Cook, Dexter Hodges, 
Charles Lott, George Abbott, W. P. Falconer, James Patterson, Robert Allen, 
James Woodside, William Morgan, John Gregg, William A. Gates, Ezekiel 
Comstock, F. R. Miller, John B. Hamilton, Lyman Trantum, Nathan Cooper, 
Emily H. Cook, Quartus Wright, Mrs. Cobham, Miss E. Cobham, Lester 
Wright, F. A. Hull, R. J. Cowles, Miss Sally Parmlee, Miss E. K. Falconer, 
J. J. Broughton, E. P. Richardson, and L. E. Guignan. 

"Thirty-six years ago last January," said Lansing Wetmore, esq., in his 
address above alluded to, " I immigrated from my native place in New York, 
and came to this county. With all the efforts we could make, with four teams, 
it took over a month to get from Whitestown, in Oneida county, to Sugar Grove. 
I assisted to open the first path from this village to what was known through 
•eastern New York as Sackettsburg, now Lottsville. It was a beautiful village, 
^u paper, with its corner lots, school and meeting-house lots, academy reserve, 
all free gratis to actual settlers, while the lands all around were only three dol- 



Agricultural Societies. 271 

lars per acre, a dollar more than they were worth twenty years afterwards. 
There were some humbugs in those days as well as since. Sugar Grove then 
contained three log cabins, and Johnny Hood's grist-mill, built of poles, where 
the people far and near used to take their corn to grind — for he could grind 
nothing else. They took their grist home minus the toll and the cliit ; a mis- 
chievous squirrel would set and take them as fast as the corn dropped from the 
hopper. 

" There was then but one habitation between this and the western line of 
the county, a distance of fifteen miles. The site of Columbus was a dense for- 
est. Now behold the change. A wilderness has disappeared. Four pleasant 
and thriving villages have sprung up, the whole distance dotted with well- 
improved farms, neat and tasty dwellings, and fruit-growing orchards. The 
county has increased in population from a few hundred to fifteen thousand." 
His address throughout was very interesting. 

The second annual fair was held in the town of Warren in September, 1852, 
the grounds occupied being vacant lots located a square or two above the 
German Lutheran church and on the same side of the street. Domestic and 
other small articles of value were protected from the weather by a tent. Judge 
Lansing Wetmore, also, served as president during the second year. Other 
transactions of the society, as far as we have been able to ascertain the facts, 
will be mentioned by years as follows: 

1853. The third annual fair was held at Pittsfield. Stephen Littlefield 
serving as president. 

1854. The fair for this year was held in September at Columbus. Daniel 
Lett officiating as president. At about this time December fairs were insti- 
tuted for the purpose of exhibiting vegetables, field crops, winter fruits, etc., 
in a more perfect condition than could be done earlier in the season ; but after 
a year or two these fairs or meetings were abandoned. 

1855. The fifth annual fair was held at Lottsville Wednesday, Septem- 
ber 12, on the farm of Daniel Lott, and proved to be the most successful of 
any to that date. John Mahan served as president. 

1856. John Younie, president. Fair held at Sugar Grove September 17. 
It was a grand success, it being estimated that six thousand people were 
present. 

1857. The fair during this year was held at Youngsville September 16. 
Henry P. Kinnear, president. One of the noted features of this exhibition was 
a load of Quaker Hill coal, which David Dinsmoor had hauled twenty-five 
miles for such a purpose. 

1858. Fair held in the town of Warren in October. Patrick Falconer 
officiating as president. 

1859. Fair held at Marsh's Corners in Farmington township September 
21. Name of president not known. 



272 History of Warren County. 

i860. In June, i860, fair grounds were leased at Youngsville for a term 
of three years. Hence, the tenth annual fair was held at that place Septem - 
ber 25. Friend Curtis served as president. Recently acquired railroad facil- 
ities assisted largely in making this exhibition a success. Several of the old 
militia companies of antc-belluvi days — viz.: The Warren Rifles, Youngsville 
Artillery, Deerfield Cavalry, Deerfield Rifles, and Eldred Rifles — were also 
present to add, as far as they were capable of doing, pomp and splendor to the 
occasion. 

1 86 1. The eleventh annual meeting was held at Youngsville, Henry P- 
Kinnear serving as president, on the 25th day of September; but war was now 
raging and not much interest was manifested in the exhibition of fancy live 
stock and farm products. 

1862-63—64. During the remainder of the war no fairs were held. 

1 865. On the 27th and 28th days of September what was termed the thir- 
teenth annual fair was held at Youngsville, Henry P. Kinnear ofliciating as 
president. 

1866. Fair held at Youngsville September 26 and 27. George J. Whit- 
ney, president. 

1867. The fifteenth annual fair of the society was held at Youngsville Sep- 
tember 18, 19, and 20, George J. Whitney still officiating as president. 

1868. Fair held at Youngsville September 23, 24, and 25, George J. Whit- 
ney, president. 

1869. The seventeenth annual fair was held at Youngsville September 15 
and 16, W. G. Garcelon, president; G. W. Kinnear, secretary. 

1870. The eighteenth annual exhibition of the society was also held at 
Youngsville September 15 and 16. W. G. Garcelon, president; G. W. Kin- 
near, secretary. 

1871. The nineteenth annual fair of the "Warren County Agricultural 
Society" was held at Youngsville on the 14th, 15th, and i6thdays of Septem- 
ber. W. G. Garcelon, president ; G. W. Kinnear, secretary, and Darius Mead, 
treasurer. This seems to have been the last expiring effort of the old society. 
It died of location, lack of interest, and consequently of support. 

In the summer of 1874 was organized at Sugar (irove what has since been 
known as the Union Agricultural Society of Warren county. The first annual 
fair was held in that village October 7 and 8, of the year mentioned, and all 
subsequent exhibitions have been held in the same place. The thirteenth and 
last annual fair occurred during the 14th, 15th, and i6th days of September, 
1886. While no great financial success has been attained by the management 
of this society, its affairs have been conducted generally in a very satisfactory 
manner, and as yet there seems to be no lack of interest manifested among 
those who have ever been its steadfast friends and supporters. However, the 
county is too sparsely populated to successfully maintain two agricultural so- 



Agricultural Societies. 273 

cieties, each claiming to be county associations, and, judging from the past — 
the experience of other counties — one or the other will eventually go down. 

The Warren County Agricultural Fair Association was organized at a 
meeting held in the court-house in the town of Warren on Saturday P. M., June 
14, 1884, by a combination of members of the Warren Board of Trade and the 
Warren Farmers' Club. This meeting was organized by the selection of 
George P. Orr as chairman, and A. S. Dalrymple as secretary. A permanent 
organization was then effected by the election of George P. Orr, president ; 
A. S. Dalrymple, secretary ; George Ensworth, treasurer, and Messrs. Orr, 
Dalrymple, Ensworth, F. A. Cogswell, Charles Lott, W. B. Acocks, and C. 
H. Wiltsie, executive committee. 

On a motion made and carried Messrs. Acocks, Lott, and Wiltsie were 
instructed to select a vice-president from each township and borough in the 
county, to act with the officers already mentioned. The members of the 
executive committee were also authorized to make all arrangements for the 
fair, etc., in the name of the association. 

The original or charter members were Charles Lott, W. B. Acocks, George 
P. Orr, C. H. Wiltsie, F. A. Cogswell, B. F. Mead, S. A. Samuelson, M. Schu- 
ler, D. Ruhlman, Peter Smith, D. M. Davis, A. S. Dalrymple, A. E. Myers, and 
George Ensworth. 

Over fifteen hundred dollars had already been subscribed in aid of the 
enterprise by the business men of Warren, and thereafter, led and spurred on 
by the tireless activity of President Orr, the affairs of the association were 
pushed forward with unflagging zeal. Upon application the association was 
incorporated by order of court. Beautiful and spacious grounds located on the 
Irvine bottoms opposite the town were leased for a term of five years, with the 
privilege of five years more, at a rental of two hundred dollars per year, and 
the bridge made free for all, during the first annual fair, by the payment to 
its owners of one hundred and fifty dollars 

The work of fitting up the grounds, grading the race course, fencing, and 
erecting sheds and commodious buildings was hurried forward with all possible 
dispatch, and on the 9th, loth, i ith, and I2th days of September, 1884, was 
held the first annual fair of the association. It was pronounced a grand suc- 
cess, the display of stock, farm products, goods, etc., on exhibition being 
exceedingly creditable, and over three thousand dollars were received at the 
gates. 

The next fair was held September 8, 9, 10, and 11, 1885. An immense 
crowd was present during the last two days, estimated at from eight to ten 
thousand on the third day. In competing for premiums there were more 
than two thousand entries, whereas during the first year less than one thou- 
sand were numbered. The officers during 1885 were mainly those who had 
served in 1884. 



274 History of Warren County. 

Early in 1886 the following officers were elected: George P. Orr, presi- 
dent; A. S. Dalrymple, secretary; George Ensworth, treasurer; Charles Lott, 
L. M. Rowland, C. H. Wiltsie, Philip Sechrist, and Willis Cowan, directors. 
The third annual fair was held September 7, 8, 9, and 10, 1886. It was 
another very successful effort, if the gathering of eight or ten thousand 
strangers each day, in a little town of five thousand inhabitants, is the object 
chiefly sought. The rustics were out in full force. The weather was hot, dry, 
and sultry. The street-sprinkler could not pursue his every-day avocation, 
and as a result clouds of dust overhung both town and fair-ground day and 
night. Sweltering, weary-looking country mothers, leading children of tender 
years (who doubtless had capered bare-footed, free and joyous through the 
long summer days till now), were seen running and dodging here and there in 
their sometimes frantic endeavors to avoid being run down by fast-driving, 
bawling hackmen, the poor children meanwhile toeing in and toeing out, now 
stepping on their heels and again on their toes, in the apparent effort to gain 
temporary relief from the pain and misery inflicted by tightly-fitting, coarsely 
made, and stiff nezv shoes. It was a great and varied display of humanity, 
truly. Happy Warrenites, those who had wares to dispose of, of whatever 
nature, smiled and rubbed their palms in glee. There were balloon ascensions, 
Indians in their aboriginal dress, horse races, etc., etc., and some as creditable 
displays of live stock and manufactured articles as can be found anywhere. But 
to the writer, who was present, it seemed to be a series of days set apart for 
the especial benefit of bridge owners, howling hack-drivers, thieving fakirs, 
hotel bars, and horse jockeys. Perhaps these are necessary and unavoidable 
concomitants of such gatherings with one exception, and that cries aloud for 
abatement. Warren is noted the traveling world over as a hack-infested town. 
Its jehus are too numerous and noisy every day in the year. But on circus 
and fair days they are an intolerable nuisance. They take possession of the 
streets ; pedestrians must invariably give right of way or be run over ; none 
are permitted to make as much noise as they, and from dawn of day till mid- 
night their noisy, ill-mannered solicitations for custom, can be heard above all 
else. It may be considered by some' pecuniarily interested that this is not an 
appropriate corner to speak of such practices ; but we are presumed to 
chronicle remarkable events. The fair of 1886 is a thing of the past, a matter 
of history. Then, too, it may prove interesting to future generations and deni- 
zens of Warren (when the hackman's voice has been abated here, as it already 
has been subdued in most other populous, well-regulated towns) to read how 
affairs generally were conducted in what will be to them the long ago. 

Without a doubt, however, these agricultural associations and annual exhi- 
bitions have been of vast benefit to the farmers and manufacturers of agricult- 
ural implements. They here meet together and can easily compare their 
own efforts with those of their neighbors.. The interchange of thought and 



Agricultural Societies. 275 

rehearsals of experiences are of mutual advantage, and many new things are 
seen and learned each year. For these simple reasons alone the annual agri- 
cultural fairs should be perpetuated. 

The agricultural implements used by the early settlers were very simple 
and rude. The plow was made entirely of wood except the share, clevis and 
draft-rods, which were of iron, and had to be for many years transported from 
Pittsburgh. The wooden plow was a very cumbrous, awkward implement, 
very laborious to the plowman, and hard for the team to draw. It was, how- 
ever, very generally used until about the year 1825, when the cast-iron plow 
patented by Jethro Wood was first brought into the county, though it gained 
popularity but slowly. The farmer looked at it and was sure it would break 
the first time it struck a stone or a root, and then how should he replace it ? The 
wooden mold-board would not break, and when it wore out he could take his 
axe and hew out another from a piece of tree. Since that time no agricultural 
implement has been more improved upon than the plow. It is now made of 
beautifully polished cast steel, except the beam and handles, while in Canada 
and in some parts of the United States these, too, are made of iron. The cast 
steel plow of the present manufacture, in its several styles, sizes, and adapta- 
tions to the various soils and forms of land, including the sulky, or riding plow 
of the western prairies, is, among agricultural implements, the most perfect in 
use. 

The pioneer harrow was simply the fork of a tree, with the branches on 
one side cut close, and on the other left about a foot long to serve the purpose 
of teeth. In some instances a number of holes were bored through the beams 
and wooden pins driven into them. It was not until about 1825-30 that iron 
or steel harrow teeth were introduced into Warren county. 

The axes, hoes, shovels, and picks were rude, heavy, and clumsy. The 
sickle and scythe were at first used to harvest the grain and hay, but the 
former gave way easily to the cradle, with which better results could be at- 
tained with less labor. The scythe and cradle have been replaced by the 
mower and reaper to a great extent, though both are still used considerably 
in this county because of the hilly and rolling surface of the country, as well as 
the great number of stumps and rocks yet remaining in the districts recently 
improved. 

The ordinary wooden flail was used to thresh grain for many years, when 
the horse-power thresher was largely substituted. The method of cleaning 
the chaff" from the grain by the early settlers was by a strong sheet or blanket 
handled by two persons. The grain and the chaff" were placed on the blanket, 
which was then tossed up and down where a brisk breeze was blowing, the 
wind separating and blowing away the chaff" during the operation. Fanning- 
mills were introduced as early as 1825, but the first of these were very rude 
and little better than the primitive blanket. Since, improvements have been 



276 History of Warren County. 

made from time to time until an almost perfect separator is now connected 
with every threshing-machine, and the work of ten men for a whole season is 
done more completely by two or three men, as many horses, and a patent sep- 
arator, in one day. In fact, it is difficult to fix limitations upon improvements 
in agricultural machinery within the last fifty years. 

In the employment of improved methods in the use of the best implements 
and machinery, the farmers of Warren county are not behind their neighbors. 
True it is that in many cases they were slow to change, but much allowance 
should be made for surrounding circumstances. Theirs, for the first fifty years 
of the century, was a noted lumbering region, and by engaging in lumbering 
operations was the readiest means of obtaining the necessaries of life. The 
general surface was looked upon as cold and unproductive. Then, again, the 
immense growth of timber to be cleared away, the depredations of wild beasts, 
and the annoyance of the swarming insect life, as well as the great difficulty 
and expense of procuring seeds and farming implements, were discouraging. 
These various difficulties were quite sufficient to explain the slow progress 
made in farming in the first years of settlement. Improvements were not en- 
couraged, while much of the topography of the county renders the use of cer- 
tain kinds of improved machinery impossible. The people generally rejected 
book-farming as unimportant and useless, and knew nothing of the chemistry 
of agriculture. The farmer who ventured to make experiments, to stake out 
new paths of practice, or to adopt new modes of culture, subjected himself to 
the ridicule of the whole neighborhood. For many years the same methods 
of farming were observed ; the son planted just as many acres of corn and po- 
tatoes as his father did, and in the same old phases of the moon. All their 
practices were merely traditional ; but within the last thirty years most re- 
markable changes have occurred in all the conditions of agriculture in this 
county, and there are still ample opportunities for many more. 



CIIAPTKR XXVII. 

rwK i'KKkSs. 

A Description of Wairen's First Printer ami Publisher— Tlie Conowango Eniigrant^Its 
First Editor — Interesting; Details — The Warren Gazette — Its Editors, Publishers, etc. — Voice 
of the People — The Union — Warren Bulletin — Democratic Advocate — Warren Standard — 
Warren Ledfrer — People's Monitor — Warren Mail — Youngsville Express — Tidioute Puhhcations 
— Warren Mirror — Clarendon Record— Evening Paragraph — Sugar Grove News — Bear Lake 
Record. 

EARLY in the summer of 1824 a stranger, unheralded and alone, made his 
advent into the sparsely built up, yet ambitious little town of Warren 
(composed as it then was only of log cabins and low frame buildings scattered 



The Press. 277 

here and there), and announced to the somewhat astonished inhabitants that 
he was a printer by occupation, and that it was his purpose to establish a news- 
paper in their midst. His appearance was exceptional, to say the least, and, 
since he attained fame, but not riches, as the first printer and publisher to lo- 
cate in the county, deserves a brief description. A native of the North of 
Ireland, or in other words a Scotch-Irishman, and apparently about thirty 
years of age, his erect, well-proportioned figure of more than medium size was 
clad in a threadbare suit, of which a long swallow-tailed coat and home-made 
pants (cut with an eye to keeping the bottoms out of the mud, unless the mud 
were six inches in depth), were the most conspicuous garments. A heavy 
growth of red, or carroty-colored, hair curled outward beneath the narrow 
brim of a hat long worn, while upon his face deep, thickly-pitted marks of the 
ravages of small-pox, and a profusion of freckles disputed for possession. Of 
his eyes, so changable were their hue, none could determine their color, but all 
were unanimous in the opinion that they ever had an appealing look, as if con- 
tinually asking for help. Need we add, his name was Richard Hill, a former 
resident of Mercer county. Pa. 

The nearest printing establishments were then at F"ranklin and Meadville, 
and about the only newspapers in circulation here were the Venango Demo- 
crat, issued at Franklin, and the Herald and Crawford Messenger, printed at 
Meadville. Therefore, although to this time no one in Warren had hardly 
thought of starting a newspaper, Hill's proposition was well received, and, after 
a brief discussion of the project, his forbidding appearance was overlooked by 
the desire of having a home printing-oflice put in operation as soon as possible. 
The few business men of the place enlisted themselves in the enterprise and 
succeeded in procuring some two hundred subscribers. Soon after. Hill 
brought on his family, and a press ^ which bore marks of antiquity, and moved 
into the house built by Robert Arthur, then in an unfinished state. There he 
went to work. His rickety press was made to keep its place so that he could 
use it by spiking one end of a plank on each corner, and the other end to the 
joist above. 

The first number of Hill's paper, the Conczuango Emigrant, was dated July 
24, 1824. In form and size it was a folio of twelve by eighteen inches. It was 
Jacksonian in its political tendencies, but treated John Quincy Adams with 
fairness. Among other things, the initial number contained an account of the 
trial of Jacob Hook at the previous June term of the Warren County Court, 
taken from the New York Censor. The paper on which it was printed was 

1 It is stated in a volume published many years ago, entitled the " History of Pennsylvania," that 
the press used by Parker C. Purviance, who published the Warren GazetU in 1830, was the same 
which was used by Dr. Ben. Franklin, and on which the Continental money was struck. This is a 
mistake. The Purviance press was purchased by .-Vrchibald Tanner and Lansing Wetmore when near- 
ly new. If the old Franklin press was ever brought into use within the limits of Warren county it was 
the one utilized by Hill. 



278 History of Warren County. 



made before the art of taking the color from blue rags was brought into use, 
and consequently partook deeply of that color. Andrew W. Morrison was 
announced as the editor, and the prospectus shown in soliciting subscriptions, 
as well as the first address to the Emigrant's patrons, were from his pen. 

As he (Morrison) was the one who advised Hill to locate in Warren, he 
also deserves a passing notice. Morrison had been a sojourner in this country 
of pine woods and buckwheat cakes some years previously, and taught a dis- 
trict school at the " Dam," now Russellburg, as early as the winter of 1816— 
17. He was a fellow countryman of Hill's, though in no other way at all sim- 
ilar. He was then a young man of genteel appearance, pleasing in his man- 
ners, and of winning address. At the close of his school he had an exhibi- 
tion — the first school exhibition in fact to take place in the county. There 
being no large room at the " Dam," except Captain Slone's bar-room, this 
then grand affair came off" in an upper room of Daniel Jackson's tavern in the 
town of Warren. Morrison taught a good school and conducted himself with 
the strictest propriety while teaching. But after he had received pay for his 
services as a teacher, he proceeded to Warren and indulged heavily in what 
he probably had not been unused to before, strong drink. During this ca- 
rousal he was seen one day mounted on an Indian pony behind a young squaw 
of the Seneca tribe, bare headed and in his shirt sleeves, riding back and forth 
from Dunn's and Jackson's taverns, ordering whiskey to be brought out to 
treat himself and the squaw each time that he stopped. After spending a 
week or more in debauchery, his money became exhausted and he started 
down the river. From that time no more was heard of Morrison at Warren 
until his name appeared upon Hill's prospectus as the proposed editor of the 
Conewango Emigrant. 

It seems that during the years intervening from 1 8 1 7, he had read law in 
Mercer county, been admitted to the bar, and married a wife. It was now his 
purpose to come here with Hill, edit the Emigrant and practice law. He was 
admitted to practice in the courts of Warren county September 2, 1824, which 
indicates about the time of his arrival, for it is remembered that he did not 
come until after Hill had been here for several weeks. Prudently, as it would 
seem, he left his wife in Mercer county. As a law practitioner, however, he 
met with but little success. Thereupon, for old acquaintance sake, Lansing 
Wetmore, esq., the prothonotary, who had met him years before while he was 
teaching at the " Dam," gave him employment in his office. But it was all to 
no purpose, for though Morrison wrote fluently a beautiful hand, the fell de- 
stroyer — intemperance — had done its work; he could not resist the tempta- 
tion of drinking. Hence, after a stay of only a few months he again disap- 
peared, and was never more seen in Warren. 

After Morrison's departure Hill applied to A, B, and C, for assistance in 
the editorial department. Although a pretty good type-setter, and showing. 



The Press. 279 

some taste in his selections from books and exchanges, he could scarcely write 
a sentence grammatically, or one that would convey a distinct idea of what he 
wished to explain or illustrate. He worked on in dirt and poverty nearly two 
years, finally changing the name of his paper to that of the Warren Courier. 
It was of no use, however, for matters were drawing to a crisis. Of a jealous 
disposition, he would without any just cause turn against and abuse his best 
friends. He would publish any thing for money, and for a very small sum too. 
No matter how scurrillous, if a communication was accompanied with a dollar, 
or the promise of it, it would appear in his columns. Among other articles of 
this character was one in the form of an advertisement, signed by " Naper 
Tandy." Naper said that he had commenced the business of tanning in Sugar 
Grove township, about two miles north of John I. Willson's tavern (which would 
be about a mile north of the State line), where he was ready to tan all kinds of 
hides on the shortest notice — especially carroty-colortA hides from Hibernia's 
Isle. He directed Hill to insert three times and send his bill. This, with like 
abusive notices, together with his own editorial work, when he could get no 
one else to write, brought his paper into contempt and ridicule. As a result 
it ceased to exist; died of starvation in fact in less than two years from the 
date of its establishment. Hill then returned to Mercer county, taking his 
venerable press (which maj' have been historic, the veritable Franklin instru- 
ment of torture) and other material along. 

Foreseeing the inevitable fate of the Etnigrant, and deeming it important 
for the character and welfare of the county that a reputable newspaper should 
be published in it, Archibald Tanner and Lansing Wetmore purchased a new 
press and other requisite material, engaged Morgan Bates to attend to the me- 
chanical part of the work, and about the time Hill's paper ceased to exist, the 
Warren Gazette made its appearance. The first number of the Gazette pub- 
lished by Morgan Bates, for Tanner & Wetmore, proprietors, was dated Febru- 
ary 18, 1826. It continued under their control about three years — the last 
number being issued March 4, 1829 — the day that Andrew Jackson took his 
seat as president of the United States. Thomas demons, who was the pub- 
lisher at this time, thus quaintly announced the event : " This day John O. 
Adams and I are both tipped overboard — ' How we apples swim.' " 

Bates had removed to Jamestown, N. Y., in the spring of 1828, where he 
published the Chautauqua Republican, which was established to promote the 
election of Jackson, and had a large circulation in Warren county. The Ga- 
zette supported Adams, and Mr. Clemons, who had been an assistant in the 
ofiice under Bates, continued its publication after the departure of the latter, 
until it passed out of the hands of Tanner & Wetmore. We will here explain, 
also, that the junior member of the firm (Wetmore) officiated as editor-in-chief 
during the three years of their proprietorship. 

Bates was a genial, good-hearted fellow, always ready for a frolic, generous 



28o History of Warren County. 

to a fault, and impulsive. Money never burdened his pockets a great while at 
a time. Lacking discretion, however, he would say and do things which fre- 
quently brought him into trouble. As the editor, and ostensible proprietor of 
a then large newspaper (the Chautauqua Rcpublicaii), he seemed to feel the 
importance of his new position, and to look back on his situation in the Gazette 
office with disdain. In a political way he commenced upon the Gazette peo- 
ple, through his paper, in manner and language which was considered indeco- 
rous, and was told so. This brought forth from him a prompt and rather inso- 
lent reply. Thus began a war of words (common among editors during those 
days, however,) which was continued for many weeks, when such epithets as 
scoundrel, liar, knave, etc., were pretty freely indulged in. The last article in 
the Gazette was answered by the service of a writ for slander. The suit was 
continued from term to term until after the election, when it was withdrawn 
by Bates at his own costs. He also embraced the opportunity at that time, or 
soon afterward, of resuming friendly relations with his old friends of the Ga- 
zette. After leaving Jamestown he experienced a variety of fortunes, some 
prosperous and some adverse. In 1835 he was foreman in the office of the 
New Yorker, the first paper published by Horace Greeley. He afterwards pub- 
lished the Detroit Advertiser, in company with that prince of early editors, 
Dawson, of the Rochester Democrat. They published the Advertiser during 
the time the Whigs were in power, and did the printing for the State. He vis- 
ited Warren at about that time and displayed a large amount of Michigan 
State scrip, which he had received in pay for State printing. He was after- 
wards a commission merchant in Detroit. The last heard of him he was on 
his way to California by way of Cape Horn. 

In March, 1829, the Gazette establishment was transferred to the proprie- 
torship of Parker C. and Samuel A. Purviance. The former was a printer, the 
latter a lawyer. They published it about a year together, when Samuel A. 
withdrew. It was continued by Parker C. for some months after, when, like 
its predecessor, it suspended for want of support. Both Parker C. and Samuel 
A. Purviance were men of talent, particularly the latter, and the paper while 
under their management was conducted with signal ability. Both returned to 
Butler county, where Samuel attained a high standing at the bar. The course 
they pursued in politics, for they were zealous, untiring Whig partisans, caused 
the Democratic party to start a paper of their own. 

Accordingly, in November, 1829, the first number of the Voice of the Peo- 
ple was issued by Thomas demons and William A. Olney. It continued un- 
der their control about two years, when demons withdrew. Thereafter Olney 
kept up its publication until his death, which occurred in October, 1835. After 
Olney's demise Charles B. Cotter assumed control, but he proved to be 
rather a weak brother of the " art preservative," and after a few more weeks 
or months of tribulation its voice was hushed forever. 



The Press. 281 

About 1830 J. B. Hyde, jr., began the publication of a paper termed The 
Union. It advocated the cause of anti- Masonry. Mr. Hyde was a young man 
of fair talents, quiet and retiring in his manners, and honorable in his dealings. 
He published the paper about two years, when he died, a victim to close con- 
finement and intense application to business. 

The first number of the Warren Bulletin, the successor of the Voice of the 
People as a Democratic organ, was issued May 1 1, 1836, by Norris W. Goodrich. 
It was moderately Democratic — usually candid and respectful in its treat- 
ment of political opponents. It was continued about three years, when Good- 
rich, having concluded to apply himself to the practice of law, ceased his labors 
as a newspaper man and retired. He was admitted to the bar in 1840, and 
subsequently became a well-known attorney in McKean county. Goodrich's 
paper was immediately succeeded, from the same office, by the Democratic 
Advocate, edited by a certain Quincy Adams Johnson, a pretentious fellow 
who brought good certificates but poor qualifications. He continued the pa- 
per about eight months, grossly imposed on his party friends, got badly in 
debt, and finally left both paper and debts to take care of themselves. The 
Advocate WAS continued during the exciting campaign of 1840 by Mr. J. B. 
Wilson, of Cincinnati, procured for that purpose, who left soon after the pres- 
idential election. Thomas Clemons, who always stood in readiness to lend a 
helping hand in case of a Democratic emergency, then took charge of it as 
editor, and continued its publication until some time in 1842, when he trans- 
ferred his interests to S. J. Goodrich and T. T. Wilson. In the spring of 1843 
Wilson withdrew and left Goodrich sole proprietor. He continued its publi- 
cation about a year and then sold half his interest to J. Y. James, and the Ad- 
vocate was continued in charge of James & Goodrich a few months, when the 
latter transferred the balance of his interest to J. D. James. Under the pilot- 
age of J. Y. and J. D. James, the Democratic Advocate was continued during 
the years 1845-46 and until March of 1847, when it ran aground, and the of- 
fice and material passed again into the hands of S. J. Goodrich. He changed 
its name to the Warren Standard, which commenced in May, 1847, and was 
continued until March 6, 1849, when the office and all materials were burned 
in the conflagration which destroyed the old "Exchange Row." Books and 
everything were lost, and no insurance. 

Goodrich, however, immediately rallied, purchased new material, took into 
partnership again T. T. Wilson, and on the first day of May, 1849, was issued 
the first number of the IVarren Ledger. They conducted it together about 
two years, when Goodrich withdrew (he having received an appointment 
as collector of tolls on the Pennsylvania Canal, at Harrisburg), and it fell into 
the hands of Wilson alone. At the close of the fifth volume Wilson com- 
mended his two or three hundred pa\ing subscribers, but complained bitterly 
of the four hundred who had failed to pay, many of them for the whole five 



282 History of Warren County. 

years, during which the paper had never missed a week nor published a half 
sheet. On the 14th of March, 1854, S. J. Goodrich announced his return here; 
and from April i to August 8, of that year, the Ledger was carried on by 
Goodrich & Wilson, when the latter sold his interest to A. W. Stevens. It 
was then published by Goodrich & Stevens until February 13, 1855, when 
Goodrich sold his interest to Thomas Clemons, from which time it was con- 
ducted by Clemons & Stevens until March 11, 1856, when Stevens sold out to 
John Daily. Clemons & Daily commenced April i, 1856, and continued to- 
gether one year, when they transferred their interests to, or for the use of, D. 
W. C. James. Mr. James officiated as its editor and publisher from the spring 
of 1857 to November 30, i860, when it passed into the hands of W. J. Clem- 
ons, who managed it alone until May 29, 1861, when Charles Dinsmoor be- 
came its associate editor. They carried it on until April 22, 1863, when Dins- 
moor retired, and W. J. Clemons again conducted it alone until November 23, 
1863, when he sold out to B. F. Morris, who, for more than twenty- two years, 
with the exception of a few months, was its sole responsible editor and publisher. 
On the 9th of November, 1871, J. Hamilton King, jr., purchased an interest in 
the paper and appeared as joint publisher until the time of his death, September 
20, 1875, when his interest fell back into the hands of Mr. Morris. On the 5th of 
February, 1886, the Ledger was purchased by D. D. and F. E. Reed, who, to 
the present writing, have retained Mr. Morris as editor. During all the changes 
here noted the paper never suspended and never missed but very few regular 
issues. 

From 1 83 1, the year the Gazette ceased to exist, until 1838 no Whig paper 
was published in the county. In August of that year, however, a Whig organ, 
entitled the People's Monitor, made its appearance under the management of 
M. Millington. He remained about eight months, but the income of the paper 
not being sufficient to maintain his extravagant ideas of dress and habits, he 
returned to Ilarrisburg, the victim, it is to be presumed, of disappointed hopes. 
The office and material then passed into the hands of Peleg S. Cole, who soon 
after took into partnership a young man named Woodward. The firm of Cole 
& Woodward continued about three years, when the latter retired and J. W. 
Weaver took his place, holding it, however, but a short period of time, when 
he withdrew, leaving Mr. Cole to continue alone until the Monitor ceased to 
be a mentor for the people, for want of support. This event happened during 
the year 1845. 

There was then an interval during which no Whig paper was published 
until July 25, 1848, when the first number of the Alleglieiiy il/rt// appeared. 
This paper was established by the efforts of a few leading Whigs, and was 
continued under the management of J. Warren Fletcher, its first editor, pub- 
lisher, and proprietor, until March 7, 1849, when E. Cowan, a young man 
■who had been connected with the office from the beginning, became its owner 



The Press. 2S3 

by purchase. On the 20th of November of the same year the name was 
changed to the Wanrn Mail, a title it has ever since retained. About July 
21, 1852, Mr. Cowan took Lucius Rogers into partnership, and together they 
continued its publication until September 22, 1853, when Mr. Cowan dissolved 
his connection with the Mail, temporarily, as it will appear, and was super- 
seded by L. Rogers and O. C. Bates. Mr. Cowan sought a larger field for his 
abilities as a journalist at Buffalo and Erie, but, it seems, found the fields some- 
what barren. Meanwhile the Mail was managed by Rogers & Bates until 
June 29, 1854, when Mr. Cowan suddenly appeared again as co-editor with 
Rogers, and Mr. Bates as suddenly disappeared, without any explanation. 
The paper was then carried on by Cowan & Rogers until the 19th of August, 
1854, when Mr. Rogers retired. Thereafter Mr. Cowan paddled his own 
canoe alone until June i, 1874, when his son Willis became associated with 
him in the publication of the Mail, a. business as well as a family relationship 
which still continues unbroken. The War?r>i Mail now enjoys the distinction 
of being the senior newspaper of the county, and has been known as an 
unswerving exponent of Republican principles since the formation of that 
party. 

The Yoiingsvillc Express was established by John W. Mason June '^,0, 1849. 
Nuetral in politics, its publication was continued until November, 1853, when 
it retired from view. 

In Tidioute, after the oil developments had made it pretentious, a number 
of newspapers, both dailies and weeklies, sprang into existence. The Tidioute 
Journal, Commercial, and Chronicle all had their birth and demise, and have 
now been succeeded by the Weekly Neivs, published by Charles E. White, 
which seems to be established on a permanent basis. 

The Warren Mirror was established as a Sunday paper October i, 1882, 
by Walker Bros. It started as a folio, four colmns to a page, of 9 by 14 
inches in size; was enlarged to a quarto November 12, 1882. On the l6th 
of October, 1883, it passed into the hands of E. Walker, the present publisher 
and proprietor. May 1 1, 1884, it was enlarged to five columns to a page, size 
of page, i\\ by i/f inches. A Saturday edition was first issued July 12, 
1884, of the same size as the Sunday issue. Another enlargement to six col- 
umns to a page, and columns increased to igf inches in length, took place 
February 14, 1885. The Daily Mirror, a folio, with pages the same size as 
the Saturday and Sunday editions, was first issued March 24, 1886. 

The Clarendon Record was started in the spring of 1882, about the time 
the Cherry Grove oil field was opened. The first four numbers were pub- 
lished by Dr. D. P. Robbins, and printed at the Times office, Union City, Pa. 
Northrop & Thomas then purchased the business and moved their material to 
Clarendon from Bordell and Duke Centre. About three weeks afterward D. 
D. Reed purchased a half interest, and the paper was conducted by Northrop 



284 History of Warren County. 

& Reed about one year. Mr. Reed then became connected with the Warren 
S7inday Mirror, and C. G. Thomas assumed the proprietorship of the Record. 
In the fall of 1884 the office was purchased by B. F. Morris, of the Warren 
Ledger, and for a period of about one year it was leased to Sanborn & Knight, 
who changed the name to the Clarendon Herald. In the fall of 1885 the 
entire outfit was moved to Warren and combined with the Ledger office. The 
paper was then reduced in size, and was sold, with the Ledger, to the Reed 
Bros. 

The Evening Paragraph was founded at Warren, September 22, 1884, by 
E. L. Hempstead, F. W. Truesdell, and J. H. Kelly. On September 3, 1885, 
the Weekly Paragraph made its appearance. On the 28th of October follow- 
ing Messrs. Hempstead and Truesdell retired, when J. H. Kelley and T. F. 
Tuohy became the publishers and proprietors, and still continue as such. 

The Sugar Grove News was established at Sugar Grove in December, 
1884, by J. Warren Fletcher, a veteran journalist, the first editor and pub- 
lisher of the Allegheny Mail, and appears to have gained a good foothold. 

A copy of The Bear Lake Record, the latest Warren county claimant for 
journalistic favors, lies before us. It is No. 7 of vol. I, and dated December 16, 
1886, which indicates, barring mishaps, that the first number was issued No- 
vember 4, 1886, by J. H. and Frank Gardner, its publishers and proprietors. 

Of the early newspapers published in Warren nearly all were printed on 
what was known as the Ramage^ press. As a general thing, also, the early 
printing establishments, having originally been purchased by the leading men 
of either political party, and the use of them given to those who would publish 
a paper, but very little money, and few promises to pay, were passed from the 
ostensible buyer to the seller. Even then the publishers had a hard time of it 
until, say thirty years ago. Nevertheless, that the papers herein enumerated 
have been largely instrumental in promoting the growth, prosperit)', intelli- 
gence, and respectability of town and country, must be obvious to all; and, 
with one or two exceptions, their editors and publishers, those who have toiled 
and struggled and spent their time and substance in maintaining them, deserve 
to be held in grateful remembrance. 

' .\clam Ramage, the inventor of llie R.image press, was born in Edinburgli, Scotland. He came 
to .•Vmerica in 1794, and soon after located in riiil.adeljiliia. He died in 1850. 



Petroleum. 285 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

PETROLEUM. 

The " Fontaine de Bitume " — The Earliest French Missionaries Aware of its Existence — 
Also the English — Early References to the Same — Washington and Jefferson Speak of "Bitu- 
minous Oil" in Virginia — Evidences that the French Gathered the Oil at Titusville — It is Known 
to Early Inhabitants as " Seneca Oil " — An Account of the First Producer and Refiner of 
Petroleum in Pennsylvania — He Terms it " Carbon Oil " — Colonel Drake's Discovery — Descrip- 
tions by Correspondents — Great Excitement at Titusville — Warren Men as Pioneer Operators — 
Subsequent Developments of Oil Producing Territory — Haudsonie Profits — Tidioute Field 
Opened — Squatters — Early Manner of Shipments — Annual Production of Penn.sylvania and 
New York Fields Since 18.59. 

BUT little more than a quarter of a century has passed since petroleum was 
first discovered in large quantities by boring deep into the earth, yet from 
the earliest occupation of this country by the French it was known to exist. 
As early as July i8, 1627, a French missionary, Joseph de la Roque Daillon, 
of the order of Recollets, described it in a letter published in 1632, in Segard's 
" L'Histoire du Canada," and this description is confirmed by the journal of 
Charlevoix, 1721. Fathers Dollier and Galinee, missionaries of the order of 
St. Sulpice, made an early map of this section of the country, which they sent 
to Jean Talon, intendent of Canada, November 10, 1670, on which was marked 
at about the point where is now the town of Cuba, New York, " Fontaine de 
Bitume." On the 3d of November, 1700, the Earl of Belmont, governor of 
New York, instructed his chief engineer and surveyor, Wolfgang W. Romer, 
during his visit to the country of the Six Nations, " to go and view a well, or 
spring, which is eight miles beyond the Seneks' farthest castle, which they have 
told me blazes up in a flame, when a lighted coale or firebrand is put into it ; 
you will do well to taste the said water, and give me your opinion thereof, and 
bring with you some of it." Thomas Chabert de Joncaire, who died in Sep- 
tember, 1740, is also mentioned in the journal of Charlevoix of 172 1 as author- 
ity for the existence of oil at the place mentioned above, and at points further 
south, probably on Oil Creek. 

The following account of an event occurring during the occupancy of this 
part of the State by the French is given as an example of the religious uses 
made of the oil by the Indians, as these fire dances are understood to have 
been annually celebrated : "While descending the Allegheny, fifteen leagues 
below the mouth of the Connewango, and three above Fort Venango, we were 
invited by the chief of the Senecas to attend a religious ceremony of his tribe. 
We landed and drew up our canoes on a point where a small stream entered 
the river. The tribe appeared unusually solemn. We marched up the stream 
about half a league, where the company, a large band it appeared, had arrived 



286 History of Warren County. 



some days before us. Gigantic hills begirt us on every side. The scene was 
really sublime. The great chief then recited the conquests and heroisms of 
their ancestors. The surface of the stream was covered with a thick scum, 
which burst into a complete conflagration. The oil had been gathered and 
lighted with a torch. At sight of the flames, the Indians gave forth a triumph- 
ant shout, and made the hills and valleys re-echo again." 

In nearly all geographies and notes of travel published during the early 
period of settlement, this oil is referred to, and on several old maps, French as 
well as English, the word " petroleum " appears opposite the mouth of Oil 
Creek. It was also known many years ago that a similar product existed in 
West Virginia, since General Washington, in his will, in speaking of his lands 
on the Great Kanawha, says: "The tract, of which the 125 acres is a moiety, 
was taken up by General Andrew Lewis and myself, for and on account of a 
bituminous spring which it contains, of so inflammable a nature as to burn as 
freely as spirits, and is nearly as difficult to extinguish." Thomas Jefferson, in 
his " Notes on Virginia," also describes a burning spring on the lower grounds of 
the Great Kanawha. Thus, this oil not only seems to have been known, but 
to have been systematically gathered in very early times. Upon the bottom 
lands a mile or so below Titusville were many acres of cradle-holes dug out and 
lined with split logs, evidently constructed for the purpose of gathering it. The 
fact that the earliest English-speaking inhabitants could never discover any 
stumps from which these logs were cut, and the further fact that trees of great 
size were found growing in the midst of these cradles, are evidences that they 
must have been operated long ago, but by whom, is a question as yet unsolved. 
Some have suggested that it was the work of the mound-builders ; but the 
writer indulges in no such belief It is more reasonable to suppose that the 
French, who knew of its location, utilized this greasy product to a considerable 
extent for medicinal and other purposes, and arranged these holes, or pits, as 
a means of gathering it. They were in possession of this region for more than a 
hundred years before it was personally known to the English-speaking whites, 
and during that great period there was ample time for the stumps of trees 
taken to line these pits to crumble to dust, as well as for small trees to attain 
great proportions. 

General Irvine, during his exploring expedition through this country in 
the summer of 1785, visited Oil Creek, and in his report says: "Oil Creek 
has taken its name from an oil, or bituminous matter, found floating on the 
surface. Many cures are attributed to this oil by the natives, and lately by 
some whites, particularly Rheumatic pains and old Ulcers." 

For many years the usual means of gathering this product of nature, which 
finally became known as " Seneca Oil," was by throwing a woolen cloth, or 
blanket, upon the water, collected in a trough, or pit, and upon which the oil 
floated, and then wringing the cloth over a tub. The clean wool absorbed the 



Petroleum. 287 



oil and rejected the water, and in this way a considerable quantity was ob- 
tained. The oil was then bottled in small vials and sold by tramping ped- 
dlers in many parts of the country, as a sure cure for rheumatism, sore throat, 
ulcers, and various aches and pains. 

Coming down to recent years, within the memory of men yet young and 
active, the name of Colonel E. L. Drake looms up prominently as the pioneer 
in the oil business in Western Pennsylvania ; yet there was another producer 
and operator in petroleum, who ante-dated Drake by nearly twenty years, and 
deserves mention. 

In 1840 Samuel M. Kier, and his father, Thomas Kier, of Pittsburgh, 
owned a salt well on the Allegheny River, about one mile above Tarrentum. 
The well had been worked some months, when oil made its appearance, and 
mixed in considerable quantities with the salt water. About the same time 
Lewis Peterson, jr., discovered oil in a well on his farm adjoining the Messrs. 
Kiers'. The accumulation on Mr. Peterson's premises was so considerable that 
it became troublesome, and had to be removed by means of surface drains. 
But Mr. S. M. Kier, with that practical sagacity with which he was distin- 
guished, could not believe that this (then mysterious) production of nature had 
been made in vain. He was convinced that there must be a want somewhere 
which it was intended to supply. As an experiment, the oil was bottled and 
introduced as a medicine. Chemistry has frequently shown that petroleum 
possesses several valuable medical properties, but in Mr. Kier's early essays 
the science of advertising was not understood, or at least but little resorted to, 
and his " patent medicine " speculation failed. 

Still, fully impressed with the conviction that the oil had its important 
uses, Mr. Kier submitted samples to Professor J. C. Booth, of Philadelphia, who, 
after a careful analysis of it, recommended him to offer it to a New York gutta- 
percha company, who were seeking a proper solvent for this gum. The 
gutta-percha company's experiments with it were not satisfactory. Mature 
reflection convinced Professor Booth that, by distillation, an excellent burning 
oil could be obtained from the crude. He furnished Mr. Kier with drawings 
for a suitable still. Mr. Kier returned to Pittsburgh, constructed a still, and 
put it in active operation. The product he named " Carbon Oil," by which 
designation it was for a a long time generally known. 

Mr. Kier soon had invented a suitable lamp for its use. He subsequently 
became largely interested in the manufacture and sale of these oil lamps, and, 
locally speaking the oil came into general use. The consumption, however, 
began to exceed the supply of crude, and the want of the raw material seriously 
interfered with the sales of carbon, or " refined," which had grown to be com- 
paratively a profitable and important business. Strenuous efforts were made 
to increase the supply of raw material with indifferent success. Agents were 
sent out exploring in various directions, and among the localities which con- 



288 History of Warren County. 

tributed an additional supply was tlie " Land Diggings," on Hughes's River, 
West Virginia. 

Five years had now elapsed since Mr. Kier started his sixty gallon still 
" refinery," when oil was discovered on the Allegheny near his premises. A 
well which had been dug for and pumped as a salt well for twenty years, had 
been placed under the severe drain of a new and more powerful pump. The 
head of salt water became exhausted, and lo ! petroleum appeared and pumped 
freely. Thus, in the year 1845, was established the first " pumping well " 
known to the oil world, but years were yet to elapse before human knowledge 
should attain to a full comprehension of this singular discovery, destined to 
effect the greatest trade revolution known to modern commerce. The fortun- 
ate owners of this well, while on their way to Pittsburgh with a stock of their 
crude oil, sold it to certain druggists, who established a small refinery. But 
now the stock of petroleum was in excess of the market. After considerable 
negotiation a Mr. Ferris of New York city contracted for the greater portion of 
the well's production. 

About this time the coal oil excitement commenced. Mineral oil as an 
illuminant came into general use. Cheapness, brilliancy, and safety combined 
to recommend it. Parties who had purchased a quantity of land just below 
Titusville, observed oil floating on the surface of its streams. A number of 
wells were dug in pursuit of oil in quantities, in vain. The owners learned 
through Mr. Ferris, above mentioned, that oil might probably be obtained by 
boring. A well was started, and at a moderate depth the drill struck oil. This 
was no other than the famous " Dr.\ke Well," the first one bored for oil ex- 
clusively. 

From the facts above given it is clear and indisputable that Mr. Kier was 
the pioneer and founder of the oil business in Pennsylvania, and that to his 
sagacity, ingenuity, perseverance, and skill, the whole world is largely in- 
debted for the knowledge and introduction of one of the most important dis- 
coveries, conveniences and social blessings of modern times.' 

In 1855 Prof B. Silliman, jr., tested the rock or petroleum oil obtained in 
Venango county and found it equal in illuminating power to most fluids and 
gases in use, and superior to many of them. 

Wc now turn to the doings of E. L. Drake, and note what the newspapers 
had to say in relation to the first developments, etc. Some years after Drake's 
discovery, at a time when he was sick and penniless, and a handsome purse 
had been raised for him in Titusville, a newspaper writer spoke of him as fol- 
lows : " Colonel E. L. Drake was the pioneer in the oil business in this region. 
At one time he had a considerable fortune, but during the latter years of his 
life he was poor and out of health. His derrick, the first one ever erected for 

' Wl1.1l is here said ofj Mr. Kier has been condensed from an article published in the Piltshiirgh 
Oil Novs, in March, 1865. 



Petroleum. 



oil, stood for many years about a mile below Titusville. He made his first 
appearance in Titusville in 1857. Prior to that time he had been a conductor 
on a railroad in Connecticut. He came to Oil Creek on business for another 
person. Calling casually at the office of Brewer & Watson, in Titusville, he 
there found a bottle of crude oil, and his curiosity being excited concerning it, 
he learned from Dr. Brewer all facts of interest connected with its production, 
viz., that it flowed from natural springs on the Watson flats ; and had been 
known to the Seneca Indians before the white settlements began, and had been 
sold by them as a liniment or medicine, to white persons, and also to the drug- 
gists ; and latterly had been gathered by Brewer & Watson and used for light- 
ing the saw-mills of the firm and for lubricating purposes. Drake visited the 
oil springs, and conceived the idea of boring to the sources of the oil. He 
returned east, obtained the co-operation of some moneyed friends, and the fol- 
lowing year came back as the agent of an oil firm located at New Haven, 
Conn." 

On the 8th of September, 1859, a newspaper correspondent, writing from 
Titusville, said: "Perhaps you will recollect that in 1854 there was organized 
in the city of New York a company, under the name of the Pennsylvania Rock 
Oil Company, which, for some good reasons, passed into the hands of New 
Haven capitalists, and the office and headquarters was by them removed to 
New Haven. In 1858 the directors leased the grounds and springs to Mr. E. 
L. Drake, well-known on the New Haven Railroad. He came out here, and 
in May last commenced to bore for salt, or to find the source of the oil, which 
is so common along Oil Creek. Last week, at the depth of seventy-one feet, he 
struck a fissure in the rock through which he was boring, when, to the surprise 
and joy of every one, he found he had tapped a vein of water and oil, yielding 
four hundred gallons of pure oil every twenty-four hours. 

"The pump now in use throws only five gallons per minute of water and 
oil into a large vat, where the oil rises to the top and the water runs out from 
the bottom. In a few days they will have a pump of three times the capacity 
of the one now in use and then from ten to twelve hundred gallons of oil will 
be the daily yield. 

"The springs along the stream, I understand, have been mostly taken up or 
secured by Brewer & Watson, the parties who formerly owned the one now 
in operation. The excitement attendant upon the discovery of this vast source 
of oil was fully equal to what I ever saw in California, when a large lump of 
gold was accidentally turned out." 

Another newspaper man. Editor Chase, of the Potter Journal, in October, 
1859, informed his readers of what he knew about petroleum and the excite- 
ment at Titusville, then a town of about three hundred inhabitants, in the fol- 
lowing lucid manner: " After a brief rest we visited the famous Seneca Oil 
Spring which has recently created so great an excitement and wonder in the 



290 History of Warren County. 

outside world. The sensation of seeing and smelling the oil was nothing new 
to us — we were born and bred there. The oil has been gathered from surface 
springs and used in that section of country ever since its settlement ; the In- 
dians and the French having opened and worked a large number of springs 
near the present site of Titusville, many years before any English settlers 
found their way there. The oil never had an outside market until now, though 
the ' Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company ' have, we believe, marketed a quantity 
of the surface spring product in New Haven, where the office of the company 
now is. In 1858, as stated in the Journal two weeks since, the company leased 
the spring (for which they paid Brewer, Williams & Co. $5,000) to E. L. Drake, 
who was to gather the oil at his own expense and pay them 1 2\ cents a gallon 
for it. His lease was for fifteen years, with full privilege of working at his 
option. 

" In May last Mr. Drake commenced boring for salt, and after sinking a 
shaft seventy-one feet, the first of last month struck a fissure in the rock through 
which he was boring, and the discovery of this subterranean spring of oil was 
the result. The yield of oil with the pump first used was 400 gallons per day, 
but when we were there a pump of three times the capacity of that was in 
operation, and a yield of 1,600 gallons per twenty-four hours, of pure oil, had 
been obtained. 

" Other parties along the stream have also bored for oil, and have found it 
at various depths ; the least of which was six feet, on the farm of Mr. John 
Watson, in Titusville Borough, three-fourths of a mile from the village. After 
one foot of soil had been removed, a stratum of three and one-half feet of Pot- 
ter's clay was bored through — that also being a new discovery. Another 
spring was tapped about twenty-eight feet from the surface, on the farm of J. 
Parker, about one-fourth of a mile from the village center, and opening through 
one of the old springs worked by the French and Indians, of which there are 
a large number at that particular point. 

" As a result consequent upon this discovery real estate and leases, with 
privilege of boring till oil was found, were each held at great prices. We heard 
of an instance in which $20,000 was offered and refused for a half interest in a 
lease of fifteen years on one hundred acres ! and we know of several fourth 
interests in leases at a distance of two or three miles from the working spring 
being sold for $2,500 and $3,000. The tract of land on which the large spring 
has been opened by Mr. Drake was once purchased by the father of the writer 
of this article for a cow, and previous to that had been sold at treasurer's sale 
for taxes. Now, we believe, $100,000 would not buy one acre of it. Men until 
now barely able to get a poor living off poor land are made rich beyond their 
wildest dreaming. 

" The properties of this oil (a bottle of which we brought with us and may 
be seen at this office) are medicinal, for internal as well as external applica- 




<i^^^^^^ u/y^ 



Petroleum. 291 



tion ; illuminant, giving a strong light, and is one of the best oils for lubricat- 
ing machinery ever used, as it never gums." 

On the 8th of October, 1859, Editor Cowan, of the Warren Mail, in 
speaking of the recent discovery of petroleum in larger quantities said : " Quite 
a little excitement exists in town in regard to the late discovery of consider- 
able quantities of Seneca Oil, on Oil Creek, near Titusville, near the southern 
boundary of our county. Two or three companies have been formed in which 
some of our citizens are interested, with a view of boring for the oil. Mr. 
Boon Mead, we hear, is one of a company who have made some progress in 
sinking a shaft. Messrs. A. Tanner, L. F. Watson and D. M. Williams, are 
also engaged in boring for a mine of oily wealth, Mr. Williams having left on 
Wednesday last with experienced workmen to prosecute the work. The cal- 
culation is that oil can be reached at about fifty feet below the surface." 

Thus began the excitement, and the prosecution of this then wonderful 
industry by Warren county men. Their field of operations gradually widened 
and extended, until, only a few years later, the greasy fluid was seen exuding 
from great depths at their very doors. Such names as Tidioute, Enterprise, 
Fagundus, Clarendon, Kinzua, Glade, Cherry Grove, Shefiield, Grand Valley, 
etc., etc., which, without the development of their oil products would scarcely 
have merited a scant notice in a local newspaper, sprang into prominence as oil 
producing centers, and have been repeated in thousands of households through- 
out the land. 

As will be noticed, the ideas and appliances of the early borers for oil were 
almost as crude as the product they so industriously sought. At first all 
expected to obtain oil by boring but a few feet, and, in consequence, looked 
closely for surface indications before beginning at all. Three hundred feet was 
looked upon as the extreme limit of depth. Several flowing wells were devel- 
oped on Oil Creek, and near Titusville early in the summer of i860, at com- 
paratively shallow depths, and among the lucky Warren men were L. F. 
Watson, D. M. Williams, Archibald Tanner, Boon Mead, H. R. Rouse & Co., 
and Dennis & Grandin. The well owned by Barnsdall, Mead, Rouse & Co., 
was then considered a wonderful afiair, and from a description of it as published 
in the Titusville Gazette in July, i860, we extract the following: 

" Depth of well 116 feet. Pipe driven to the rock, 47 feet. The whole 
cost of the well, pump, engine, vats, buildings, boarding-house, and other 
incidentals, $3,000. Five dollars will cover the daily expenses of keeping the 
works in operation. Average yield per day is six hundred gallons, worth 
thirty cents per gallon. Commenced pumping on the 1st of February, and 
has sold up to June ist, 56,000 gallons, which, if our arithmetic serves us right, 
figures up the small sum of $16,800; deducting therefrom all expenses and 
there remains the comfortable income of $13,200, in four months." 

The " Williams well," owned by Williams, Watson & Tanner, as before 



292 History of VVarrex County. 

mentioned, was also looked upon as a wonder in its day, yet its daily prod- 
uct, at a depth of one hundred and forty-three feet, was only twelve barrels. 
Subsequently it was drilled two feet deeper, when it flowed at the rate of four 
hundred and eighty barrels per day. 

Early in i860 the Tidioute field was opened, and in July of that year more 
than sixty wells were being bored at the same time. A majority of these wells 
when completed were shallow in depth, and small producers, their productive- 
ness being rated by gallons, but with oil worth thirty cents per gallon, their 
owners were eminently well pleased with results. Immediately this rugged, 
lonely spot was invaded by crowds from all sections of the country, and for a 
time it seemed to be the chief objective point of the multitude seeking wealth 
without work. On the river and adjoining hills hundreds of wells were sunk 
with more or less success, with fewer dry holes and better permanence in pro- 
duction than were incident to many other developed localities. But as is true 
of all other fields, the production gradually diminished, and the bright antici- 
pations of many were blasted. In the excitement Tidioute grew from a hamlet 
to a large and prosperous borough. Hotels, banks, newspaper offices, saloons, 
churches, and various mercantile houses appeared upon its streets with magical 
rapidity, money floated in every breeze like leaves in autumn. But with 
the diminished supply and low price of oil following the panic of 1873, came a 
terrible revulsion in its prosperity. The suddenly rich became as suddenly 
poor, and the inflated prices of property depreciated to the lowest standard of 
value. 

In describing scenes and doings at Tidioute in the fall of i860, a local cor- 
respondent said : " The latest excitement is that caused by the squatters. 
For a week or more we have had repeated rumors of a collision ; but so far the 
fights have ended in gas. Since Tidioute Island developed so richly numer- 
ous parties have tried to get claims on the bar, and in the bed of the river 
around it. Several weeks ago a company commenced on the bar directly 
above and near the Island. They were complained of and bound over to 
court, so the question as to whether they have a right there is to be legally 
decided soon. Meanwhile, from twenty to thirty have squatted where there is 
no bar. The water being shallow, they anchor a raft of logs or a float on a 
spot, put up their derricks and commence driving pipe. The islanders and 
shore lessees show fight, claiming that they have no right there. Now and 
then a raft is cut loose, and the ' claim ' floats oft", consequently most of them 
have to be watched night and day. The flood this week swept them nearly 
all away, so they are getting along swimmingly. How this kind of Squatter 
Sovereignty will end of course no one knows and but few care, except the 
parties interested." 

During the same year oil was found at Kinzua ; lands for oil purposes 
were leased all along the river from Tidioute to Warren, and two wells were 



Petroleum. 293 



projected at the last mentioned point — one upon the "Island," and the other on 
the bank of the Conewango just above the bridge. 

In 1 861 it cost $7.45 to ship a barrel of oil from the oil regions to New 
York city. In seeking ways of cheaper transit a company was incorporated 
the same year to pipe crude oil from Titusville, Oil City, etc., to some point on 
the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad. Of this company several prominent War- 
ren men were members. The usual mode of shipment at that time was by 
water to Pittsburgh, thence by rail to eastern points. Fifteen steamers and tow 
boats were employed in the oil trade on the Allegheny in 1 861. Water tight 
boxes were also utilized to a considerable extent. These were about sixteen 
feet square and twenty inches deep. When nearly filled with oil, five or six of 
them were fastened together and run down the creek to the river, where some 
twenty of them lashed together would compose a fleet ready to be towed or 
floated to Pittsburgh. Barrels were mainly relied upon, however, as receptacles 
for the shipment of oil, and a thriving industry sprang up in their manufacture 
at Warren and at other points along the river. These, too, were floated to the 
oil-producing centers as rafts. Subsequently teams were kept busy from the 
first dawn of day until far in the night hauling the crude oil in barrels to points 
on the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad. As soon as practicable, lines of rail- 
way were constructed from nearly all the trunk lines to the oil fields. Finally 
barrels gave place to immense iron tanks riveted upon cars, provided for the 
escape of the gases, and later^great pipe lines were extended from the wells to 
the seaboard and to the great lakes, through which the fluid is forced by steam 
power to its distant destinations. 

In 1866 Roberts's torpedoes first began to be used to increase the produc- 
tion of small or declining wells, and in most instances with gratifying results. 
In that year W. B. and E. A. L. Roberts commenced the manufacture of nitro- 
glycerine near Titusville, having secured patents in relation to its preparation 
for blasting purposes. To that time little was made in this country except 
samples prepared in drug stores. At present from five hundred to six hundred 
tons are annually consumed in oil wells alone, and though the patents of Messrs. 
Roberts have recently expired, the firm still manufacture a large proportion of 
this well-known and dangerous compound. 

Oil has been found in paying quantities in Warren, McKean, Forest, Ve- 
nango, Crawford, Clarion, Butler, Armstrong, and Washington counties, Penn- 
sylvania. In Cattaraugus and Allegheny counties. New York. Also in West 
Virginia, Ohio, California, Canada, South America, Russia, and Northern 
Africa. But that produced in Pennsylvania is vastly superior in quality to any 
yet discovered, and commands the highest price in market, whether in a re- 
fined or crude state. Its principal uses are for illumination and lubricating, 
though many of its products are employed in the mechanic arts, notably for 
dyeing, mixing of paints, and in the practice of medicine. Its production has 



294 



History of Warren County. 



grown to enormous proportions, and as yet seems to show but little sign of 
diminution. The following table, compiled from the Derrick's Hand-book, 
exhibits the annual production of the Pennsylvania oil fields since the opening 
of Drake's well in 1859 : 



Year. Barrels. 

1859 82,000 

1 860 500,000 

1 861 2,113,000 

1 862 3,056,606 

1863 2,611,399 

1 864 2, 1 1 6, 1 82 

1865 3.497.712 

1866 3.597.512 

1867 3.347.306 

1868 3.715. 741 

1869 4,186,475 

1870 5,308,046 

1871 5,278,076 

1872 6,505,774 



Year. Barrels. 

1873 9.849-508 

1874 11,102,114 

1875 8,948.749 

1876 9,142,940 

1877 13.052,713 

1878 15,01 1,425 

1879 20,085,716 

1880 24,788,950 

1 88 1 29,674,458 

18821 31,789,190 

1883 24.385,966 

1884 . . 23,500,000 

1885 20,900,000 

1 886 Not reported 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

CIVIL LIST. 

Members of the United States House of Representatives — Judge United States Court of 
Claims — United States Consul — Lieutenant-Governor — Auditor-General — Member of State 
Constitutional Convention — State Senators— Members of Assembly — President Judges — 
Sheriffs — County Commissioners — Protlionotaries — County Treasurers — Registers and Re- 
corders — County Commissioners' (;ilcrks — Jury Commissioners — Coroners — Justices of the 
Peace. 

THE following list embraces the names of persons who have held prominent 
civil offices in the National, State, or County government, while residents 
of Warren county : 

National Government. 

Members of the House of Representatives. — Carlton B. Curtis, Thirty-sec- 
ond Congress, re-elected to the Thirty-third, holding from March 4, 1 851, to 
March 4, 1855. He was afterward elected to the Forty-third Congress while 
residing in Erie county. 

Chapin Hall, Thirty-sixth Congress, 1859, '61. 



1 These reports include the New York or Allegany district, which, in 1882, produced 6,450,000 
barrels. 




ak 




cmJi 



Civil List. 



295 



Glenni W. Scofield, Thirty-eighth, Thirty-ninth, Fortieth, Forty-first, For- 
ty-second, and Forty-third Congress, holding from March 4, 1863, to March 
4, 1875. Represented the State at large during his last term. 

Lewis F. Watson, Forty-fifth and Forty-seventh Congress, or terms ex- 
tending from March 4, 1877, to March 4, 1879, and from March 4, 1881, to 
March 4. 1883. 

Judge United States Court of Claims, Washington, D. C, Glenni W. Sco- 
field, commissioned May 20, 1 881. 

United States Consjil, William H. Shortt, at Cardiff, Wales, during part of 
the second term of General Grant's administration. 

State Government. 

Lieutenant- Govei'nor. — Charles W. Stone, elected for four years in 1878. 

Auditor General. — Harrison Allen, who served from 1872 to 1875. 

Members State Constitutional Convention. — Thomas Struthers, and Ras- 
selas Brown, 1872-73. 

State Senators. — Glenni W. Scofield, 1857-59; Harrison Allen, 1870-72; 
Charles W. Stone, 1877-78; Orrin C. Allen, 1887-88. 



Members of Assembly}- 



David Brown 1822 

Josiah Hall 1836 

Carlton B. Curtis 1837-38 

Joseph Y. James 1843 

Obert Bdson 1844 

Rasselas Brown 1845 

Benjamin Bartholomew 1846 

Henry P. Kinnear 1847 

Glenni W. Scofield 1850-51 

Joseph Y. James 1852 

Carter V. Kinnear 1853 

Lothrop T. Parmelee 1854 

Daniel Lott 1855-56 

Thomas Struthers 1857-58 



Henry R.|Rouse 1859-60 

Bphraira Cowan 1861-62 

William D. Brown 1863-64-65 

Harrison Allen 1866-67 

Junius R. Clark 1868-69 

Charles W. Stone 1870-71 

William H. Shortt 1872-73 

George W. Allen 1874-75-76 

W. M. Lindsey 1877-78 

John B. White 1879-80 

Willis B. Benedict 1881-82 

Charles M. Shortt 1883-84 

Henry Brace 1885-86 

Henry Brace 1887-88 



County Officers. 
President Judges? 



Jesse Moore appointed 1819 

Henry Shippen. ...... 

Nathaniel B. Eldred.. . 
Alexander McCalmont. 
Nathaniel B. Eldred . . . 
Gaylord Church. 



1825 
1835 
1S39 
1840 
1843 
John Galhraith elected 1851 



Rasselas Brown appointed 1860 

Samuel P. Johnson elected 1860 

Lansing D. Wetmore " 1870 

William D. Brown " 1880 

David Derrickson, assistant judge 1856 

John P. Vincent, assistant judge 1866 

James Thompson, district judge 1840 



Glenni W. Scofield appointed to fill vacancy in — district, 1861. See biographical sketch. 

1 Until the adoption of the new constitution in 1S73, the term of office was one year. Members were 
elected the year previous to date shown. 

2 Of the above mentioned president judges Nathaniel B. Eldred, Rasselas Brown, Samuel P. John- 
son, Glenni W. Scofield, Lansing D. Wetmore, and William D. Brown were the only ones who re- 
sided in Warren county, and all are yet living in the town of Warren, Pa., with the exception of the 
first named, vvlio died years ago. See biographical sketch. 



296 



History of Warren County. 



Assocititc Jiidtrrs. 



Isaac Connelly appointed 1819 

Joseph Hackney " 1819 

Josiah Hall " 1832 

ObedEdson " 183G 

Oilman Merrill " 1841 

William Siggins " 1842 

Oilman Merrill " 1846 

John Hamilton " 1847 

James A. Alexander '' 1851 

Lansing Wetmore . . .elected 1851 

John Judson " 1851 

Griffin Brown " 1S5G 

James L. Lott " 185G 



Lewis Arnett. ... elected 1861 

G. Y. N. Yates " 1861 

James Dennison " 1866 

Sidney A. Wetmore " 1866 

Isaac "H. Hiller " 1871 

Carter Y\ Kinnear " 1871 

W.W.Connelly " 1876 

W. B. Acocks '• 1876 

P. W. Brown " 1881 

G. H. Bates (resigned 1884) " 1881 

Rufus P. King appointed 1884 

Charles C. Merritt elected 1885 

J. T. Barker " 1886 



Sheriffs. 



Mark C. Dairy mple commis.sioned 

Stephen Littlefield elected 

Daniel Horn " 

John King. " 

John McKinney, jr " 

Thomas Martin " 

Joseph C. Gordon " 

Abijah Morrison " 

Henry P. Kinnear " 

Abijah Morrison " 

Charles Anderson " 

James Foreman " 

Georsre Y. N. Yates " 



1820 
1822 
1825 
1828 
1831 
1834 
1837 
1840 
1843 
1846 
1849 
1852 
1856 



John B, Brown elected 1858 

Henry P. Kinnear " 1861 

Robert Allen (died) " 1864 

John B. Brown (vacancy) " 1867 

John R. Capron " 1867 

S. Y. Davis " 1870 

S. H. Davis " 1873 

Henry Brace " 1876 

Theodore Chase (died 1882). ... " 1879 

0. W. Randall appointed 1882 

E. A. Allen elected 1882 

Robert Love " 1885 



County Commissioners} 



James Benson . . .elected 1819 

Henry Kinnear " 1819 

Asa Winter " 1819 

Joseph Mead " 1820 

Henry Kinnear '" 1821 

I,nthi..p S. I'armlee " 1822 

Kol.c-rt Falconer " 1823 

James Bonner " 1824 

Jonathan Thompson appointed 1824 

Robert Rii.ssell elected 1825 

Stephen Littlefield " 1826 

James Gray " 1827 

Robert Rn.ssell " 1828 

Stephen Littlefield " 1829 

Daniel Horn " 1830 

Thomas Martin " 1831 

.lohn King " 1832 

James Morrison " 1833 

William Si'.'gins " 1834 

Klijah Smitli " 1835 

Joshua Tinner " 1836 

Thomas Sloan " 1837 

Daniel Horn " 1838 



John J. Berry elected 1839 

Warner Perry " 1840 

Joseph Monroe " 1841 

Eleazer W. Chase " 1842 . 

James G ray " 1843 

James McGiil " 1844 

Aaron Walton, jr " 1845 

John J. Berry " 1846 

Stephen Littlefield " 1847 

George W. Buel " 1848 

Erastus Barnes " 1849 

E. G. Benedict " 1850 

Orrin Hook " 1851 

Marshall Jones " 1852 

S. S. Raymond " 1853 

Robert Allen " 1854 

Marshall Jones '' 1855 

Erastus Barnes " 1856 

Arthur McGill " 1857 

Robert Campbell " 1858 

Alden Marsh " 1859 

Arthur McGill " 1860 

Erastus Barnes " 1861 



1 In a previous chapter, we believe No. 14, it is intimated that probably all of the principal officers 
of the county at its organization, were appointed ; but since that paragraph was written and printed 
we have become firm in the belief that the first county commissioners, at least, were elected by the 
people. Still, as there stated, no election returns or other evidence have been found to determine the 
matter. 



Civil List. 



297 



Alden Marsh elected 18G2 

Melancthon Miles appointed 1863 

Melancthon Miles elected 1863 

William G. Garcelon " 1864 

Alden Marsh " 1865 

Melancthon Miles " 1866 

William G. Garcelon " 1867 

Robert H. Morrison " 1868 

Henry Babcock " 1869 

Nelson Mead " 1870 

Robert H. ilorrison " 1871 

William G. Garcelon " 1872 

E. R. Wheeloek " 1873 



Myron Dunham elected 1874 

James B. Jenmngs " 1875 

Myron Dunham " 1875 

E." R. Wheeloek " 1877 

William H. Maultby " 1878 

James Roy " 1878 

Benjamm Ellis " 1878 

A. C. Blodgett " 1881 

Darius Mead " 1881 

Michael Crocker " 1884 

Theodore L. Putnam " 1884 

Joseph Clinton •' 1884 



Pmtlioiiotarics. 



Lansing Wetmore commissioned 1819 


John Brown 


1821 




1823 


Lansing Wetmore 


1824 


Lansing Wetmore 


1827 




18.30 


Walter W. Hodges ' 

William P. McDowell ... 


1833 
1836 


Walter W. Hodges 

Walter W. Hodges 

Thomas demons 


1839 
1842 
1845 


Silas L. Axtell 


1848 


Rufus P. King 


1851 



Rufus P. King, (resigned) commissioned 1584 

Thomas Clemons " 1855 

Isaac H. HiUer " 1858 

Isaac H. Hiller " 1861 

Isaac H. Hiller " 1864 

William Jagger " 1867 

Starling W. Waters " 1870 

Starling W. Waters " 1873 

Starling W. Waters " 1876 

Joseph A. Weible " 1879 

Joseph A. Weible " 1882 

Delford U. Arird " 1885 



Comity Treasurers. 



Archibald Tanner appointed 

Mathew Young " 

Johnson Wilson " 

John King " 

William Pier " 

Walter W. Hodges " 

Scott W. Sayles " 

John Andrews " 

Henry Sargent " 

Thomas Clemons " 

Galbraith A. Irvine elected 

Rufus P. King appointed 

Rufus P. King elected 

Rufus 01ne_v 

Heni'V L. Church 

Cliarles W. Rathbun 

Robert K. Russell 



1819 






1821 


Ephraim Cowan 


" 1857 


1824 


John Sill 


" 1859 


1827 


George H. Ames 


" 1861 


1829 


Willis B. Benedict 


" 1863 


1831 


Asahel G. Lane 


" 1865 


1833 


Chase Osgood, 




1835 


(G. H. Ames served) . . . 


" 1867 


1837 




" 1869 


1839 


David I. Ball 


" 1871 


1841 


George 0. Cornelius 


" 1873 


1843 


Robert B. Miller 


" 1875 


1844 


Timothy E, Barnes 


" 1877 


1846 


Frank M. Knapp 


" 1880 


1848 


Charles H. McAuley (W. 


J. Alexander, 


1850 


served in 1886) 


elected 1883 


1851 


George F. Yates elected November 1886 


1853 







Registers and Recorders.^ 



John F. McPherson elected 1848 

John F. McPherson " 1851 

John F. McPherson " 1854 

Robert K. Russell " 1857 

Robert K. Russell " 1860 

James G. Mar.sh " 1803 

James G. Marsh " 18GG 



James G. Marsh elected 1869 



James G. Marsh . . 
W. J. Alexander. 
A. W. Jackson . . . 
G. W. Kinnear . . 
W. J. Alexander 



1872 
1875 
1878 
1881 
1884 



1 During the years prior to 1848 the prothonotary served as register and recorder. 



298 



History of Warren County. 



County Commissioners Clerks. 



John Andrews appointed 1819 

Joseph W. Brown " 1834 

Andrew H. Ludlow " 1837 

Robert K. Russell " 1863 



Samuel Lord appointed 1879 

M.J.Alexander " 1882 

Frank A. Copswell " 1885 



Jury Commissioners. 



John T. Cour.'son. . . . 
SummerReld \Varner 

G. W. Kinnear 

N. P. Morrison 

A. M. Gillani 



elected 1873 

1872 

" 1876 

1876 

1879 



John T. Courson . . . 

A. M. Parker 

Jacob C. Fuller. . . . 
George A. Walkley, 
E. H. French 



.elected 1879 
1882 
. " 1882 
. " 1884 
. " 1884 



Coro?ters. 



Edward Jones, commissioned Feb. 16, 



Asa Scott, 
Eben G. Owen, 
Mathew McKinney, 
Daniel P. Stanton, 
Thomas Turner, 
Judah .Spencer, 
David M. Williams, 
Charles \V. Rathbun, 
John Ditmars, 
Jason A. Morrison, 



Nov. 5, 
" 14, 

" 12, 
" 27, 
" 16, 
" o, 
Feb. 13, 
Nov. 29, 



1820 
1822 
1825 
1828 
1834 
1837 
1840 
1846 
1848 
1852 
1858 



Charles W. Rathbun, comiss'ned Jan. 20, 1862 



John A. Jackson, 
George \V. Brown, 
W. W. Connelly, 
Theodore Chase, 
Sterling Green, 
Henry K. Siggins, 
Julius L. Burroughs, 
Julius L. Burroutrlis, 
F. W. Whitcomb, 



11, 1865 

Nov. 13, 1867 

" 26, 1870 

Jan. 5, 1874 

" 25, 1875 

Dec. 29, 1879 

" 11, 1882 

'• 29, 1885 

" — , 1886 



Township Officers. 
Justices of the Peace ^ 



Andrews, John, commissioned 
Alden, Richard, " 

Akin, Eleazer, " 

Ale.\ander. James A., " 
Andruss, Jason, " 

Alexander, James A., " 
Andrus.«, Jason, " 

Alden, Richard, " 

Acocks, William B., " 
Andruss, Jason, " 

Arnett, Lewiss, " 

Acocks, William B., " 
Andruss, Jason, " 

Allen, Orrin C, 
Aver, H. S., 
Ayer, H. S., 

Anderton, James, " 

Allison, W. T., 
Berr}', John J., " 

Bowers, Daniel D., " 
Bales, Franci.'i, " 

Benedict, Elbridge G., " 
Brown, John B., " 

Blakesl<7, William A., " 
Berry, John J., " 

Bate.s, Franci.s, " 

Bowers, Daniel D., " 
Brown, William D., " 



March 29, 
May 18, 
Nov. 18, 
Aui;-. 13, 
April 14, 
March 8, 
March 7, 
March 9, 
March 9, 
March 8, 
March 5, 

March 21, 
Feb. 21, 

March 14, 

March 27, 
April 16, 
April 23, 
Mav 24, 
April 14, 
April 14, 

March 11, 
March 8, 
March 8, 
March 7, 
March 7, 
March 6, 
March 4, 

March 10, 



1821 
1831 
1836 
1838 
1840 
1845 
1846 
1850 
1850 
1851 
1853 
1860 
1871 
1874 
1879 
1884 
188,') 
1886 
1840 
1840 
1843 
1845 
1845 
1846 
1846 
1847 
1848 
1849 



Brown, James, commi 


ssioned March 9 


1850 


Berry, John J., •' 


March 8, 


1851 


Buell, George W., 


March 6. 


18.52 


Bates. Francis. " 


March (i. 


1852 


Burgett, Peter, " 


March 10, 


1854 


Bates, Francis, " 


March 10, 


1855 


Brasington, Samuel C, • 


March 7, 


18.57 


Buell, Geo. W., 


ilarch 5, 


1859 


Burgett, Peter, " 


iLarch 5, 


1859 


Bates, Francis, " 


March 5. 


1864 


Blodgett, W. 0., 


March 5, 


1864 


Biddle, E. M., 


March 11, 


1867 


Blakeslev, William A. " 


April 16, 


1868 


Bates, Francis, " 


March 6, 


1869 


Baxter, Henry, '" 


March 7, 


1872 


Bu.sh, George, '' 


Marcli 26, 


1873 


Buell, Dwight W.. 


March 17, 


1874 


Bate.s Francis, " 


March 28, 


1874 


Barker, Jonathan, " 


March 13, 


1876 


Buell, D. W., 


March 27, 


1879 


Bates, Francis, " 


March 27, 


1879 


Brennan, David W., " 


March 27, 


1879 


Baxter, Henry, " 


April 9, 


1881 


Beeman, Epliraim, " 


Aug. 20, 


1881 


Barker, J. T., 


April 17, 


1882 


Booth, M. S., " 


May 10, 


1882 


Bowers, A. C.. " 


Sept. 15, 


1882 


Bowers, A. C, " 


April 6, 


1883 



I Until the revision of the State constitution in 1837, justices of the peace were commissioned for 

an indefinite period, or "during good beliavior." 





Civil 


List. 


299 


Booth, M. S., commissioneii April G, 1883 


Dalrymple, D. R., commissioned April 9, 1881 


Blackmail, D. G., " 


Aprd 14, 1886 


Dutton, W. A., 


April 16, 1884 


Camp, John, " 


March 29, 1821 


Dewey, D. S., 


April 23, 1885 


Chase, Eleazer W., " 


March 8, 1845 


Dalrymple, D. R., 


April 14, 1886 


Combs, William H., " 


March 4, 1848 


Dibble, M. T., 


' April 14, 1886 


Chase, Eleazer W., " 


ilarch 9, 1850 


Edson, Obed, 


' March 8, 1845 


Campbell, Stillman, " 


March 8, 1851 


Eaton, Artemus, 


March 8, 1851 


Campbell, Robert, " 


March 8, 1851 


Elderkin, Dyer W., 


' March 10, 1854 


Campbell, Stillman, " 


March 7, 1857 


English, Rice H., 


' March 30, 1801 


Cady, Alfred, 


March 5, 1859 


English, Rice H., 


March 16, 1866 


Cobham, George A., " 


March 30, 1861 


English, Rice H., 


March 2, 1871 


Cady, George, " 


March 8, 1862 


English. Rice H., 


' March 13, 1876 


Chattle, William P., " 


March 5, 1864 


Ena-lish! Rice H., 


' April 9. 1881 


Case, F. R., 


April 6, 1865 


English, Rice H., 


April 14, 1886 


Clark, Wm. A., 


Marcn 16, 1866 


Fi.sher, Sevvell, 


' February 13, 1835 


Cady, George, " 


March 11, 1867 


Fish, ilason. 


April 26, 1836 


Cornelius, George 0., '■ 


March 6, 1869 


Farnsworth, Josiah, 


March 4, 1848 


Case, F, R., 


April 9, 1870 


Fish, Mason, 


April 14, 1840 


Coats, E. L., 


March 16, 1875 


Fisher, Sewell, 


April 14, 1840 


Case, Frank R.. 


March 16, 1875 


Fry, Ambrose, 


' March 9, 1850 


Gushing, M. G., " 


March 27, 1879 


Fisk, James B., 


March 10, 1856 


Case, F. R., 


March ,^0, 1880 


Farnsworth, Josiah, 


' June 7, 1857 


Cornelius, George 0., " 


April 9, 1881 


Folwell, Jonn W., 


' March 17, 1877 


Cummings, G. D., " 


April 9, 1881 


Gilman, Hiram, 


' December 10, 1823 


Coats, E. L., " 


April 9, 1881 


Goodrich, St. John, 


March 6, 1847 


Covin, Charles, " 


April 17, 1882 


Gilman, Hiram, 


' April 14, 1840 


Clendening, Joseph, " 


April 17, 1882 


Guignon, L. E., 


' March 10, 1855 


Cooney, John, '' 


April 17, 1882 


Gould, T. L., 


March 16, 1868 


Clark, A. A., 


April 0, 1883 


Galligan, L. D., 


March 14, 1874 


Conarrow, Jacob, " 


May 16, 1884 


Gillain, A, M., 


' March 16, 1875 


Cornelius, George 0., " 


April 14, 1886 


Gillam, A. M., 


April 17, 1882 


Coats, B. L., " 


April 14, 1886 


Gunning, 0. J., 


April 16, 1884 


Case, Frank R., 


April 14, 1886 


Hamlin, John, 


' November 18, 1836 


Button, Solomon, " 


Nov. 14, 1832 


Hackney, John, 


October 24, 1837 


Button, Solomon, " 


April 14, 1840 


Holcomb, Sterling, jr.. 


March 4, 1848 


Bunham, Richard, " 


March 11, 1843 


Hackney, John, 


April 14, 1840 


Button, Solomon, " 


Maroli 8, 1845 


Horn, Daniel, 


April 14, 1840 


Bavis, Ferdinand, " 


March 6, 1847 


Hull, Samuel, ' 


March 16, 18.52 


Bunham, Richard, " 


March 4, 1848 


Horn, Hiram, ' 


March 7, 1857 


Bitmars, John, " 


May 14, 1851 


Hiller, Isaac H., 


' March 7, 1857 


Balrymple, Joseph, " 


JIarch 6, 1852 


Hunter, John, 


March 7, 1857 


Bunham, Richard, " 


ilarch 5, 1853 


Houser, John P., ' 


May 28, 1858 


Bonaldson, Baniel H., " 


March 5, 1853 


Hinton, William, 


' March 5, 1859 


Button, Solomon, " 


March 10, 1854 


Hull, Samuel, 


March 8, 1862 


Balrymple, David R., " 


March 10, 1855 


Hill, B., 


March 11,1867 


Bitmars. John, " 


March 10, 1856 


Hill, James E., 


March 16, 1867 


Donaldson, Baniel H., " 


Mav 18, 1858 


Hamilton, James C, 


' March 11, 1867 


Bunham, Richard, " 


ilarch 5, 1859 


Houser, J. P., 


March 11, 1867 


Bodge, John R., '' 


March 21, 1860 


Hill, James E., 


March 7, 1872 


Binsmoor, Charles, " 


March 30, 1861 


Hamilton, James C, 


' Marcli 7, 1872 


Dinsmoor, David, " 


March 30, 1861 


Hankins, N. R., 


March 1. 1872 


Binsmoor, Charles, " 


March 16, 1866 


Hodges, D. Jackson, ' 


March 14, 1874 


Balrymple, David R., " 


March 16, 1866 


Houghwot, J. H., 


' March 14, 1874 


Binsmoor, Bavid, " 


March 11, 1867 


Houser, John P., 


' March 13, 1876 


Bewey, D. A., " 


April 9, 1870 


Hamilton, James C, 


' March 17, 1877 


Binsmoor, Charles, " 


March 2, 1871 


Hill, James E., 


March 17, 1877 


Balrymple, B. R., " 


March 2, 1871 


Hodges, D. J., 


March 27, 1879 


Bavis, W. J., 


March 26, 1873 


Houghwot, J. H., ' 


' March 27, 1879 


Dinsmoor, Bavid, " 


March 26, 1873 


Hawks, William, ' 


April 9, 1881 


Balrymple, D. R., " 


March 13, 1876 


Hazeltine, D. S., 


' April 9. 1881 


Dibble, M. T., 


March 13, 1876 


Houser, John P., ' 


April 9, 1881 


Button, W. A., 


March 17, 1877 


Houghwot, J. H., ' 


April 16, 1884 


Dinsmoor, David, " 


March 25, 1878 


Hodges, W. Y., 


' April 23. 1885 


Dibble, M. T., " 


April 9, ISSl 


Hammond, Orange, 


April 23, 1885 



300 



History of Warren County. 



Houser, John P., commissioned April 14, 



Irvine, James, 
Inman, Jacob, 
Jackson, Daniel, 
Jones, Isaiah, 
Johnson, Spencer, 
Jao^ger, James, 
Johnson, William D., 
Jackson, William M., 
Jewell, William, 
James, D. W. C, 
Jackson, G. A., 
Jewell, William, 
Jackson, G. A., 
Jones, A. W., 
Kinnear, Carter V., 
Knowles, ApoUas, 
Kinnear, Carter V., 
Kinnear, Carter V., 
Kelly, Edmund, 
Kinnear, Carter V., 
Knapp, Windsor C, 
Kinnear, Carter V., 
Knapp, W. C, 
Knapp, W. C, 
Kidder, Clement W., 
Kidder, Clement W., 
King, John H., 
King, John H., 
Kresge, A., 
Lott, Hewlet, 
Lane, Asahel G., 
Lott, Hewlet, 
Long, Hugh, 
Lord, U. W., 
Lobdell, George, 
Long, Hugh, 
Lott, Daniel, 
Ladow, 0. R., 
Lobdell, George, 
Long, William W., 
Lott, James L., 
Lord, U. W., 
Lobdell. George, 
Lott, Daniel, 
Lord, U. W., 
Lilley, H., 
Langdon, J. B., 
Lott, Charles B., 
Leonard, Levi, 
Liverraore, W. S., 
Miles, Frederick, 
McGee, Samuel, 
Martin, James, 
Monroe, .Joseph, 
Merrill, Gillmau, 
Miller, Linus H., 
McGill, Jame.s, 
Magee, Henry, 
Marsh, Andrew, 
Mar.sh, Joseph,, 
Masten, Cornelius, jr. 
McGill, James, 
Magee, Alexander, 



March 21, 

April 6, 

May 31, 

July 4, 

April 14, 

March 9. 

March 2 1; 

March 7. 

Marcli Li, 

March 13, 

March 17, 

April 9, 

April 17. 

April 10, 

May 19, 

April 14, 

March 5, 

March 6, 

March 10, 

February 28, 

March 10, 

March 2, 

March 5, 

March 6, 

November 16, 

March 13, 

March 13, 

April 9, 

April 23, 

March 8, 

March 4, 

April 14. 

March 10, 

Maichi21. 

March 21, 

March 30. 

.March h; 

March b. 

A]iril 6, 

iMarch l«j, 

March IG, 

March IG, 

March 4,' 

March 26, 

March 25, 

April 17, 

April 17, 

April 6, 

April 16, 

April 23, 

July 16, 

June 26, 

April 3, 

April 3, 

Feb. 1, 

Feb. 26, 

April 13, 

April 13, 

April 1.3, 

March 5, 

May 13, 

March 7, 

March 7, 



1886 


Mallory, Eli, commissioned March 7, 


184C 


1817 


Marsh, Joseph, " 


March 6, 


1847 


1865 


Mead, Philip. 2d, 


March 4, 


1848 


1817 


Mintonye, Lewis B., " 


March 4, 


1848 


1807 


Middleton, James, " 


March 4, 


1848 


1840 


Magee, Joseph A., '' 


.March 10, 


1849 


1850 


Marsh, William S., " 


March 9, 


1850 


1860 


Magee, Henry, " 


March 8, 


1851 


1863 


Marsh, Josepli, " 


March 6, 


1852 


187G 


Mead, Philip, " 


Feb. 26, 


1853 


1876 


Magee, Joseph A., 


.March 8, 


1854 


1877 


iMitchell, David H., ■' 


March 10, 


1855 


1881 


Marsh, William S., 


March 10, 


1856 


1882 


Marsh, Williams S., "' 


March 7, 


1857 


1884 


Magee, Henry, " 


March 7, 


1857 


1836 


Matson, John, " 


March 7, 


1857 


1840 


Mead, Philip, 


Feb. 27, 


1858 


1842 


Morrison, R. H., " 


March 5, 


1859 


1847 


Mitchell, J. H., 


March 5, 


1859 


1849 


Magee, James T., " 


March 5, 


1859 


1852 


Mitchell, F. W., 


March 21, 


1860 


1855 


Mclntyre, Almiron, " 


March 13, 


1861 


1857 


Magee, Henry, ■' 


March 14, 


1862 


1864 


Marsh. William S., " 


April .5, 


1862 


1869 


Masten, C, " 


March 14. 


1862 


1870 


Magee, Henry, " 


July 30, 


1863 


1876 


Miles M., 


March 5, 


1864 


1876 


Morrison, R. H., " 


ilarch 5, 


1864 


1881 


Magee, James T., " 


ilarch 5, 


1864 


1885 


Mitchell, D. H., 


March 16, 


1866 


1845 


ilead, Philip, 


March U, 


1867 


1848 


McNair, William, " 


March 16, 


1867 


1840 


Mowris, Peter, " 


March 11, 


1867 


1856 


Morrison, R. H., " 


March 6, 


1869 


1860 


Miles, M., 


ilarch 6, 


1869 


1860 


McGill, James, " 


March 6, 


1869 


1801 


Masterson, Peter, " 


Nov. 9, 


1869 


1862 


McStraw, John, " 


Nov. 9, 


1869 


1864 


Merritt, C. C, " 


Nov. 16, 


1870 


18G5 


Mead, Philip, 


March 7, 


1872 


1866 


Marsh, Wilham S., " 


March 7, 


1872 


1868 


Moore, F. A., 


March 26, 


1873 


1868 


Morrison, R. H., " 


March 14, 


1874 


:i870 


Mandeville, A. R., " 


March 17, 


1874 


1873 


ilarsh, William S. 


March 17, 


1874 


1878 


Maltby, John S., 


March 17, 


1874 


1882 


ilerritt. C. C, 


March 13, 


1876 


1882 


Mead, Philip, " 


March 25, 


1878 


1883 


Morrison, R. H., " 


March 27 


1879 


1884 


McKain, D. H., 


March 30, 


1880 


1885 


Merritt, C. C. 


April 9, 


1881 


1822 


Miller, R. E.. 


April 17, 


1882 


1823 


Morrison. R. H., " 


April 16 


1884 


1828 


Martin, W. 0., " 


April 16, 


1884 


1828 


McKain, D. H., 


April 23, 


1885 


1832 


Maultby, William H., " 


April 23, 


1885 


1834 


Newman, Hiram S, " 


March 15, 


1825 


1841 


Nobles, C. B., 


April 9, 


1881 


1841 


Olney, Rufus, '' 


April 14, 


1840 


1841 


Osgood, James T., " 


March 5 


1853 


1842 


Oviatt, Cyrus S., " 


March 10 


1854 


1842 


Osborn, Milo P., •' 


June 1, 


1857 


1846 


Osgood, James T., " 


March 6, 


1858 


184G 


Osgood, James T., " 


March 7 


1863 







Civil 


List. 


301 


Ospood, Jas. T., commissioned Marcli IG 


1868 


Stone, Moses B., commi 


ssioned March 8. 1845 


Osgood, James T., " 


March U 


1874 


Shearman, Perry, ' 


March 6, 1847 


Osgood, James T., " 


March 27 


1879 


Stacy, Edwin C, 


March 4, 1848 


Olney, F. P., 


March 27 


1879 


Strang, David, ' 


ilarch 4, 1848 


Osgood, James T., " 


April Ki 


18S4 


Sargent, Henry G., " 


April 14, 1840 


Parmlee, Lotlirop S., " 


Jan. 12 


1820 


Sprague, Richard B., ' 


April 14, 1840 


Pier, William, " 


May 13 


1830 


Smith, Peter, " 


April 14, 1840 


Perry, Warner, " 


March 14 


1833 


Shearman, Perry, ' 


March 6, 18.52 


Pettit, George C, " 


March 23 


1839 


Sill, Walter G., 


March 5, 1853 


Powell, Richard, " 


March 5 


1842 


Stone, Moses B., ' 


March 5, 1853 


Perry, Warner, " 


March 8 


18« 


Satterlee, Ch.iuncey, ' 


March 5, 1853 


Parker, Philander, " 


March 8 


1845 


Sunimerton, Jos'a D., " 


March 10, 18.55 


Powell, Richard, " 


March 6 


184" 


Sanford, S. W. B., 


March 10, 1855 


Perry, Warner, " 


April 14 


1840 


Smallman, John, ' 


March 10, 1856 


Perry, Warner, " 


March 9 


1850 


Skinner, Ethan, ' 


March 7, 1S57 


Parker, Philander, " 


March 9 


1850 


Smith, .iones, 


March 5, 1859 


Perkins, F. E., " 


March 9 


1850 


Scott, John D., ' 


March 5, 1859 


Perkins, F. B., 


Marcli 10 


1,854 


Sunimerton, J. D., ' 


March 21, 1860 


Perry, Warnei-. " 


March 10 


1855 


Smallman, John, ' 


March 30, 18G1 


Palmer, Warren, " 


March 21 


18S0 


Siggins, William, ' 


March 8, 1862 


Perry, Warner, " 


March 21 


1860 


Slone, William W., ' 


March 14, 1862 


Plumb, Asa, " 


March 21 


\Rm 


Shortt, William H., 


March 7, 1863 


Porter, A. V., " 


March 7 


1863 


Skinner, Ethan, ' 


March 14, 1862 


Perry, Hiram S., " 


March 5 


1864 


Smith, Jones, ' 


March 5, 186-1- 


Parker, Philander, " 


March 16 


1866 


Smith, D. 0., 


March 5, 1864 


Preston, Lorenzo, " 


March 16 


1867 


Summerton, J. D., ' 


April 6, 1865.. 


Plumb, Asa, " 


March 11 


1867 


Stright, W, E., ' 


April 6, 1866 . 


Parker, A. M., " 


March 6 


1869 


Scott, William H., 


March 16, 1866. 


Parmlee, L. T., " 


March 6 


1869 


Smallman, John, ' 


March 16, 1866 


Prior, 0., " 


March 6 


1869 


Stillson, David, ' 


March 16, 1866. 


Porter, John S., " 


Nov. 16 


1870 


Slone, W. W. 


March 11, 1867 


Pettit, George C, " 


March 2 


1871 


Shortt, William H., 


March 16, 1868; 


Parker, Philander, " 


March 7 


1872 


Smith, Jones, ' 


.March 6, 1869> 


Plumb, Asa. " 


March, 7 


1872 


Smith, D. 0., ' 


M.inh 6, 186«i 


Putnam, T. L., " 


March 13 


1876 


Stright, W. E., 


-\huvh 4, 1870 


Parker, A. M., 


March 13 


1876 


Slone, W, W., 


March 22, 1872 


Preston, Nelson, " 


March 17 


1877 


Smith, Jones, ' 


March 14, 1874 


Plumb, Asa, " 


March 17 


1877 


Sutliff, William B., 


March 16, 1875 


Phillis, J. W., 


March 2.") 


1878 


Stright, W. E., 


March 16, 1875 


Parker, Philander, " 


March 27 


1879 


Siggins, H. K. 


March 16, 1875 


Peck, George W., 


March 30 


1880 


Shannon, W. G., 


March 16, 1875 


Putnam, T. L., " 


April 9 


1881 


Sanford, J. G., 


March 16, 1875 


Richardson, Joshua, " 


Aug. 1 


1831 > 


-- Slone, W. W., 


March 13, 1876 


Reese, Martin, " 


April 15 


1833 


Sutliff, William B., 


March 30, 1880 


Ricliardson, Joshua, " 


March 7 


1846 


Straw. John M., ' 


April 9, 1881 


Rouse, Henry R., " 


March 9 


1850 


Shannon, W. G., ' 


March 30, 1880 


Roup, Christian, " 


March 6 


1852 


Schnur, Roman C, ' 


April 17, 1882 


Ross, John, " 


Marcli 7 


1863 


Slone, W. W., 


April 17, 1882 


Ricker, S. B., " 


March 5 


1864 


Siggins, William F., ' 


July 31, 1882 


Ricker, S. B., 


March 6 


1869 


Spence, David, ' 


April 6, 1883 


Race, Alexander, " 


March IG 


1875 


Siggins, William F., ' 


April fi, 1883 


Reeves, W. I., " 


March 30 


1875 


Sammons, L D., ' 


April 6, 1883 


Rowland, John, '' 


Marcii 13 


1876 


Shanafelt, J. T., 


Oct. 1, 1884 


Reeves, W. I., " 


March 30 


1880 


Shannon, W. G., 


April 23, 1885 


Richardson, C. S., " 


March 30 


1880 


Sutliff, Wm. B., 


April 14, 1886 


Ray, WiUiam, " 


April 9 


1881 


Thompson, Caleb, 


Aug. 1, 1831 


Rowland, John, " 


April 9 


1881 i 


Thompson, Joshua W., ' 


March 9, 1844 


Richardson, J. H., " 


April 14 


1886 


Taber, Georse W., 


March 6, 1852 


Ray, William, 


April 16 


1886 


Tuthill, Robert, 


March 10, 1855 


Siggins, William, " 


Feb. 1.5 


1827 


Taylor, Charles, ' 


March 10, 18.55 


Smith, Elijah, 


^ April 5 


1830 


Taylor, John J., 


March 10, 1856 


Sargent, Henry G., " 


Jan. 19 


1837 


Thompson, William L., ' 


March 5, 1859 


Stacy. Bdwm C, " 


March 11 


1843 


Thompson, J. W., ' 


March 7, 1863 


Sanford, Sam'l W. B., " 


March 9 


1844 


Temple, Charles F., ' 


March 16, 1866 



302 



History of Warren County. 



Thompson, J.W., commissioned 

Terrell, E., " 

Whitney, Nathan, " 

Williamson, S., " 
White, Mark S., 

Whitney, .Toel, " 

Willson, Mark, " 

Williams. E. Leroy, " 

Wright, Jude, " 

Willson, Mark, " 

White, Orange, " 

Woodin, David, " 

White, Mark S., " 

Woodbeck, John E., " 

Wright, Jude, " 

Warner, John A., " 

Walton, Levi, " 

Woodbeck, J. E., " 



April IG, 


1868 


Willson, Mark, commission 


ed March 21, 


1860 


Nov. 9, 


1869 


West, Charles B., " 


March 21, 


1860 


Feb. 9, 


1831 


White, Lucius, " 


March 28. 


1867 


Nov. 28, 


1834 


Williams, George H., " 


March 26^ 


1873 


April 3, 


1837 


Walz. Frederick, " 


March 26, 


1873 


April 14, 


1840 


White, Jay, '' 


March 31, 


1873 


April 14, 


1840 


White, Lucius, " 


May 6. 


1874 


March 9, 


1844 


Wells, W. B., 


Marcli 27, 


1879 


March 8, 


1845 


Wood, John, A., " 


Marcli27, 


1879 


March 8, 


1845 


Wood, George R., " 


March 30. 


1880 


April 14, 


1840 


White, A. T., 


March 30, 


1880 


April 14, 


1840 


White, Lucius, " 


April 17, 


1882 


April 14, 


1840 


Walz, Frederick, " 


April 6, 


1883 


March 9, 


1850 


Wood, John A., " 


April 23, 


1885 


March 8, 


1851 


White, A. T., 


April 23, 


1885 


March 10, 


1854 


Wright, R. 0., " 


April 23, 


1885 


March 10, 


1855 


White, J. E.. 


April 14, 


1886 


March 21 


1860 


Yates, George V. N., " 


March 5, 


1853 



CHAPTER XXX. 

RIYER NAVIGATION, ETC.. WAGON ROADS, RAILROADS. 

Source of the Conewango —Navigable Waters of the County — Askmg Aid for Tlieir Im- 
provement^ — Survey of the Allegheny by U. S. Engineers — Its Length and Fall from Olean to 
Pittsburgh — Early Manner of Transporting Freight and Passengers — Keel-boats — Their Great 
Usefulness — Shipping Lumber to Nev^' Orleans — Names of Steamboats Engaged in the Warren 
and Pittsburgh Trade — An Immen.ie Raft — Description of Rafting — Nathan Brown's Ventures 
— Wagon Roads Laid Out by the Pioneers — Present Condition of Highways — Railroads — 
Celebrating the Opening of Railway Communication with Erie — Date of Completing Other 
Railroads. 

Ri\ER Navigation, 1-;tc. 



THE waters flowing through the Conewango branch of the Allegheny River 
tal<e their rise on the borders of Lake Erie at an average elevation of 
about thirteen hundred feet above the sea, and nearly seven hundred feet above 
the level of the lake. Hence a small boat can start within seven or eight miles 
of Lake Erie, in sight of the large sailing vessels and steam propellers which 
navigate the great lakes, and float down to the Gulf of Mexico, a distance of 
about two thousand five hundred miles. 

Before the beginning of the present century the Allegheny, Conewango, 
and Brokcnstraw were officially declared navigable waters of the Common- 
wealth, but, as all well-informed readers know, they were only navigated by 
canoes, keel-boats, and rafts, until about the year 1830. Eor years prior to 
this date efforts had been made by the people's representatives, both at Har- 



River Navigation, Etc. 303 



risburg and the national capital, to obtain appropriations for the improvement 
of the streams named. The only response to these appeals, however, in any 
degree satisfactory, was obtained in the year 18 17, when the State Legislature 
appropriated the munificent sum of one thousand dollars for the improvement 
of the Allegheny River, and French and Conewango Creeks. 

During subsequent years, after the steamboat Allegheny had made her his- 
toric trip to Olean, the questions of slack-water navigation and the building of 
a canal parallel with the Allegheny River were paramount for a time and vig- 
orously agitated. As a result of this agitation the river was surveyed from 
Pittsburgh to Olean, and the distances between points, and altitudes, accurately 
ascertained. This work was performed by Major Kearney and Major Hughes, 
topographical engineers of the United States army. The first named surveyed 
the river from Pittsburgh to Franklin, the latter from Franklin to Olean. 
According to their report, the distance in miles, and the descent of the river in 
feet between the towns mentioned, was found to be as follows : From Little 
Valley, N. Y. (which is twenty-five miles by river below Olean), to State line, 
twenty miles, and one hundred feet fall. From the State line to Warren, twen- 
ty-two miles, and one hundred and five feet fall. From Warren to Franklin, 
sixty-five miles, and two hundred and five feet fall. From Franklin to Pitts- 
burgh, one hundred and twenty-one and one-half miles, and two hundred and 
fifty-six feet fall. 

Prior to the inauguration of steam navigation between Pittsburgh and War- 
ren, keel-boats and large canoes were mainly relied upon for the transportation 
of freight and passengers. The keel-boats would carry from ten to twelve 
tons each, and among the favorite ones remembered by early residents were 
the Transport, Mayflower, and Rover. During the very early years boats of this 
class were poled up the river, a slow and very laborious method of navigation. 
Afterwards they were towed by attaching a cable and two or three horses to 
each. By this means the journey from Pittsburgh to Warren could be accom- 
plished it from ten to twelve days, which was considered quite expeditious. 
The return down the river, however, could be made in three days. Even after 
the advent of steam navigation keel-boats had to be depended upon in a great 
measure, for quite frequently steamers could not ascend above Franklin, and 
for many weeks in the year they could not navigate the river for any consid- 
erable distance above Pittsburgh, from lack of depth of water over the shoals. 
Indeed, the keel-boats continued to make their trips up and down the river 
until the building of railroads rendered their further use . unnecessary and 
unprofitable. The freight charges between Pittsburgh and Warren during the 
era of river navigation ranged from fifty cents to one dollar and a quarter per 
hundred pounds. 

In other pages of this work frequent allusions have been made regarding 
the early lumbering operations in this county, and the running of the first rafts 



304 History of Warren County. 

to Pittsburgh. This business began here with the century, and was continued 
unceasingly for more than fifty years, or until there were no more pine forests 
of any considerable extent to destroy. Long before the organization of the 
county Jacob Hook, up the Allegheny, Major Harriot and Colonel Hackney, 
up the Conewango, and the Meads and McKinneys on the Brokenstravv, were 
extensively engaged in the manufacture and rafting of lumber. 

The product of their mills was mostly marketed at Pittsburgh ; but there 
were other markets where the unexcelled white pine lumber of Warren county 
was more highly apprciated. To illustrate: "The first foreign traffic in pine 
lumber from the Brokenstraw " said Judge Johnson in an address delivered 
at the dedication of the cemetery at Youngsville, " of which I have any 
authentic account, was a fleet of three boats got together at the mouth of the 
creek, in the fall and winter of 1805-06, and started on its perilous voyage to 
New Orleans on the ist day of April, 1806. The lumber had been gathered 
from the mills of Long, Andrews, Mead and others, of the best quality, stub- 
shotted and kiln-dried during the winter, while the boats were building. It 
was owned by Colonel William McGaw and William B. Foster, and brought 
in New Orleans $40 per 1000 feet. Daniel Horn and Daniel McQuay were 
two of the hands on board, and walked back;" the first taking a sailing ves- 
sel to Baltimore and thence walking home in time to do his summer's work, 
the latter walking the entire distance from New Orleans. 

" In the spring of 1807, another fleet of seven boats freighted with seasoned 
lumber, owned by Joseph Mead, Abram Davis, and John Watt started to the 
same destination — New Orleans; the owners returning by sailing vessels to 
Philadelphia, and the pilots and hands finding their way back as best they 
could. These ventures were several times repeated by the same and other 
parties, and McOuay and others are said to have made several return trips on 
foot, a feat that required more time and risk than a journey around the globe 
at the present day. 

" This was the morning twilight of the lumber trade, that for half a century 
thereafter furnished so large a field for the enterprise and industry of the resi- 
dents of the county. Infant- like at first, boards crept cautiously down the 
creeks in floats or single platforms, with the aid of halyards and Gregg's hick- 
ory splint cables. Gradually the markets, mills, and rafts enlarged until they 
absorbed nearly all the capital, the enterprise, and the energies of the county." 

The county, as we have shown, was almost inaccessible except through its 
natural water-ways. Pork, flour, whisky, etc., had to be brought in keel-boats 
and canoes from Pittsburgh ; salt, nails, glass, etc., from Mayville, by boats 
passing through Chautauqua Lake and its outlet. Truly, nothing but industry, 
economy, and indomitable perseverance insured success, or the attainment of 
even the most common necessaries of life. The pine forests (never to be 
replaced) were the main reliance of the early settlers, and their destruction 



River Navigation, Etc. 305 



was brought about at first, more particularly for the purpose of supplying the 
imperative demands of the pioneer stomach, than by any burning desire to 
supply the demands of trade. 

For fifteen or twenty years subsequent to 1830 a blank exists in the history 
of Warren county, which can never be satisfactorily filled, by reason of the gen- 
eral neglect of people to preserve newspapers, and the loss by fire, in 1849, of 
quite complete files of The Voice of the People, Warren Bulletin, Democratic 
Advocate, and Warren Standard, stored in the Standard office and there 
burned. The Warren Mail, now the senior newspaper in the county, was es- 
tablished in 1848, and from its complete files we have gleaned what little more 
can be told regarding the river and its traffic. In the spring of 1 848 the freight 
charges by keel-boatmen, between Pittsburgh and Warren were noted as vary- 
ing from seventy-five cents to one dollar and a quarter per hundred weight. 

On the 19th of December, 1848, the Mail chronicles the arrival of the 
steamer Wave from Pittsburgh, loaded with flour, pig-iron, etc., also about fifty 
passengers. The editor closes his remarks concerning her trip, etc., as follows: 
" If she can run from Pittsburgh to the extent of steam navigation on the Alle- 
gheny, by sleighing, she will deserve, as she will doubtless receive, a liberal 
share of public patronage." 

Early in 1849 *^he following announcement was printed in the newspapers 
and placarded about the town : 

" Regular Pittsburgh and Warren Packet. 
"THE STEAMBOAT WAVE NO. 2. 
" Wm. H. Gordon, Master. 
" Having been built expressly for the Pittsburgh and Warren trade will run regularly be- 
tween the above ports during the entire boating season. The Wave No. 2 being the only boat 
built e.xpressly for the trade referred to, will rely with confidence on the support of the citizens 
of Warren and surrounding county. 

" N. B. — Keel Boats will be furnished for the transportation of freight in low water." 

On the 20th of March the Mail man was pleased to say : " Two steamers 
in to-day; the Arena and the Wave. Oh, how we flourish. This is a great 
town, notwithstanding one end is burned off". Think of it! Two steamers in 
one day ; two acres of rafts lying in the eddy, and others passing every 
moment. Crowds of people thronging the streets and room for more. The 
telegraph flashing intelligence from all points of the Union, and last, but not 
least, the Allegheny Mail in full blast." 

These boats made several round trips during the season mentioned, charg- 
ing fifty cents per hundred pounds for freight. During the month of April of 
that year was noted the passage down the river of four boats built and owned 
by Nathan Brown, of Jamestown, N. Y. ; each being seventy feet long and 
sixteen feet wide, and three of them handsomely painted and finished in a 
manner superior to any thing before seen on the river. They were loaded 
with scythe-snaths, grain-cradles, hoes, hay-rakes, pitch-forks, shovels, sash, 
doors, etc., of the value of $15,000. 



3o6 History of Warren County. 

The steamer Clara Fisher made her first appearance at Warren in March, 
1850; her dimensions being as follows : Length of keel 145 feet; breadth of 
beam 25 feet, and depth of hull 4 feet 4 inches. She was built by that well- 
known boat builder, Pringle, of West Brownsville, and cost $1,300. Many of 
the citizens of W'arren accepted an invitation from Captain William H. Gordon, 
her master, and enjoyed a trip to the mouth of the Brokenstraw and return. 

By the erection of bridges at Pittsburgh and Franklin, and the building of 
the Freeport Aqueduct, the free navigation of the Allegheny was seriously 
obstructed as early as 1851. In denouncing these obstructions the editor of 
Mail, in February of that year, said : " We ought to have slack water naviga- 
tion Either this will at no distant day be done, or a railroad will 

be constructed along the valley of the Allegheny." In March of the same 
year was noted the arrival of the Allegheny Belle. Her actual running time 
from Pittsburgh to Warren was thirty- three hours, yet by reason of her deten- 
tion at the Freeport Aqueduct, it required five and one-half days to make the 
trip. The Clara Fisher, also, made a trip about the same time and was 
similarly delayed at the same point. 

In January, 1852, the steamboats Cornplaiiter, Clara Fisher, and Belle 
No. 2 were noted as arrivals at the port of Warren with freight and passengers 
from Pittsburgh. The Fisher and Cornplanter also visited Warren in Decem- 
ber of the same year. 

In the spring of 1853 the steamboats mentioned as arriving with freight, 
etc., from Pittsburgh were the Clarion, Clara Fisher, Cornplanter, Belle, Sam 
Snowden, and Justice. 

The Clara Fisher seems to have had a monopoly of the carrying trade in 
1855, ^s she was the only boat mentioned. The business of rafting, however, 
was in the aggregate of enormous proportions. Many millions of feet were 
floated past Warren, and one of its residents alone sent 7,000,000 feet to the 
lower markets. It was noted also that Captain Hall, of Warren, owned a raft 
which, when it passed Cincinnati, Ohio, contained 1,500,000 feet of boards. 
It covered an area of nearly two acres, and, it was asserted, was the largest 
raft ever seen upon the Ohio River. 

The Cornplanter and several other boats already mentioned visited War- 
ren in the spring of 1856. In April of that year the editor of the Mail, who 
had experienced its vicissitudes and rough pleasures, described life on a raft, as 
follows : " Let any one stand at the wharf and see the process of ' snubbing ' 
an Allegheny raft on this water, and he will get an inkling of life on the Al- 
legheny and the labors of a raftsman. 

"With what a steady, solemn, irresistible force comes the broad, rich fleet, 
turned this way and that by the quick, nervous strokes of the creaking oar. 
With what coolness and half-heroism the pilot heads to land, and marks the 
spot to a foot, while half a mile above, where he will strike, if he is a good 



River Navigation, Etc. 307 

pilot ; and what a silly, laughable, fidgetty splutter if he is a novice. How the 
boys 'crack 'er to the right' 'crack 'er to the left' and crack 'er up behind.' 
Then comes the ' snubbing,' — look out for your legs. How the cable uncoils, 
stretches, sizzles, snaps and jerks. How the cabler hangs like a puppy to a 
root and bounds for a new hitch when it runs out like lightning, tearing the 
nails from his fingers, and the slivers and bark from the post or tree. But a 
big raft, like a big rogue, tires of pulling hemp and swings at the rope's end 
surely at last. Then how the boys sweat and puff and blow. And what a 
lusty supper they get in the ' shanty,' and how richly do they relish it, and 
what a glorious sweet slumber is theirs on the soft side of a plank, or bundle 
of straw." 

In December, 1856, great losses were sustained by many lumbermen on 
the upper Allegheny, in their attempts to run rafts down the river so late in 
the season. They were caught en route by a blizzard which suddenly closed 
navigation. 

The steamers announced as carrying freight and passengers between War- 
ren and Pittsburgh in 1858-59, were the Venango and Echo. During the lat- 
ter year mention was made of a raft claimed to have been the largest ever 
floated down the Allegheny river. It contained 600,000 feet of boards, of 
which 400,000 feet were " clear stuff," and was rated to be worth not less than 
$12,000. Captain James Martin was in charge. The lumber was manufac- 
tured by Joseph Hall at his mills in Mead township, on the Tionesta Creek. 

In May, i860, the Mail informed its readers that " the steamboat which 
has been in process of construction for some time past has been completed, and 
will now ply regularly between this place and Tidioute. She is to be called 
the J. D. James, after our distinguished townsman." For some reason, how- 
ever, the James proved to be a failure. 

The steamer River Queen was built at the yard of C. F. Starkey, on the 
Sill farm, just below Warren, in the spring of 1865. She was one hundred and 
fifty feet long, light draught, thirty feet beam, and intended to ply between 
Warren and Pittsburgh ; but we find no other mention of her. 

The steamer A)inie Lavelle, from Pittsburgh, visited Warren in March, 1866. 
During the same year Captain Gardner built a steamboat opposite Warren, 
which was burned at Tidioute in March, 1867. It was the fate of Tidioute at 
that time to be " burned up " about three times a year. 

The last steamboat mentioned as navigating these waters was the W. A. 
Eddy. Fifty-three feet long and ten feet breadth of beam, she passed Warren 
e7t route from Randolph and Cold Spring, N. Y., to Parker's Landing April 
2, 1870. 

In 1885 Nathan Brown, of Jamestown, N. Y., the most widely-known char- 
acter along the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, closed his career as a boatman ; 
the last boat of his fleet making a total of one hundred and fifty-six. From 



3o8 History of Warren County. 

1843 his trips had been made annually, with the regularity of the seasons. Start- 
ing at Jamestown he floated along the outlet of Chautauqua Lake, then through 
Cassadaga Creek into the Conewango and Allegheny, jumping several mill- 
dams, and thence down the Allegheny and Ohio, landing at all towns as far 
as Evansville and Paducah. His boats usually were seventy-five feet long, 
sixteen feet wide, and fitted up with separate rooms, pantries, etc. His stock 
in trade generally consisted of sash, doors, blinds, nails and trimmings, also 
hoes, rakes, scythes, snaths, axes, grain-cradles, furniture, etc. His wooden 
wares were manufactured at Jamestown, N. Y.; his cast- steel articles by S. A. 
Millard, of Clayville, N. Y. After disposing of his goods he generally sold 
his boats at Louisville, Ky., or below, at a good profit for trading-boats. 

Wagon Roads. 

It is probable that the first attempt at road-building in the county of War- 
ren was performed under the orders of agents of the Holland Land Company 
during the years 1 795—96 ; but as these avenues of travel, if so they could be 
called, were simply for the convenience of employees of the company, and as 
this region was then without the limits, so to speak, of judicial jurisdiction, the 
rude highways cut out by the above-mentioned company were never made a 
matter of record. 

Under the jurisdiction of Crawford and Venango counties, and before the 
organization of Warren, the following described roads were laid out by and for 
the accommodation of Warren's pioneers. From " Marsh's Landing to the 
Public Square in town of Warren," Daniel Jackson, Robert Miles, Hugh Marsh, 
Joseph Goodwell, and James Justice, viewers, confirmed July 7, 1801. From 
" Marsh's Landing to William McClean's," Robert Miles, James Shipman, 
James Brown, John Marsh, Hugh Marsh, and Milford Marsh, viewers, con- 
firmed January 12, 1802. From " the town of Warren to Brokenstraw," Daniel 
Jackson, Jeremiah Morrison, James Morrison, Joseph Gray, John McKinney, 
and John Andrews, viewers, confirmed April 7, 1802. From "Marsh's Land- 
ing to the State Line," Ethan Jackson, Stephen Ross, Jacob Goodwin, William 
Eagan, Daniel Jackson, Michael McKinney, viewers, confirmed at March ses- 
sions in 1807. From " McDowell's to Devoe's improvements," Ninian Irvine, 
Eliel Farr, James Ricketts, Francis McClintock, and Richard Hamilton, view- 
ers, approved September 19, 1808. From " Giles White's to John Hinds'," 
Charles McNair, John Watts, Hugh Wilson, Philip Huftman, and John Arthur, 
viewers, confirmed December 8, 1808. From "the Crawford county line 
through the western part of Brokenstraw township," confirmed November 8, 
1 8 10. From "the State road at Little Brokenstraw Creek to the place where 
Conewango Path crosses the same"; confirmed February 7, 181 1. From 
" town of Warren to New York State line near the two hundred and fourth 
mile-stone " ; Samuel Dale, Alexander Clants, David Brown, Edward Jones, 
Daniel Jackson, and James Rogers, viewers, confirmed November 6, 181 1. 



Wagon Roads. — Railroads. 309 

" Alteration in State road from Warren to Brokenstraw," Samuel Dale, 
Daniel Jackson, Robert Arthur, Samuel Morrison, and John Watts, viewers, 
confirmed November 4, 18 12. From " Conewango Creek to Sackettsburgh," 
Daniel Horn, Charles McNair, Hugh Marsh, John Brown, William Davis, and 
Isaiah Jones, viewers, confirmed November 7, 181 5. From "Little Broken- 
straw to William C. White's," Abraham Strickland, Ephraim Miles, Charles 
McNair, William C. White, Lansing Wetmore, and James Irvine, viewers, ap- 
proved November 9, 1815. From "Jacob Goodwin's to the two hundred and 
fourth mile-stone on the New York State line," John Brown, Amos York, 
Charles McNair, Jacob Goodwin, Richard B. Miller, and William Arthur, view- 
ers, confirmed December 6, 1816. From " Lottsville to meet a road laid out 
from John Titus's to the State line, at an angle known by the name of Alexan- 
der Watts' Cabin," Harmonius Lott and others, viewers, confirmed February 
4, 1817. From " Fleming's Mill, in Venango county, to Shelletto's in Warren 
county," Edward Fleming, James Miller, David Kidd, Daniel Fleming, and 
Samuel Fleming, viewers, confirmed November 4, 1817. From "the State 
line to the crossings of the roads," David Dalrymple, Thomas Green, John 
Brown, Richard B. Miller, and John Tuthill, viewers, confirmed May sessions, 
1818. From " Youngsville to intersect the road from Jacob Goodwin's to the 
State line," John Mead, Henry Kinnear, Mathew Young, Hugh Wilson, and 
William Mead, viewers, confirmed November 24, 18 18. From " Culbertson's 
Mill to Erie county line," James Culbertson, Alexander Watts, Daniel Horn, 
Hugh Wilson, Jacob Goodwin, and James Bonner, viewers, confirmed Feb- 
ruary 22, 1 8 19. From " two hundred and second mile-stone on State line to 
John Barr's," William Stewart, Garret Burgett, John Marsh, and Hugh Marsh, 
viewers, whose report was confirmed May 23, 1819. 

Since the organization of the county scores of other roads have been laid 
out and somewhat improved until to-day they are found leading in all direc- 
tions. They are, however, very, very ordinary dirt roads. Once a year the 
farmers and others assessed for highway tax turn out and spoil the road here 
and there within their beat for the ensuing twelvemonth, by throwing upon it 
loose loam, sods and stones, and the next year the same operation is repeated 
at other points. As a result of this yearly patch work, " a lick and a promise," 
highways which have been in use for fifty years are in no better condition than 
when first opened, other than the disappearance of stumps, roots and some loose 
bowlders. 

Railroads. 

The Sunbury and Erie, now known as the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad, 
was chartered in 1837, rnainly through the persistent efforts of Hon. Thomas 
Struthers, of Warren. This was only eight years after railroads were first used 
as public thoroughfares in America. Owing to the failure of the United States 



3IO History of Warren County. 

Bank, the Sunbury and Erie Railroad enterprise, in which it was the principal 
stockholder, lay dormant for many years. Its friends, however, were undis- 
mayed, and one of them, Dr. G. A. Irvine, to save the charter, graded a por- 
tion of the line near Irvine Station in 1840. In 1856, the towns and counties 
along the route having subscribed very liberally to the capital stock, work was 
commenced at the western terminus, and late in the fall of 1859 the western 
division, from Erie to Warren, was completed. 

The cars first came into Warren December 10, but did not commence run- 
ning regularly on schedule time until December 21, 1859. On the 15th of 
that month occurred the celebration at Warren in honor of so great an event 
in its history — railroad communication with Erie, and thence by other rail- 
roads with the chief cities of the Union. Many visitors from Erie, Cleveland, 
Philadelphia, New York and other places were present. Among the Erie 
guests present were General Wilson and staff, escorted by the Wayne Guards 
of Erie and a brass six pounder. They were appropriately received by Gen- 
eral R. Brown and staff, the Packer Rifles, and a uniformed body of fireman, 
representing the citizens of Warren. After a street parade a banquet was en- 
joyed at the Carver House, where Hons. S. P. Johnson, G. W. Scofield, C. B. 
Curtis, Thos. Struthers, and Rev. C. L. Hequembourg, did the principal speak- 
ing for Warren ; G. J. Ball, M. B. Lowry, C. W. Kelso, W. A. Galbraith, and 
ex-Mayor King for Erie, and Chief Engineer F"arris for the railroad company. 
At night a military ball, held at Odd Fellows Hall, closed the festivities of the 
occasion. 

The first through passenger train from the eastern terminus reached War- 
ren August 12, 1864, but the formal opening of this avenue of travel and com- 
merce did not take place until October 4 of that year. From its inception, 
twenty-seven years prior to that date, Thomas Struthers had been one of its 
warmest and most active advocates, and during its building he, together with 
C. B. Curtis and L. D. Wetmore as contractors, under the firm names of 
Struthers, Curtis & Co., and Struthers & Wetmore, built thirty or forty miles 
of the road from Irvineton eastward. At times they had as many as five hun- 
dred men in their employ at the same moment. The name of the road was 
changed from the Sunbury and Erie, to the Philadelphia and Erie, in 186 1. 

Other railroads were completed during the years mentioned as follows: 
The Warren and Franklin from Irvineton to Oil City in 1866, carrying 65,000 
passengers during the first five months after its completion. The Dunkirk and 
Warren railroad, commenced in the fall of 1867, was finished in 1871, and in 
1872 the Warren and Venango road, from Warren to Titusville, was opened 
for business. In 1883 was completed another railroad, running up the Alle- 
gheny River through Kinzua and Corydon to Salamanca and Olean, now 
called the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railroad, making Warren a 
center, to and from which trains run in five different directions every day in 
the week, Sundays excepted. 



The Bench and Bar. 311 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

THE BENCH AND BAR. 

Interesting Memoirs of the President Judges now Deceased — Full Mention of Those Who 
Survive — The Bar — A Complete Roll of Attorneys Admitted Since the Organization of the 
County — Remarks Concerning Some of the Earliest Resident Attorney.s — Notes Relating to 
Present Attorneys in Active Practice. 

The Bench. 

IN his address delivered at the dedication of the new court-house, December 
3, 1877, Hon. Samuel P. Johnson referred to the president judges who 
have presided over the courts of Warren county, particularly those deceased, 
in the following words. And we will add that none living were more compe- 
tent to speak of the dead worthies than he, since he had been personally 
acquainted with all of them. 

" During the fifty-eight years of its existence, twelve president or law 
judges have presided over the destinies of the people of Warren county in the 
administration of the laws, seven of whom have closed their records upon earth 
and been committed without bail or mainprize to the prison of the tomb, while 
five still remain to claim the benefit of the extension law. 

" This county has been fortunate in the character of those intrusted with 
the great responsibilities of presiding judge during its early history. I speak 
but of the dead. Let posterity write the history of the living. 

"The Hon. Jesse Moore was the first in the order of time, from 18 19 to 
1824. He was a gentleman of the old school, dignified but courteous, learned 
but not brilliant, characterized by stern integrity and freedom from all preju- 
dice. He was a short, thick-set man, and some still remember his benignant 
countenance, partially bald head, well-powdered hair, and broad-brimmed, 
drab-colored hat. He died suddenly, when still in the prime of life and ma- 
turity of intellect, honored and lamented by all. 

" Henry Shippen succeeded him from 1825 to 1835. His characteristics 
were common sense and sound judgment. Many here will remember his 
inflexible honesty, his fidelity to truth, and his contempt for trickery and 
fraud. A single instance will suffice to illustrate : In 1834 a notorious person- 
age of a neighboring county by fraud and false interpretation had procured a 
judgment note from the venerable old Cornplanter for three thousand dollars, 
entered judginent, and issued execution on it. Application was made by 
counsel, in behalf of the old chief, to open the judgment and let him into a 
defense. As the evidence of the villainy was disclosed, the judge became very 
nervous. Anger flashed from his eye, and before the counsel got through his 



312 History of Warren County. 

evidence the judge told him to stop, and, leaning over the bench, in a voice 
hoarse with indignation, said : ' Mr. Clerk, set aside that writ and strike that 
judgment from the records of this court ! ' 

"Next came, in 1835, Judge Nathaniel B. Eldred, the accomplished gen- 
tleman, brimful of honor, honesty, and sympathy. His quick perception, 
sound judgment, and stern impartiality guided him to the justice of a case, 
without the aid of much legal learning, so that his decisions were seldom 
appealed from and were seldom reversed. With but a year of interruption he 
remained with us until 1843, when he was removed by appointment to the 
Harrisburg district. His social qualities and public spirit, as well as official 
conduct, had greatly endeared him to the hearts of the people of this and other 
counties, who parted with him with much reluctance and regret. 

"In 1839, after the death of Judge Shippen, Judge Eldred was appointed 
his successor in the sixth district, out of which this county had been taken in 
1835 to form part of the eighteenth, and without our solicitation or knowledge 
Alexander McCalmont was appointed to fill his place in the eighteenth district, 
including Warren county. His administration was so short and unsatisfactory 
that I will be excused for passing it over in silence. The next year, by legis- 
lative act, this county was restored to the sixth district, and thus again came 
under the jurisdiction of Judge Eldred. He was the only judge of the first 
seven that ever resided in Warren. 

"After Eldred came Judge Gaylord Church, in 1843, young, ardent, am- 
bitious, industrious, painstaking and prompt. With much ability and no sym- 
pathy, he exacted a rigid enforcement of the criminal law, and a technical 
application of both law and practice in civil cases. He was a terror to evil- 
doers. Withal, his head was a little dizzy by the elevation so suddenly thrust 
upon him, and he seemed jealous lest it should be supposed there was anything 
he did not know. 

" He retired in 185 i under the operation of the amended constitution, and 
was succeeded by the Hon. John Galbraith, who was elected in the fall of that 
year. He brought with him age, learning, and experience. His prominent 
characteristics were honesty, frankness, charity for all, and an abounding sym- 
pathy for the erring and unfortunate. Mercy tempered all his judgments, and 
sometimes down to great dilution. He died in June, i860, a year and a half 
before the expiration of his term. 

" Last but not least of the dead worthies whose virtues linger in our mem- 
ories is the Hon. James Thompson. The exigencies of the business in the 
sixth judicial district in 1839 required the creation of a special court of civil 
jurisdiction, and Judge Thompson was appointed its sole presiding officer for 
a term of five years. He brought to the discharge of its duties integrity, 
learning, and a large ability, flavored with a geniality of disposition, an urban- 
ity of manner, and a judicial courtesy that made him a favorite with all, and 




^ ^^ 



The Bench and Bar. 313 



especially with the members of the bar. In after years, these same qualities 
of mind and manners adorned his administration for a full term upon the bench 
of the Supreme Court of the State. He died at the age of three score and 
ten, honored and beloved, having spent the half of his adult life in the political 
and judicial service of his country. 

" I said this county had been fortunate in the character of its early judges. 
During the entire time embraced in the official history of those I have named, 
covering a period of over forty years, no charge of corruption, dishonesty, or 
malfeasance was ever made with truth against any of the incumbents. The 
purity of the judicial ermine suffered no tarnish while worn by them." 

Of Judge Galbraith's successors on the bench as president judges — Hon. 
Rasselas Brown, appointed in i860; Hon. Samuel P.Johnson, elected in i860; 
Hon. Lansing D. Wetmore, elected in 1870, and Hon. William D. Brown, 
elected in 1880 — all are yet living in the town of Warren, esteemed and hon- 
ored, and in the enjoyment of ample means justly earned. In other pages of 
this work memoirs relating to Judges R. Brown, Johnson, and Wetmore will 
be found. 

Hon. William D. Brown was born at Sugar Grove, Warren county, Pa., 
September 6, 1823. After availing himself of such educational advantages as 
the public and private schools of Sugar Grove and the Warren Academy 
afforded, he studied law in the office of Johnson & Brown, and was admitted 
to practice December 8, 1847. In 1849 he was elected justice of the peace 
for the borough of Warren, but after a short time resigned. In the fall of 1850 
he was elected district attorney for the county, and held the office for three 
years. In 1862 he served as commissioner for Warren county, to superintend 
the drafting of men for military service. He represented this county in the 
Pennsylvania House of Representatives during the years 1863-64-65, and in 
the fall of 1880 was elected president judge of the thirty-seventh judicial dis- 
trict (composed of Warren and Forest counties), for the term expiring January 
I, 1891. Judge Brown has been a life-long resident of this his native county, 
his youthful days having been passed in Sugar Grove, and the remainder, 
since his admission to the bar, in the town of Warren. From 185 i to the time 
of his election as president judge he was actively and quite successfully engaged 
in the practice of his profession, and gained an enviable reputation as a jurist. 
He is of Scotch- Irish ancestry — a son of Hon. David Brown, who was the first 
to represent Warren county in the legislative halls of the State, after the organ- 
ization of the county in 18 19. 

The Bar. 

Since the organization of the county more than three hundred attorneys at 
law, a large majority of them non-residents of the county, have been admitted 
to practice in its various courts. Their names are found scattered through a 



314 



History of Warren County. 



dozen volumes or more of dusty records, some of them not indexed, and the 
work of compiling a list of admissions has required the expenditure of much 
time and patience — the scanning, in fact, of each volume, page by page. The 
following roll is the result of such researches. It is believed to be nearly per- 
fect, and cannot be otherwise than valuable for reference, showing, as it does, 
the names, places of residence (so far as learned), and date of admission of the 
more than three hundred men referred to. Present resident attorneys in active 
practice are designated by italics. 



Ralph Mailin, MeadviUe, Pa., Nov./iU, 1819 
Thomas H. Sill, Erie, Pa., " 

John Galbraith, Franklin, Pa., " " 

Patrick Farrelly, MeadviUe, Pa., " " 

Aimer Hazcltino, Warren, Pa., March 6, 1820 
Roljcrt Bo.-^twick, " " 

John B, Wall.ice, MeadviUe, Pa., Mch. 8, 1820 
Anslem Potter, May 30, 1820 

Samuel B. Foster, Mercer, Pa., Sept. i, 1820 
Frank Bergher, Dec. 4, 1820 

George Selden, MeadviUe, Pa., June 4, 1821 
Harmer Denny, Pittsburgh, Pa,, June 5, '.821 
Robert L. Potter, Sept. 4, 1821 

Richard Bear, " " 

Horatio N. Waigley, Sept. 2, 1822 

Samuel Ladd, " " 

Thomas R. Peters, Sept. 4, 1822 

John J. Pearson, Franklin, Pa., Dec. 3, 1822 
Josiah Hall, ^\■arren, Pa., Sept. 3, 1823 

David Derrickson, MeadviUe, Pa., Mch. 3, 1824 
Samuel Miles Green, " " 

Stephen Barlow, MeadviUe. Pa., '' " 

Henry Baldwin, MeadviUe, Pa.. June I, 1824 
William Ayres, Butler, Pa., '■ " 

John Banks, Mercer, Pa., " " 

George J. Elliott, Erie, Pa., '■ " 

Andrew W. Morrison. Warren, Pa., 

Sept. 2. 1824 
William McKean, May 30, 1825 

Moses McClane, jr., " " 

Don Carlos Barrett, Erie. Pa.. Sept. 4. 182G 
Elijah Babbitt, Erie, Pa., 

Gilman Merrill, Warren, Pa.. March 5, 1827 
John S. Riddle, Me.advdle. Pa., April 3, 1827 
Sylvester Dunham, Brookville, Pa., " " 

James L. t'rary. May 5, 1828 

John W. Farrelly, MeadviUe, Pa., " " 

Abram D. Diunars, Warren, Pa., May 8, 1828 
Samuel A. Purviance, Warren, Pa., 

Sept. 1, 1828 
Thomas Struther.'s, Warren, Pa., Sept. 8, 1828 
Michael Gallagher, Warren, Pa., Dec. 1, 1828 
John W. Howe, Smethport, Pa., May 4, 1829 
John Wilson, " " 

James Thompson, Franklin, Pa., Mch. 3, 1830 
Lansing Wetmore, Warren, Pa., Dec. 2, 1830 
Olio J. Hiimlin, Smethport, Pa., Sept. 3, 1832 
James Ro.<s Snowden, Franklin, Pa., " " 

A. G. Ramsay, June 3, 1833 

Carlton B. Curti<, Warren, Pa., March 3, 1834 
Alexander ,McCalniont, Franklin, Pa.. 

June 2, 1834 



Altred Huidekoper. MeadviUe. Pa.,Junc 2, 1834 
Samuel P. Johnson, VV^arren, Pa., " '■ 

Benjamin Bartholomew, Warren, Pa.. 

April 15, 1835 
William H. Dimmick, March 7, 1837 

.James MuUett, Mayville, N. Y., '' " 

Abner Lewis, Jamestown, N. Y., " " 

Gaylord Church. MeadviUe, Pa., June 5, 1837 
John W. Maynard, Wellsboro, Pa., Dec. 4, 1837 
Hiram Payne, Smethport, Pa., " " 

Rasselas Brown. Warren, Pa., June 4, 1839 
Almon Virgil, Warren, Pa., July 29. 1839 

Joseph Y. James, Warren, Pa., " '■ 

Quincy A. Johnson, Warren, Pa., Sept. 2, 1839 
Joshua Sweet, Oct. 23, 1839 

Richard P. Marvin, Jamestown, N. Y., 

Oct. 23, 1839 
Arthur CuUum, MeadviUe, Pa., June 3, 1840 
Norris W. Goodrich. Warren, Pa., 

Oct. 20,1840 
Thomas S. Espy. Franklin, Pa., Dec. 29, 1840 
Darius Titus. Warren, Pa., March 2, 1841 

Montgomery P. Young, March 3, 1841 

William H. Lamberton, Franklin, Pa., 

Dec. 8, 1841 
S. J. Goodrich, Warren, Pa,, March 7, 1842 
John P, Vincent, Erie, Pa,, March 11, 1842 
Edwin C, Stacy, Columbus, Pa., Sept. 9, 1842 
Lothrop T. Parmlee, Warren, Pa.. Dec. L 1842 
Glenni W. Scofield, Warren, Pa., Jan. 5, 1843 
Josiah Hall, Warren. Pa., re-admitted 

Jan. 5, 1843 
William H. Davis, MeadviUe, Pa., Dec. 5, 1843 
C. H. S. Williams, Mayville, N. Y., 

Dec. 5, 1843 
.lo.ieph D. Jame,';, Warren, Pa., March 5, 1844 
William A. (Jalbraith, Erie, Pa., June 3, 1844 
Lansing D. HWmorf, Warren, Pa., June 4, 1844 
Charles Kuapp, Warren, Pa., '' '' 

Theophilus T. Wilson, VVarren, Pa., '' 

John N. Miles. Warren, Pa., '■ 

Isaac Benson, Warren. Pa., June 21. 1844 

E. P. Seely. Dec. 2, 1844 

Edwin C. Wilson, Franklin, Pa., Sept. 3, 1845 
William D. Brown, Warren, Pa., Dec. 8, 1847 
George B. Delamater, MeadviUe, Pa., 

Sept. 4, 1849 
Jerome W. Wetmore, Warreu, Pa,, 

Dec. 6, 1849 
Madison Burnell, Jamestown, N. Y., 

March 6, 1850 
Cliarles B. Curtis, Warren, Pa., Dec. 4, 1851 



The Bench and Bar. 



315 



1852 
1852 
1852 
1852 

1853 



Henry Souther, Ridgway, Pa,, Jan. 19, 
George D. Woodin, Warren, Pa., June 9, 
James Karr, Franklin, Pa., Sept. 8, 

James Sill, Brie, Pa., Deo. 6, 

Theodore D. Edwards, Warren, Pa., 

June 7, 
T. C. Spencer, Warren, Pa., " 

S. W. Dana, Warren, Pa., " 

Isaac S. Alden, Warren, Pa., June 8, 
Barnett W. Lacy, Warren, Pa., Oct. 11, 
Oliver A. Dah-ymple, Warren, Pa., Dec. 5, 
0. N. Payne, March 3, 

Byron D. Hamlin, Sraethpovt, Pa., 

Feb. 4, 

B. B. Eldred, Smethport, Pa., June 3, 
Samuel N. Dickinson, Warren, Pa, 

Aug. 17, 
J. A. Chapin, Ridgeway, Pa., Sept. 8, 
Junius R. Clark, Warren, Pa., Aug. 17, 
D. J. Hodges, Warren, Pa., " 

F. B. Guthrie, Warren, Pa., March 8, 
William R. Scott, Aug. 17, 

Charles Dinsmoor, Warren, Pa., Sept. 6, 
T. R. Kennedy, Meadville, Pa., Dec. 7, 
J. B. Johnson, Erie, Pa., Sept. 6, 

William S. Lane, Erie, Pa., Dec. 4, 

William IT'. Wilbur, Warren, Pa., 

April 23, 
H. A. Jamieson, Warren, Pa., Aug. 19, 
N. P. Fetterman, Pittsburgh, Pa., " 
George W. De Camp, Erie Co., Pa., 

Aug. 22, 
Charles Taylor, Franklin, Pa., Sept. 3, 
J. A. Neill, Warren, Pa., Oct. 23, 

James L. Lott, Warren Co., Pa., Dec. 4, 
David McKelvy, Warren, Pa., Feb. 10, 
Thomas M. Biddle, Phila., Pa. " 

Charles E. Baldwin, June 6, 

A. D. Wood, Warren, Pa., June 1, 

S. E. Woodruff, Erie, Pa., June 2, 

Jacob Baker, Titusville, Pa., " 

Samuel T. Allen, Warren, Pa., Feb. 9, 
Orrin C. Allen, Warren, Pa., "' 

Henry Crawford, New Albany, Ind., 

March 8, 
Joel F. Asper, Erie, Pa., " 

Charles E. Baldwin, name stricken from 

March 8, 
0. 0. Trantum Warren, Pa., Sept. 4, 
Clark Ewing, Titusville, Pa., 
Thomas McConnell, Pittsburgh, Pa., 

Sept. 6, 
William M. Biddle, Erie, Pa., Deo. 4, 
Joel Campbell, Corry, Pa., Dec. 6, 

C. 0. Bowman, Corry, Pa., " " 
S. M. Davis, Meadville, Pa., March 5, 1866 
Alfred B. McCalmont, Franklin, Pa., 

March 6, 1805 
Abner Hazeltine, jr., Jamestown, N. Y., 

June 7, 1866 
H. T. Beardsley, Lock Haven, Pa., 

Nov. 17, 1866 
Harrison Allen, Warren, Pa., Nov. 17, 1806 
Alvin W. Barry, Tidioute, Pa., " " 



1854 
1855 
18.55 
1856 

1857 
1857 

1857 
1857 
1858 

1859 
1859 
1859 
1859 
1860 
18G0 

1861 
1861 



1861 
1861 
1861 
1861 
1862 

1862 
1863 
1863 



rolls 
1864 
1865 



1865 
1865 
1865 



L. W. Wilcox, Titusville, Pa., Sept. 3 
C W. Stone, Warren, Pa., " 

James Buchanan, Tidioute, Pa., Sept. 4, 
C. D. Longfellow, Titusville, Pa., 
G. W. Allen, Warren, Pa., Dec. 3, 

James D. Mahon, Irvine, Pa., March 5 
Robert C. Beach, Tidioute, Pa., March 7 
W. C. Lathey, Forest Co., Pa., June 4 
P. D. Reeves, Warren, Pa., June 5, 

Hugh C. Graham, Oil City, Pa., June 10^ 
Selden Marvui, Brie, Pa., July 1 

Pearson Church, Meadville, Pa., Dec. 9, 
C. W. GilfiUian, Franklin, Pa., 
Samuel A. Davenport, Erie, Pa., Feb. 21 
Samuel T. JVeill, Warren, Pa., June 2, 
Isaac Myer, jr., Franklin, Pa., June 4, 
J. M. Bonham, Sept. 8, 

Joshua Douglass, Meadville, Pa., Sept. 15, 
J. B. Brawley, Meadville, Pa., Sept. 16. 
Robert Dennison, Warren, Pa., Oct. 6, 
A. B. Richmond, IMeadville, Pa., Dec 
J. H. Lewi.s Meadville, Pa., Dec. 9 

M. C. Beebe, Crawford Co., Pa., March 8, 
Warren Cowles. Corry, Pa., June 7 

C. F. Eldred, Corry, Pa., 
Miles W. Tate, Forest Co., Pa., June 17 
Joshua Byles, Pleasantville, Pa., Sept. 10, 
James M. Breden, Franklin, Pa., Sept. 11 
M. Crosby, Corry, Pa., Oct. 26, 

William Schnur, Warren, Pa., Nov. 23, 
Rufus B. Smith, Warren, Pa., " 

Wallace W. Brown, McKean Co., Pa., 

Dec. 7 
R. Mackwood, Tidioute, Pa., March 7, 
S. D. Irwin, Franklin, Pa., " 

Caleb C. Thompson, Warren, Pa., May 3, 
L. S. Norton, Erie Co., Pa., June 6, 

Daniel D. Fassett, Tidioute, Pa., Sept. G. 
Charles R. Saunders, Erie Co., Pa., 

March 6, 
W. P. Mercelliot, Forest Co., Pa., 

March 7 
M. G. Gushing, Tidioute, Pa., 
H. C. Johns, Titusville, Pa., March 17 
James 0. Parmlee, Warren, Pa., Sept, 23 
Henry E. Brown, Warren, Pa., Dec. 4, 
C. H. Noyes, Warren, Pa., Dee. 12, 

ir. M. Lindsey, Warren, Pa., March 4, 
Alfred S. Moore, Warren, Pa., May 7 
Isaac Ash, Oil City, Pa., June 3, 

C. L. Baker, Tidioute, Pa., 
Fred. A. Hooker, Warren, Pa., Aug. 10 
Anthony Wiedman, Meadville, Pa., 

Sept. 10, 
James H. Donly, Venango Co., Pa., Oct. 7 
Samuel S. Smith, Titusville, Pa., Jan. 
S. E. Woodruff, Erie Co., Pa., March 6 

Mason, Tionesta, Pa., March 14, 

A. W. Coville, Tidioute, Pa., April 28 

C. L. Coville, Corry, Pa., 

D. C. McCoy, Meadville, Pa., June 9, 
Roger Sherman, Titusville, Pa., July 23, 
George T. Chester, Titusville, Pa., 

Sept. 1, 



1866 

1866 
1867 
1867 
1867 
1867 
1867 
1867 
1807 

1808 
1868 
1868 
1868 
1868 
1868 
1868 
1808 
1868 
1809 
1869^ 

1869' 
1869. 
1869' 
1869 
186a 



1869 
1870 

1870 
1870 
1870 



1871 

1871 
1871 
1871 
1871 
1872 
1872 
1872 

1872 

1872 
1872 
1873 
1873 
1873 
1873 

1873 

1873 

1873 



3i6 



History of Warren County. 



B. J. Reed, Clarion, Pa., Sept. 6, 1873 
Rufus Lucore, Elk Co., Pa., March 3, 1874 
R. W. Mackey, Venango Co., Pa., 

March 3, 1874 
F. S. Seely, Crawford Co., Pa., March 4, 1874 
W. B. Chapman, Bradford, Pa., " " 

F. D. Kinnear, Franklin, Pa., Sept. 15, 1874 
Charles B. Guthrie, Titusville, Pa., 

Sept. 16, 1874 
S. C. T. Dodd, Franklin, Pa., Nov. 10, 1874 
Otii F. Hoffman, Wai-ren, Pa., Dec. 7, 1874 
Melancthon ililes, Warren Co., Pa., 

Jan. 13, 1875 
David I. Ball, Warren, Pa., Feb. 10, 1875 

John L. Butler, Aug. 5, 1875 

Byron Sutherland, Warren, Pa., Nov. 12, 1875 
Thomas A. Morrison, Dec. 10, 1875 

James Cable, Warren, Pa.. Jan. 20, 187G 

F. M. Knapp, Warren, Pa., April 13, 187G 
William Swanson, Warren. Pa., July 10, 1877 
E L. Davis, Tionesta, Forest Co., Pa., 

Sept. 7, 1877 
J. V. Brown, Dec. 6, 1877 

George H. Cutter, Girard, Erie Co., Pa., 

March 4, 1878 

C. G. Olmstead, Corry, Pa., April 1, 1878 
James G. Marsh, Warren. Pa., Sept. 2. 1878 
Perry D. Clark, Warren, Pa., " " 
Samuel Minor, Titusville, Pa., Jan. 7, 1880 
W. E. Marsh, Corry, Pa., " 
S. F. Hallock, Meadville, Pa., Jan. 9, 
R. C. Schnur, Warren, Pa., April 5, 
A. C. Bowers, AVarren Co., Pa., July 6, 
George H. Higgins, Warren, Pa., " 
C. H. McCauiey, Elk Co., Pa., Sept. 7, 
J. W. Lee, Franklin, Pa., Dec. 9, 
William M. Bcggs, Clarion, Pa., Dec. 10, 
Samuel L. McGee, Jan. 6, 
H. W. Wier, Pittsburgh, Pa., Feb. 11, 
William D. Christy, Oil City, Pa., 

April 5, 
James D. Hancock, Franklin, Pa., " 
R. F. Glenn, Jan. 20, 

Frank McClintock. Feb. 6, 

F. H. Davi,s, Meadville, Pa., March 9, 
T. F. Ritchey, Tionesta, Pa., March 11, 
John IF. Dunkle, Clarendon, Pa., May 1, 
Henry W. Blakeslee, ilcKean Co., Pa., 

May 4, 
N. M. Orr, June 5, 

Eugene Mullen, 

H. J. Muse, Warren, Pa., June 6, 

John A. Wilson, Venango Co., Pa., 

June 8, 
Charles Westcott, June 9, 

N. B. Smiley, MoKean Co., Pa., 
Watson D. Hincldey,\\ avien, Pa., July 12, 
A. F. Bole, Union City, Pa., '' 



1880 
1880 
1880 

1880 
1880 
1880 
1881 
1881 

1881 

1882 
1882 
1882 
1882 
1882 

1882 

1882 



1882 
1882 



July 12, 1882 



Oct. 3, 
Oct. 4, 
Nov. 13, 
Dec. 4, 
Dec. 5, 
Jan. 19, 



March 5, 1883 



March 7, 
April 28, 

June 7. 

July 10, 



William C. Brown, 

L. R. Freeman, Warren, Pa.. 

Foster L. Snodgrass, Meadville, Pa., 

July 31, 
F. D. Kinnear, Tidioute, Pa., Aug. 11, 
W. R. Bole, Meadville, Pa., Sept. 4, 

H. L. Richmond, jr., Meadville, Pa., 

Sept. 4, 
F. R. Blackmarr, Meadville, Pa., 
Thomas Roddy, Meadville, Pa., " 

J. H. Osmar, Franklin, Pa., Sept. 5, 

Harvey N. Snyder, Sept. 6, 

William G. Trunkey, Warren, Pa., 

Sept. 
S. M. Brainard, Erie, Pa., 
John McKissick, 
J. M. McClure, 
Lewi.s F. Barger, 
H. D. Hancock, 
Samuel Grumbine, 
H. H. Goucler, Warren, Pa 
W. P. Weston, 
Cornelius Vanhorn, 
Samuel P. Bingham, 
George A. Allen, Erie, Pa., 
John M. Thompson, 
Lewis Rozenweig, Erie, Pa. 
George N. Frazine, Warren, Pa., Sept, 3, 
A. B. Force, Pittsburgh, Pa., Jan. 29, 
James W. Wiggins, Warren, Pa., March 3, 
John C. Sturgeon, Erie, Pa., May 5, 

F. W. Hays, Venansro Co., Pa., June 2, 
Waldron M. Dane, " Julv 28. 
H. R. McCalmont. Sept. 29, 
A. E. Sisson, Erie, Pa., Oct. 9, 
James W. Sproul, Crawford Co., Pa., 

Feb. 5, 
Eugene P. Gillespie, Crawford Co., Pa., 

Feb. 5, 
William E. Rice. Warren, Pa., April 6, 
Edward S. Wetmore, Warren, Pa., " 
George A. Jenks, Jefferson Co., Pa., 

April 8, 
John G. Hall, Elk Co., Pa., 
Henry McSweeney, " 

James W. Kinnear, Tidioute, Pa., April 16, 
Theodore A. Lamb, Erie Co., Pa., 

Sept. 8, 

G. B. McCalmont, " 
Isaac Ash, Venango Co., Pa., Oct. 7, 
A. C. Richards, Busti, N. Y., Dec. 15, 
C. Heydrick, Venango Co., Pa., June 28, 
F. Elliott, Tioga Co., Pa., " 

W. V. N. Yates, Warren, Pa., " 

John J. Henderson, Meadville, Pa., 

Sept. 6, 
A, J. Foster, Erie, Pa., Oct. 4, 

Charles L. Cooper, Warren, Pa., Oct. 5, 



1882 
1882 
1882 

1882 



1882 
1882 

1882 
1882 
1882 
1882 
1882 
1882 
1883 



1883 
1883 
1883 
1883 
1883 
1884 
1884 
1884 
1884 
1884 
1884 
1884 

1885 

1885 
1885 



1885 

1885 

1885 

1885 
1885 
1886 



1886 
1886 
1886 



Of some of the early resident practitioners mentioned in the foregoing list, 
Judge S. P. Johnson has kindly furnished for this chapter the following remin- 
iscences: 



The Bench and Bar. 117 



" Abner Hazeltine, the first located lawyer in the county, came here in 1818, 
remained until 1825, then moved to Jamestown; but continued his practice in 
Warren until the infirmities of age compelled him to withdraw. He was a 
man of average ability, great industry, unpretentious, but a good lawyer and a 
man of sterling integrity ; in moral character a model. 

" Oilman Merrill came to Warren in 1826, bringing with him a certificate of 
admission to the bar in Ohio, which secured his admission here in 1827. He 
never made much pretension as a lawyer. Having been a cabinet-maker in 
life, he worked some at both trades. He was prosecuting attorney for the 
county, under the administration of Governor Wolf, in 1853-5, ^"d afterwards 
one of the associate judges for some years. 

" Samuel A. Purviance, who deserves notice as one of the pioneers of the 
profession in this county, came here in the summer of 1828 ; continued in act- 
ive practice until 1832, when, wishing a larger field for the exercise of his abil- 
ities, he removed to Butler county. He continued there many years, practic- 
ing in that and adjoining counties with marked success, and finally removed 
to Pittsburgh, where he spent the remainder of his natural and professional life. 
Both as a man and a lawyer he occupied a high position in the estimation of 
the community and the profession, in whatever locality he lived and practiced. 

" Carlton B. Curtis came to Warren as a young attorney from Chautauqua 
county, N. Y., in the spring of 1834. He came without prestige or friends, 
dependent on his own resources alone for success, and he succeeded. He was 
not naturally methodical or painstaking. Whatever he did he did well, with- 
out much regard to the manner of its doing. Naturally indolent, he took the 
shortest cut to his objective point. His legal documents were usually short, 
informal, and often slovenly, but clearly to the point. His mind was incisive 
and analytical. His conclusions were generally logical and correct; but they 
were the product of his instinct or good common sense, rather than of his ratio- 
cination. His memory was good and his judgment first-rate ; but the want of 
a thorough collegiate education had left his mind undisciplined in the close 
process of logical reasoning. Yet as a practitioner he was successful and pop- 
ular. Personally he possessed many amiable qualities. In his domestic rela- 
tions he was kind and indulgent even to excess. In his social intercourse he 
was interesting, agreeable, and facetious even to waggery sometimes. He had 
no malice in his composition, and never indulged in revenge or retaliation. 
He represented this county in the Legislature during the sessions of 1837-38, 
and in Congress in the years 1851-52 and 1873-74. He was an earnest and 
honest politician, and always took an active part in all political campaigns. 
He enlisted in the service of his country during the late " unpleasantness," as 
he termed it, and became colonel of the Fifty-eighth Regiment of the Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers, and resigned in the summer of 1863. Within the next year 
or two he removed from Warren to Erie, where he continued to reside and 



3i8 History of Warren County. 

practice his profession until he died, in 1885. The life and history of Colonel 
Curtis was so identified with the history of Warren county, for more than thirty 
years, as to justify a somewhat prolonged obituary notice. 

" Benjamin Bartholomew came to Warren from Jefferson county in the 
spring of 1835, with a family, having already had some years' practice. He 
soon acquired a fair practice. His education and abilities were such as to 
secure to him permanently a very respectable position at the bar, had his habits 
been such as to inspire public confidence. Unfortunately they were not, and 
the natural result followed. He was a zealous Whig politician and a good 
stumper. He was elected to the Legislature in 1846, and in the following year 
left Warren and moved to Pottsville, Schuylkill county. 

" Josiah Hall was the first law student in the county of Warren ; prosecuted 
his studies in the office of Abner Hazeltine, the only resident lawyer here in 
those days, and was admitted in September, 1823. The sparseness of the pop- 
ulation and their poverty made the practice of the law far from remunerative 
even for two lawyers. Most of the good paying business was done by foreign 
lawyers from 1820 to '29. With all their economy, Haseltine and Hall both 
failed of financial success. In 1825 the former moved to Jamestown, and soon 
after the latter embarked in the lumber business, which he found much more 
to both his taste and profit. Still he kept his place in the profession until 
about 1834, when he devoted himself entirely to lumbering and politics. He 
was that year appointed one of the associate judges of the county, which office 
he resigned in the fall of 1835, upon his election to the Legislature. He was 
at this time the leader of the Democratic party in the county, but lost caste 
with it by voting for the charter, or recharter, of the United States Bank, in 

consideration of getting $ of the bonus or bribe it paid for its charter, 

in the shape of appropriations for roads and bridges in the county. Anti- 
bankism was the Jacksonian shibboleth in those days. Hall never resumed 
the practice, for which he had but little of either taste or talent. The balance 
of his life was spent in the ups and downs of the lumber and oil business, alter- 
nately rich and poor, interspersed with several heavy and perplexing lawsuits. 

" John N. Miles was a native of Warren county ; received a collegiate educa- 
tion, studied law with Johnson & Brown, and was admitted to practice in the 
summer of 1844. He soon formed a copartnership with C. B. Curtis, which 
continued as Curtis & Miles until his death in 1855. He died young, unmar- 
ried, and without having fully developed his capacity as a lawyer, or indicating 
the position he would have attained in the profession had his life been spared. 
His prospects were fair, his acquirements and natural ability were good, and 
his personal qualities such as to render him a general favorite in the com- 
munity. 

" In the early judicial history of the county were certain gentlemen of the 
bar never residents therein, who for a number of years participated largely in 



The Bench and Bar. 319 



the practice, whose names are still familiar to many of the older citizens. 
Among these, John Galbraith will be remembered as one of those admitted to 
this bar at the first court ever held in the county, in November, 18 19. He 
resided in Franklin, but continued to attend the courts here regularly until his 
removal to Erie, about the year 1 840, and occasionally afterwards, until his 
election as the president judge of this district in 185 1. As a practitioner he 
was laborious and painstaking, not eloquent, but logical and convincing, fair 
and courteous, honest and sympathetic, persistent and apt to take his lost cases 
to the Supreme Court. His infinite good nature prevented his ever giving 
offense, and every one that knew him liked him. After being three or four 
times elected to Congress he was at last elected judge of the sixth judicial dis- 
trict, in which he presided from 185 1 to the time of his decease, in June, i860. 
Neither at the bar nor on the bench was a dishonest or dishonorable act ever 
attributed to the Hon. John Galbraith. 

"John J. Pearson was admitted to the bar of Warren county in December, 
1822. He was then a fair-complexioned, light-haired stripling, just of age; 
resided in Franklin, and had been about two years a lawyer. He was well 
read, professionally ambitious, a ready and rapid speaker, and indefatigably 
industrious. These elements of character brought him rapidly to the front 
ranks of the profession. He soon became, and for many years was, the lead- 
ing practitioner of this, as he was of Venango, county. About the year 1830 
he moved from Franklin to Mercer, but continued his long horseback rides to 
the courts of this county periodically up to 1840, and occasionally thereafter. 
He was a model practitioner. Well posted in the law, possessed of a quick 
perception, a ready and discriminating mind and great resources, he was a 
most formidable antagonist to any opponent. He was first appointed, and 
afterwards three times elected, president judge in Dauphin and Lebanon coun- 
ties, equally distinguished for his professional ability, his social virtues, and his 
untarnished integrity. 

" James Thompson, having practiced some years in Venango county, entered 
the profession in Warren county in the spring of 1 830. He soon made his 
mark, and entered largely into the practice of the county. This he kept up, 
except when absent as a member of the Legislature, until the year 1839, when 
he was appointed judge of the District Court, created that year for the sixth 
judicial district, when he removed to Erie and never resumed practice here. 
In 1857 he was promoted to a seat on the Supreme Bench of the State, the 
duties of which he discharged, with eminent ability and to the great satisfac- 
tion of the profession, for fifteen years. His retentive memory and sound 
judgment supplied the want of a collegiate education, and made him a safe 
and successful judge." 

The attorneys now in active practice in the county are about thirty in num- 
ber. All have been requested to contribute data concerning themselves as 



320 History of Warren County. 

members of the bar. A majority have responded, and of these, not otherwise 
mentioned at length in other pages, we append the following remarks: 

Samuel T. Neill was born at Neillsburg, Venango (now Forest) county, on 
the i6th of July, 1 841, and was graduated from Jefferson College in August, 
1865. He studied law one year with J. A. Neill, of Warren, and the rest of 
his term with Lewis C. Cassidy, of Philadelphia, after which, on the 2d of 
June, 1868, he was admitted to practice. In 1863 he was a high private in 
the rear rank of the Pennsylvania militia. From December, 1868, to January, 
1883, he resided in Titusville, Pa. Besides a gratifying amount of practice in 
his profession, he has successfully engaged more or less in the oil business, 
the period of his greatest activity in this business being in 1868 and 1869. 
He did not begin to confine his energies to his professional duties, indeed, 
until 1870. 

Caleb C. Thompson was born in Pine Grove on the 28th day of May, 1846. 
He was educated in the common schools of his native town, in the Normal 
School of Edinboro, Pa., at the Jamestown Union School and at the Col- 
legiate Institute at the same place. He studied law with Brown & Stone, of 
Warren, and was admitted to practice in the courts of Warren county on the 
3d of May, 1870. From that time to 1881 he resided at Tidioute, and at the 
last-named date came to Warren. He served one term as burgess of Tidioute 
borough from February, 1878, three years as district attorney of Warren 
county from November, 1878, school director for Warren borough for three 
years from February, 1885, and burgess of Warren borough for one year from 
February, 1885. He is eminently a self-made man. During the time that he at- 
tended school and followed the study of law before admission, he taught school 
winters and labored on farms summers to obtain the money necessary to defray 
his expenses. 

James O. Parmlce was born in Warren, Pa., on the lOth of July, 1845, 
and received his education at Allegheny College, in Meadville, Pa. His law 
studies as a clerk were pursued in the office of Hon. S. P. Johnson, of War- 
ren, his present partner, and he was admitted to practice on the 23d of Sep- 
tember, 1 87 1. Mr. Parmlee served nine months in the last war in Company 
G, Two Hundred and Eleventh Regiment, and as captain of Company I, 
Sixteenth Regiment, N. G. Pa. (from November 5, 1878, to July 30, 1885). 
On the latter date he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the last-named 
regiment, a position which he still holds. He is also United States commis- 
sioner, having received the appointment on the 27th of May, 1880. He is 
now a resident of Warren, though in former years he has lived in Erie, Pa. 

C. H. Noyes entered this life at Marshall, Mich., on the 28th of July, 1849. 
His educational advantages were limited, and he never attended other than 
the union school of his native town, nor that after he had reached his twelfth 
year. He began the study of law in the office of Hon. William D. Brown, 



The Bench and Bar. 321 



of Warren, and afterward continued his researches in the office of Hon. Junius 
R. Clark. His admission to the bar is dated December 12, 1871. Mr. Noyes 
was elected burgess of Warren borough in February, 1877, and served one 
year. In 1886 he was appointed a member of the State Geological Survey 
Commission, a position which he still fills. Since his admission he has closely 
confined himself to his practice, not permitting his attention to be distracted 
from his chosen profession by any Circean avocation whatever. He is now 
the second partner in the prominent firm of Wetmore, Noyes & Hinckley. 

Wilton M. Lindsey was born in the township of Pine Grove, this county, 
June 8, 1841. His literary studies were completed in the academy at Ran- 
dolph, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., and the State Normal School at Edinboro, 
Pa. He studied law in the office of Hon. S. P. Johnson, of Warren, and was 
admitted on the 4th of March, 1872. He enlisted in Company F, One Hundred 
and Forty-fifth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the last war (August 
13, 1862), served until January 27, 1863, when he was discharged on sur- 
geon's certificate of disability. On the 1st of October, 1865, he was appointed 
county superintendent of common schools for Warren county ; was elected to 
the same office on the 4th of June, 1866, and was re-elected exactly three 
years later. On the ist of December 1871, he resigned this office. In 1877 
and 1878 he represented his native county in the State Legislature. 

James Cable, son of Thomas Cable, was born in Pine Grove township on 
the nth of March, 1848, and was educated at Randolph, N. Y., and at the 
Union School and Collegiate Institute at Jamestown, N. Y. He then studied 
law in the office of Dinsmoor & Reeves, and was admitted to the bar on the 
20th of January, 1876. Although he now limits his avocations to his chosen 
profession, he occupied a portion of his time for the first three years of his 
practice in the service of the several most prominent insurance companies in 
this part of the country. He resided at Pine Grove until 1874, since which 
time he has been a resident of Warren. 

Perry D. Clark was born on the 7th of June, 185 1, in Ellery township, 
Chautauqua county, N. Y., and obtained a good education at Forestville, in 
the county of his birth, and at Cornell University. He studied law in the 
office of S. D. Halladay, at Ithaca, N. Y., and, before coming to Pennsylvania 
to live, was admitted to practice in the highest courts of that State. After 
coming to Warren from Ithaca he continued the study of law in the office of 
Brown & Stone for eight months, and was admitted to practice in the courts 
of this county on the 2d of September, 1878. 

Homer J. Muse was born on the 26th day of November, 1855, at Browns- 
ville (now Sandy Lake), Mercer county. Pa., and received his education at the 
New Lebanon Academy, New Lebanon, Pa. His preparatory law studies 
were pursued in the offices of Hon. Samuel C. T. Dodd and Hon. J. W. Lee, 
of Franklin, Pa. He was admitted to the bar of Venango county on the 2 1st 



322 History of Warren County. 

of April, 1879, and at Warren June 6, 1882. On the 3d of March, 1884, by- 
reason of the illness of the district attorney of Warren county, he was ap- 
pointed by the court assistant district attorney for one term of court. Since 
attaining years of maturity he has resided successively at New Lebanon, 
Franklin, and Coleville, Pa., besides Warren, his present place of residence. 
From June, 1879, to April, 1882, he practiced at the bar of McKean county; 
was admitted to practice in the courts of Warren county in June, 1882, and 
in September following took up his residence in his adopted county. 

George H. Higgins was born in Sparta township, Crawford county. Pa., 
and acquired his literary education in the common schools of his native place 
and in the High School in Watertown, N. Y. Preparatory to his career at the 
bar he studied law in the office of S T. Allen, and was admitted to practice in 
Warren county on the 6th of July, 1880. On the 9th of May, 1884, he was 
appointed by the court district attorney, to fill the vacancy caused by the 
death of William Swanson, and in the following November was elected for a 
term of three years. His term therefore continues until November, 1887. 

Watson D. Hinckley was born on the 17th day of March, 1854, in Fre- 
donia, Chautauqua county, N. Y., and in the academic department" of the State 
Normal School at that place prepared for college. He completed his scho- 
lastic training in the University of Michigan. He studied law with Nelson B. 
Smiley, and was admitted to practice in Warren county on the I2th day of 
July, 1882. At first he resided at Bradford, but for several years has lived in 
Warren. In February, 1880, he was elected one of the aldermen of Bradford 
city for a term of five years, but on the ist of July, 1882, he resigned this 
office. He is the youngest member of the firm of Wetmore, Noyes & Hinckley. 

John W. Dunkle was born on the 9th of November, 1856, at West Free- 
dom, Clarion county, Pa. He attended the public schools of Perry township. 
Clarion county, until 1874, and then passed two years in the State Normal 
School at Edinboro, Pa., after which he took a thorough course in the law 
school at Ann Arbor, Mich., from which he was graduated in the spring 
of 1 88 1. During the summer and fall of 1881 he read law in the office of 
Brown & Stone, and was admitted to practice in Warren county on the ist 
of May, 1882. Since then he has resided at North Clarendon, in this county. 
He was elected burgess of Clarendon borough in February, 1883, and served 
his full term. From the spring of 1882 for three years he was notary public. 

George N. Frazine was born on the 25th of August, i860, at Sugar Grove, 
in this county. He attended a full course in the State Normal School of 
Fredonia, N. Y., from which he was graduated in the class of 1879. In 1884 
he was graduated from Yale College with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, 
aim laudc, an honor reserved for those alone who make an exceptionally brill- 
iant record in that institution. He then removed to Warren, and after a 
course of study in the offices of Brown & Ball and Brown & Stone, was ad- 



The Bench and Bar. 323 



mitted to practice in the courts of Warren county on the 3d of September, 
1883. He is the senior member of the firm of Frazine & Wiggins. 

James W. Wiggins, junior member of the firm last above named, was born 
in Sugar Grove on the 17th of June, 1858, and was educated in the common 
schools of his native town and in Allegheny College. After a full course of 
study in the law offices of Johnson, Lindsey & Parmlee, he was admitted to 
the bar of this county on the 3d of March, 1884, since which time he has car- 
ried on a successful practice in Warren county, residing at Warren. 

William E. Rice was born on the 19th of December, i860, at Lottsville, 
in this county, and was educated at the Chamberlain Institute, at Randolph, 
N. Y., and at Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pa. His preliminary law stud- 
ies were pursued under the direction of Wetmore, Noyes & Hinckley, of War- 
ren, after which course, and on the 6th of April, 1885, he was admitted to 
practice. 

J. W. Kinnear, of Tidioute, was born in that village on the 2d day of Au- 
gust, 1859, and was graduated from Allegheny College in 1882. He began 
the study of law in the office of Brown & Stone, at Warren, and was admitted 
to the bar of the county on the i6th of April, 1885. 

W. V. N. Yates was born at Columbus, Warren county, on the 1st day 
of August, 1859. He attended the common schools of his native town and 
of Corry, and took a course in Allegheny College and in Buchtel College, at 
Akron, Ohio, from which he was graduated in the class of 1882. The first 
three years of his course as a law student were passed in the office of Brown & 
Stone, and the last year with Johnson, Lindsey & Parmlee. On the 28th of 
June, 1886, he was admitted to practice in the courts of this county. On the 
nth of June, 1885, he was appointed by the governor of Pennsylvania to the 
office of notary public for a term of four years. He has obtained most of the 
means for his own education by his own efforts, having at one time been 
teacher in the High School at Corry and at another principal of the schools at 
Clymer, N. Y. His studies in Allegheny College extended from the fall of 
1876 until (excepting one year) the end of the fall term of 1881, when he 
went to Buchtel College. From the latter institution he received the de- 
gree Ph.D. 

Charles L. Cooper was born in Farmington township, in this county, on 
the 3d of September, i860. His preparatory law studies were pursued in the 
office of Ball & Thompson. He was admitted to the bar on the 5 th of Octo- 
ber, 1886, and has begun the practice of his profession in Warren. 



324 History of Warren County. 

CHAPTER XXXn. 

HISTORY OF THE BOROrGR OF ^VARREX. 

UPON the old French and English colonial maps of this part of America, 
made, of course, before the beginning of the Revolutionary War, a point 
on the right bank of the Allegheny River, just below its junction with the Cone- 
wango, is marked by a word variously written " Kanoagoa," " Canawagy," 
" Canawago," etc., meaning an Indian village, which it seems was chiefly oc- 
cupied by the Munsey tribe. It is our belief, however, that this Indian settlement 
was located from one to two miles below the mouth of the Conewango. When 
Colonel Brodhead led his troops into this region in 1779 and justly retaliated 
upon Cornplanter (the leader of the Senecas at the Wyoming and Cherry Val- 
ley massacres), by destroying his towns and cornfields, he reported that Cana- 
wago "had been deserted about eighteen months past." Again, in 1785, when 
General William Irvine explored a portion of the Allegheny valley in quest of 
good lands to be donated to Revolutionary soldiers, he said : " From Broken- 
straw to Conewagoo is eight or nine miles, here [at Conewagoo] is a narrow 
bottom, interspersed with good dry land and meadow ground all the way, and 
there is a remarkable fine tract at the mouth of the Conewagoo, of a thousand 
or more acres." Thus a distinction, clear and unmistakable, was made between 
the Indian town of Conewagoo and the mouth of the Conewango. 

Since the year 1795 the same place — at the junction of the Allegheny and 
Conewango — has, upon the maps of the Commonwealth, been occupied by the 
word Warren — the town of Warren. The location is picturesquely beautiful 
at all seasons; hence for nearly a hundred years complimentary terms in its 
praise have been uttered by stranger and resident alike. Nestling at the south- 
ern foot of a high, precipitous, and wooded ridge — the former shore of the 
ancient Allegheny, when it was a mighty stream — its residents are protected 
almost wholly from the chilly northern and northwestern blasts of winter. The 
Conewango forms its eastern boundary. In front the waters of the Allegheny 
flow ceaselessly on, around a bend grand and symmetrical in its proportions. 
Away beyond the river the hills of Pleasant township, which once formed the 
southern shore of the old Allegheny, stand out in bold relief, while extended 
views, up and down the stream, of successive ranges of high hills, fading grad- 
ually away in the distance in a blue mist, completes a picture of rare loveliness. 

In truth nature has done much, man but very little, in adding to or perpet- 
uating the beauties of Warren and its surroundings. The men to whom more 
credit is due than all others in preserving for all time one natural feature, at 
least, of which the eye never wearies, were General William Irvine and Colonel 
Andrew Ellicott, the commissioners appointed by Governor Mifflin to lay out 





^>-{U^^yUoC€^ 



Borough of Warren. 325 



the town. This they accomplished by simply running Water street parallel 
with and next to the river bank, thus leaving an unobstructed view of river 
and street for a distance of more than half a mile. Judging from the past, 
however, residents have but little appreciation of the value and beauty of 
their inheritance, this magnificent sweep, side by side, of river and avenue. 
For scores of years — indeed since the first settlement of the town — this bank, 
rising gradually from fifteen to twenty-five feet above the river's surface — has 
been a common dumping-ground of all the filth and rubbish which usually 
finds its way to such places, and each year mother earth, as if ashamed of the 
desecration, of man's abominable practices, sends up a rank growth of wild 
grasses, weeds, and briars to cover the forbidding spots. 

In the future, doubtless, a transformation will be 'orought about by driving 
a row of piles, extending from the outer face of the suspension bridge abut- 
ment to a point on the bank some eight or ten rods below (thus doing away 
with the dirty little eddy which, while it may have been of value in the past, 
is now but a summer's nuisance, a depository along the shore of all the sewage, 
garbage, and trash which comes within its influence), tearing out the unsightly 
" lock-up," disposing in some way of the old Tanner building, filling up the 
yawning chasm of filth there to be found, grading an easy slope from the 
street level to the water's edge, sodding or seeding the same with blue grass, 
and thence continuing the work of grading and sodding to the railroad bridge ; 
finishing by cutting down the telegraph poles, building a sidewalk, planting 
shade trees, and placing park benches along the way. Few towns in America 
are afforded such a grand opportunity as this for the construction of a magnifi- 
cent promenade. And when such an improvement is made it will add more 
to the beauty of the town, to the pride of its inhabitants, to their health and 
wealth, than the erection of five hundred buildings. 

In a number of the preceding chapters of this work frequent mention of 
Warren and its site has been made, during the period beginning with the 
French occupation of this valley and extending down to the date of its survey 
and settlement by the Americans. Hence, to avoid unnecessary repetition, 
this sketch of the history of the town of Warren begins with the year 1795. 
During that year, " in order to facilitate and promote the progress of settle- 
ments within the Commonwealth, and to afford additional security to the fron- 
tiers by the establishment of towns," an act was passed by the State Legislature, 
April 1 8, providing for laying out towns at Presque Isle, at the mouth of French 
Creek, at the mouth of Conewango Creek, and at Fort Le Boeuf 

Of the town to be laid out at the mouth of the Conewango, it was ordered 
that the commissioners to be appointed by the governor " shall sur.vey or cause 
to be surveyed three hundred acres for town lots, and seven hundred acres of 
land adjoining thereto for out lots, at the most eligible place within the tract 
heretofore reserved [in 1789] for public use at the mouth of Conewango Creek; 



326 History of Warren County. 

and the lands so surveyed shall be respectively laid out and divided into town 
lots and out lots, in such manner, and with such streets, lanes, alleys, and res- 
ervations for public uses, as the said commissioners shall direct ; but no town 
lot shall contain more than one third of an acre, no out lot shall contain more 
than five acres, nor shall the reservations for public uses exceed in the whole, 
ten acres ; and the town hereby directed to be laid out, shall be called ' War- 
ren,' and all the streets, lanes, and alleys thereof, and of the lots thereto adjoin- 
ing, shall be and remain common highways." 

As if still doubtful of the friendship of the Indians occupying this part of the 
country — owing, probably, to the hostile feeling displayed by Cornplanter and 
his band during the previous year — the act further provided that the troops 
stationed, or to be stationed, at Fort Le Boeuf should be used to protect and 
assist the commissioners, surveyors, and others while engaged in executing the 
provisions of the act. General William Irvine and Andrew Ellicott were the 
commissioners appointed to lay out town plots at the four points indicated, 
and it is believed, though we have seen no evidence of the fact, that their task 
was completed in 1795. Be that as it may, however, the lots in the new towns 
of Warren, Erie, Franklin, and Waterford were not offered for sale until August, 
1796, when they were cried at auction at Carlisle, Pa. 

The original lots of the town of Warren were fi\-e hundred and twenty-four 
in number, each being 58-f feet in width, street frontage, and 233^ feet in 
depth. Water, Market, and High streets are presumed to be lOO feet in width, 
the others 60 feet. Six streets running nearly east and west, and ten nearly 
north and south, all crossing at right angles, comprised the highways of the 
original plot. After the county began to be settled John Andrews, one of the 
first settlers of the county, was appointed State commissioner, to dispose of the 
lots at public sale, and during the ten years succeeding 1797 sold all of them. 
They were purchased by the farmer settlers of this county, Venango, Crawford, 
and other counties, and some b}- Indians. The prices ranged from $2.50 to 
$6 per lot. One-third of the purchase money was required to be paid at 
once, the balance at the convenience of the purchaser — which with some, it 
seems, was never convenient. Indeed, but few of the original purchasers ever 
procured patents for their lots, but suffered them to be sold at county treasur- 
er's sale for taxes, and the purchasers at such sales, or their assignees, procured 
patents. Hon. David Brown, the father of the present president-judge, was 
the original purchaser of more than one hundred lots. Subsequently he trans- 
ferred them to other persons, and finally these went the way of a majority of 
the others — were sold at treasurer's sale — and the titles passed to new owners. 

Until about 1794-95, the site of the town was covered with a luxuriant 
growth of white, black and red oak of large size. At that time a party of the 
Holland Land Company's surveyors, under the orders and personal supervision 
of Andrev\- FUicott, the noted surveyor, and his son-in-law, Dr. Kennedy 



Borough of Warren. 327 



(subsequently the builder and owner of Kennedy's mills), were encamped upon 
the bank of the river near where the old Tanner storehouse now stands. One 
night a terrific storm of rain, accompanied with thunder, lightning and wind of 
irresistible force, came sweeping up the valley from the west and prostrated 
every thing in its path from the western part of the town's site to Glade Run. 
The inmates of the " camp," or shanty of poles and bark, fled for safety to the 
small bar or island where Rathbun's grocery was for many years a landmark. 
It was fortunate for them that they hesitated not upon the order of their going 
for their shanty was blown down and two of their pack horses were killed by 
the falling trees. A few years later a fire swept over this windfall, burning 
the small brush and much of the fallen timber. The remainder furnished dry 
firewood for the early inhabitants. Then sprung up the growth of scrub oaks 
remembered by some persons still living. 

About the year 1796, the surveyors employed by the Holland Land Com- 
pany erected a building of hewn timbers for the storage of their supplies — 
tools, provisions, etc. This building, the first permanent structure reared on 
the site of Warren, stood down on Water street in the near vicinity of Page's 
blacksmith shop. For two years it had no floor other than the ground, no 
chimney other than a hole in the center of a leaky roof It has been related 
that Daniel McQuay, then in the employment of the land company, occupied 
this building as a dwelling house during the first or second year after its erec- 
tion, thus earning the distinction of being the first inhabitant of the town. He 
then located on the Little Brokenstraw just above its mouth. He was the wit 
of the valley. A genuine son of Erin, full of recklessness and adventure, fond 
of fun, fight and whiskey, and the only man who ever made from two to ten 
trips from the Brokenstraw to New Orleans on boats of lumber and traveled 
back afoot. This was a perilous undertaking prior to 18 10, which was subse- 
quent to the first trip or two made by him, for saying nothing of walking 
nearly two thousand five hundred miles, the few towns along the Ohio and 
Mississippi rivers were then but insignificant villages, and all else between 
them tangled thickets, swamps and dense forests infested by Indians, wild ani- 
mals, and frequently by worse foes — white desperadoes and highwaymen. 

When James Morrison, jr., accompanied by his brother-in-law, Galen 
Murdock, arrived on the site of Warren in June, 1798, the only evidences of 
civilization and improvement to be seen here were the Holland Land Com- 
pany's unoccupied storehouse, and a small abandoned improvement near 
Reig's old tannery, made by George Slone, a blacksmith, afterwards a well- 
known resident of the Beech Woods settlement. Morrison and Murdock came 
from Lycoming county, and accomplished the journey by pushing a canoe up 
the Sinnemahoning and the Drift Wood Branch until the immense piles of 
driftwood prevented their further progress by water. Leaving their canoe, 
they packed their effects on their backs, and a little more than one day's walk 



328 History of Warren County. 

brought them to the waters of the Allegheny. There they felled a large pine 
tree, made a commodious canoe, and continued their way to Warren. From 
that time the place where they embarked on the Allegheny was known as 
"Canoe Place," and many other early adventurers pursued the same route and 
plan in journeying from the West Branch of the Susquehanna westward. In 
1800 James Morrison, sr., a soldier of the Revolutionary War, his brother Jere- 
miah, and several others of the Morrison and Murdock families, eight or ten 
men in all, besides women and children, came on from Lycoming county over 
the route previously described, and settled on the outlots below Warren. At 
about that time, too, Martin Reese, sr., and family settled in the same locality. 
In 1 804 James Morrison (whether father or son is not known) built a house of 
hewn timbers on the site of the pipe line office, below R. P. King's residence. 
During the same )'ear, however, a majority of that family — perhaps all of them 
— removed to the Kinzua valley and located there permanently. 

In the mean time Isaac Buckalew had squatted on the bottoms opposite 
Warren, and for a number of years enjoyed the distinction of being the only 
resident in Warren county on the east side of the river south of Kinzua. 
Zachariah Eddy also tarried at Warren for a brief period as early as 1801, but 
did not become a permanent resident until some twelve or fifteen years later. 

John Gilson, who resided in Sheffield for many years and attained an age of 
nearly ninety, stated, years before his death, that his father, John Gilson, sr., 
was a native of New England, either Massachusetts or Connecticut, but before 
removing to Warren had resided for some years at a point on the Delaware 
river in New York. Gilson's family, accompanied by two other families, 
reached Warren in May, 1803, floating down from Olean on a raft. John 
Gilson, jr., was the youngest of a family of eleven children, all of whom lived 
to be seventy-five or more years of age. During the first year of their arrival 
here (1803) his father built a house on the site of Ephraim Cowan's former 
residence on Water street. This was the second building erected upon the 
inlots of Warren, counting the Holland Land Company's storehouse as the 
first. In 1804 James Morrison built his house, previously referred to, and 
Gideon Gilson, son of John, sr., built a house on C. P. Henry's corner. These 
three houses were built of pine timbers hewn square. Stephen Gilson, son of 
Gideon, was born soon after their arrival here, and without doubt he was the 
first white native of the town. John Gilson, sr, died in March, 181 1, and was 
buried in a small plot set apart for such purposes on the farm of Daniel Jackson. 

Daniel Jackson, the pioneer, whose name has been written more frequently', 
perhaps, in connection with the early history of Warren than that of any other 
person, was a native of Connecticut, but came here from the vicinity of Ithaca, 
N. Y., in the spring of 1797, and settled upon a tract of land (since known as 
the Wetmore farm) bordering the run which still bears his name, and distant 
about one mile north of the town of Warren. Here, about half a mile above 



Borough of Warren. 329 



the mouth of the run, he built a saw-mill (and subsequently a small grist mill) 
said to have been the first one erected in the county; at least there was but 
one other to dispute for the priority, and that was the mill built by the Meads 
on the Brokenstraw. Jackson's mill was completed about the year 1 800, and, 
it has been related, the sawing of the first board was thought to be an event of 
sufficient importance to call for some unusual demonstration on the part of 
those present. Accordingly it was placed on the ground, a bottle of whisky 
brought out, and two individuals, after partaking of its contents sufficiently to 
give elasticity to their limbs, went through the primitive performance of danc- 
ing a jig. From this mill, it has been claimed, the first raft of pine lumber 
ever known to descend the Allegheny from Warren county was safely landed 
at Pittsburgh. Some aver that this event took place in the year 1799, others 
in 1 80 1. The raft contained thirty thousand feet and was guided by sitting- 
poles instead of oars. 

In coming to this county Jackson traveled by the way of Buffalo and Erie 
to Waterford ; thence with canoes down French creek and up the Allegheny 
and Conewango to his place of settlement. His children were Daniel, jr., 
Ethan, David, Ebenezer and Sylvia, and another daughter who died when 
quite young. Being so far away from marts of trade and neighbors, he and 
his family for a few years suffered many and great privations. At one time 
he was obliged to make a winter's journey on snow shoes to Waterford, a dis- 
tance of fifty miles, in quest of salt. Steep hillsides, deep ravines and roaring 
torrents intervened, and over all were cast the shadows of a dense primeval 
forest unbroken by a single improvement. 

In 1805 he built the first frame house, and the fourth for dwelling purposes 
in the town of Warren on the northeast corner of Water and Hickory streets, 
the lot now occupied by the dilapidated brick block erected by Archibald 
Tanner in 1849-50. He was licensed to keep an inn in this house by the 
courts of Venango county in 1806, and continued to be so engaged for a num- 
ber of years. Lansing Wetmore, Esq., has said that when he first visited 
Warren in 1815, "Esq. Jackson" kept a tavern at the place described, " and, 
what was rare in those times, was a temperate landlord." He died on Sunday, 
June 20, 1830, in the seventy-ninth year of his age, under circumstances pecul- 
iarly distressing in their nature. In an obituary notice of his death, published 
soon after in the Voice of the People, certain incidents connected with his life 
and last illness are noted as follows : 

"The deceased was a native of the State of Connecticut and at an early day 
removed to this county and settled on the banks of the Conewango creek, in 
the immediate neighborhood of this place. With its earliest history and the 
settlement of the country he was thoroughly conversant, and with the narrative 
precision of vigorous old age, could tell of 'times and things gone by.' In his 
hunting excursions he had explored the forests that environ us, and learned 



330 History of Warren County. 

the windings of the several streams. Beneath his guidance the first raft of 
lumber ever sawed in this county was molded into form and conveyed on the 
bosom of the Allegheny to Pittsburgh. 

" He was commissioned a justice of the peace under the administration of 
Governor Snyder, and continued to discharge the duties of the station. It was 
in the honorable discharge of his official duty as a magistrate that he was 
assailed by Nehemiah Waters and inhumanly bitten in the thumb of his right 
hand. So envenomed was the wound that his strength of body and constitu- 
tion (although superior to that of most men of his age) could not resist its influ- 
ence, and its baneful effects soon set at naught the sedulous attention and skill 
of his medical assistance and took entire possession of his system. To the last 
he retained the entire possession of his faculties, and bore the most agonizing 
pain with a patience and resignation becoming the dignity of christianized 
old age. 

"As a magistrate, an honest zeal for justice characterized the performance 
of his official duties. As a man and a neighbor he was hospitable, friendly, 
and benevolent; honest and punctual in his dealings, and social in his inter- 
course with his fellow-men. As a parent he was tender and affectionate. His 
eulogy is that name which poetic language has inscribed upon the noblest work 
of creation — ' an honest man ' : 

" Bv nature honest, by experience wi.se, 
Healthy by temperance and by exercise, 
His life though long, to sickness pass'd unknown. 
His death was peaceful and without a groan." 

In the winter of 1805-6 George W. Fenton, father of the late Hon. Reuben 
E. Fenton, of New York, taught the first school in a vacant room of Daniel 
Jackson's new house. While here he became acquainted with Miss Elsey 
Owen, of Carroll, to whom he was married in November following. She was 
a niece of John King's wife. 

The name of John King, a "single man," first appeared upon the rolls of 
the county as a tax-payer in 1808. From that time until his death, which 
occurred October 22, 1842, he continued to reside in the town of Warren, and 
held several positions of honor and trust. He married Betsey, a daughter of 
John Gilson, sr., August 15, 181 1, who survived until October 23, 1873. The 
children born to them were J. H. (now the oldest native of the borough, he 
having been born May 20, 1812), Rufus P., George W., Mrs. Harmon, of War- 
ren, J. E. King, M. D., of Buffalo, Mrs. Eveline Mead, of Youngsville, and 
Mrs. Betsey Hunter and Mrs. Malvina Cowan, of Warren. 

Although the town had been made the county seat of Warren county in 
1800, it improved but slowly, and few, if any, families were added to its popu- 
lation, other than those already mentioned, until after the close of the War of 
18 1 2— 15. During the next four years, however, many changes took place in 
the appearance of the little town ; and when the county was organized, in 



Borough of Warren. 331 

1 8 19, such men as Archibald Tanner, Colonel Joseph Hackney, Lothrop S. 
Parmlee, Henry Dunn, Zachariah Eddy, Robert Arthur, James Arthur, James 
Stewart, Ebenezer Jackson, son of Daniel, sr., Dr. Ayres, the son-in-law of 
the latter, John Andrews, James Follett, Robert Falconer, William Pier, 
besides a number of blacksmiths, cordwainers, and tailors, were counted as 
additional residents. 

Henry Dunn, who at an early day was connected with Hackney & Harri- 
ott in their lumbering operations on the Conewango, came hiere from Meadville 
and became a permanent resident about the year 181 5. For a number of 
years he kept tavern in a hpuse said to have been erected by Martin Reese 
about 1812. This building, of hewn timbers, stood upon the grounds now 
occupied by the First National Bank. Dunn's Tavern was a popular resort, 
and at one time he entertained as a guest the notorious Aaron Burr, who, 
being storm-bound, was compelled to tarry here several days while cii route 
down the river to the home of Blennerhasset. Subsequently Dunn built quite 
a pretentious hostelry on the northwest corner of Second and Liberty streets, 
afterwards known as the Hackney House and the Russell House corner. 

Robert Falconer was a native of Scotland. For some years prior to the 
beginning of the War of 18 12 he, in partnership with his bachelor brother 
Patrick, had been engaged in the mercantile business in the city of New York, 
having also a branch house at Charleston, S. C. When the war began, Pat- 
rick, whose sympathies for Great Britain were very strong, determined to 
remain in this " blarsted country" no longer, and, returning to Scotland, con- 
tinued there until his death. He never married. After the restoration of 
peace, Robert, having disposed of his business affairs at New York and Charles- 
ton, began to look about for a country home for the benefit of his wife, who 
was in a declining state of health. He had been advised by physicians to find 
some place where hills or mountains, pine forests, and clear running streams 
abounded. In some way, probably through his Long Island friend, Abraham 
D. Ditmars, he heard of this then forlorn, out-of-the-way place, and concluded 
to make a personal inspection of a region so highly extolled by land agents. 
Accordingly, he first came here with Ditmars and his family in 1815. The 
journey was a memorable one. Ditmars started with two good wagons, well 
loaded, good teams, etc., and reached Chandler's Valley with one horse and 
the fore wheels of one wagon only. The route followed led through New Jer- 
sey to the crossing of the Delaware at Easton, thence to Bellefonte, and on 
over the mountains to Holman's Ferry on the Allegheny, thence via Titusville 
and Brokenstraw to Chandler's Valley. It required five weeks to accomplish 
the journey, and when it was concluded Ditmar's effects, as well as some mem- 
bers of his family, were scattered along the way from Bellefonte westward. 
They were finally gathered up, after much trouble and expense. Falconer 
came through with the advance-guard of the party, including Ditmars. Not- 



332 History of Warren County. 

withstanding the difficulties encountered in getting here, he seems to have been 
favorably impressed with the appearance of things, and purchased quite largely 
of lands in town and country. Man is a strange, perverse animal, to say the 
least, and his freaks when migrating are quite aptly illustrated in Falconer's 
case. It does not appear that he came here with any intention of becoming a 
farmer, but merely to found a home in a retired, wholesome locality. Hence, 
unless it was his wish to place a great distance between himself and his former 
haunts, he could have gone up the Hudson River but a few miles, compara- 
tively speaking, and there found hills and mountains, umbrageous forests of 
pine and hemlock, swiftly-flowing streams of pure, sparkling water ; and a 
region, too, where the health-destroying clouds do not bank upon the ground 
in the valleys at nightfall, and remain until eight or nine o'clock each morning 
for seven months in the year. The lands along the Hudson were then equally 
as cheap as those in Warren county. To-day they are worth so much more, 
with no oil or gas considered in the prospective, that a comparison would be, 
in most cases, as one to one hundred. 

Falconer returned to New York and completed his arrangements for a 
' removal to Warren ; but his wife died ere the second trip was commenced, 
hence he reappeared at Warren alone. He soon became one of its prominent 
and highly-respected citizens; was elected a county commissioner in 1823, and 
was numbered as one of the merchants of the town prior to 1830. In 1834 he 
completed the stone building on High street, known during late years as the 
"Tanner House," and, when the Lumbermen's Bank (of which he was presi- 
dent) was organized during the same year, its office was established in that 
structure. As shown elsewhere, the bank failed in 1838. Being severely and 
probably unjustly censured by reason of this failure, Mr. Falconer never 
regained his former exuberance of spirits and business activity, and finally sank 
into a state of utter helplessness, physically speaking, which only ended with 
his death. He married a second wife in this county, but left no children. The 
present Falconers are descendants of Patrick, a son of Patrick the brother of 
Robert, who, when the last war with England began, would not live longer in 
a country where dukes and lords and kings and queens were spoken of irrev- 
erently, and returned to Scotland. Robert I'alconer purchased for this nephew 
a fine farm, now occupied, in whole or in part, by the State Asylum at North 
Warren. 

Colonel Joseph Hackney, a leading and highly-respected citizen among the 
pioneers in both Crawford and Warren counties, was born at the "Little Falls," 
on the Mohawk River, N. V., of Holland Dutch parentage, in 1763. The 
opportunities afforded him of acquiring the most common rudiments of an edu- 
cation were very meager indeed, and at the early age of seventeen years he 
entered the American army and served during the remainder of the Revolu- 
tionary W^ar. Subsequently he served against the Western Indians, during 



Borough of Warren. 333 

the years 1785-90. In 1790 he joined a detachment of troops at Pittsburgh 
which proposed moving down the Ohio River to Fort Washington (now Cin- 
cinnati) and there join General Harmer, who was then preparing for a cam- 
paign against the northwestern tribes. At Pittsburgh suppHes for the troops 
were placed on board of " DurKam " boats and started down the river, while 
the main body of the armed force marched by land. Hackney went in one 
of the boats commanded by Captain Doughty. At or near the mouth of the 
Muskingum they were fired upon by a party of Indians lying in ambush on 
shore. The steersman was mortally wounded and fell. Hackney sprang for- 
ward to take his place, and ordered the men to pull for the opposite shore. 
He had scarcely taken the oar in his hand when a rifle ball shattered his arm 
above the elbow, rendering that member useless. He seized the oar with his 
other hand and, amid the whistling of bullets, exhorted the men to pull for 
life. Encouraged by his heroism they did pull, and as fast as one was shot 
down another took his place, until they were out of reach of the enemy's balls. 
Of the seven men in the boat five were killed or mortally wounded, and Hack- 
ney and Captain Doughty were the only survivors of the party. Wounded 
and disabled. Hackney was unable to join the main body of the army and par- 
ticipate in the battle which followed and resulted in the disastrous defeat of 
General Harmer's army of about fifteen hundred officers and men. 

Returning to Pittsburgh, he soon after engaged in the mercantile business; 
with Oliver Ormsby, and remained there until 1794, when he removed to. 
Meadville. There he erected a small frame building (which is still standing)) 
in 1797, and kept store in it until his removal to Warren county. When 
Crawford county was organized in 1800, with four other counties attached to 
it, including Warren, he was one of the first county commissioners to be elected, 
and served as such from 1800 to 1802, also from 1811 to 1814. In 181 5 he, 
in partnership with Major James Herriott, of Meadville, purchased the saw-, 
mill on the Conewango near Irvineburg, which was in operation and owned by 
Colt & Marlin (the Col. Ralph Marlin particularly mentioned during the ses^ 
sions of the first term of court held in Warren county) as early as 1808. In 
1 817 Colonel Hackney became a permanent resident in the town of Warren, 
and in 1818-19 he, together with Jacob Harrington and James Cochran, rep- 
resented the district composed of Crawford, Erie, Mercer, Venango and War- 
ren counties in the State Legislature ; thus being in a position to introduce 
and advocate a bill providing for the organization of Warren county. When 
this event took place he was one of the two associate judges first commissioned, 
and served as such until his death, which occurred May 20, 1832. His title 
of colonel seems to have been honorary, at least it does not appear that he 
held that rank during his active service as a soldier. 

Archibald Tanner, Warren's first merchant, and, we believe, its first post- 
master, was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, February 3, 1786, and re- 



334 History of Warren County. 

moved with his father's family to New Connecticut, Trumbull county, Ohio, 
in 1802. He came to Warren in 18 16 and at once began a successful business 
career here by occupying part of Daniel Jackson's bar-room and ofiering for 
sale at retail a small stock of merchandise. Jackson's tavern, as before stated, 
stood on the corner of Water and Hickory streets, now occupied by the Tanner 
block. During that or the following year, Mr. Tanner built a small store on 
the river bank nearly opposite the tavern mentioned, and occupied it for the 
sale of his goods as soon as it was completed. 

There is quite an interesting story connected with the history of this build- 
ing which has been related to us in substance about as follows: The ground 
utilized by Mr. Tanner had not been laid out as a town lot or as a fractional 
part of one, but was and is yet considered part of the public domain of 3,000 
acres reserved in 1789, besides being the natural bank of a navigable stream. 
Some years subsequent to the building of Tanner's store, a man named Hunter, 
considering that he had as good a right to occupy the bank in question as 
Tanner, proposed to erect a building just above Tanner's, or near the north 
end of the present suspension bridge, and there collected a considerable quan- 
tity of building material — timbers and lumber. Tanner objected to Hunter's 
occupancy of the site selected, and a bitter personal quarrel followed. Finally 
Hunter desisted from his purpose of building, but had Tanner indicted as a 
trespasser upon the lands of the Commonwealth. But Tanner seemed to be a 
man who could easily surmount difficulties, both great and small, and employ- 
ing counsel (Thomas Struthers, we believe); the latter proceeded to Harrisburg 
and secured the passage of a legislative act by the provisions of which Tanner 
was permitted to remain in peaceful possession of the building he had erected, 
and to repair it from time to time when necessary, but was denied the privilege 
of rebuilding. With the decay or destruction of the structure the occupancy 
of its site for private purposes should cease. Need we add the building still 
stands in a good state of preservation and is now known as the La Pierre res- 
taurant? Conflagrations have repeatedly swept away rows of buildings in front 
and to the right of it, yet by reason of its somewhat isolated location it has 
escaped them all. It has been carefully and systematically repaired at divers 
times, from foundation walls to rooftop, and to-day, probably, is much in the 
same condition as the famous old United States frigate Constitution was rep- 
resented to be in when she went out of commission and was broken up — con- 
taining not a single panel, plank, or timber of the original vessel. 

It has been related of Mr. Tanner that in the spring of 1817 he descended 
the Allegheny and Ohio rivers with a raft of pine boards, thence down the 
Mississippi to New Orleans. After disposing of his lumber he proceeded to 
New York in a sailing vessel, where he purchased a stock of merchandise, 
transported the same overland to Olean and floated from that point down the 
river to Warren in a boat built for the purpose. That stock of goods was the 




S^ ^JU-^Il 



Borough of Warren. 335 



beginning, the nucleus, of the handsome estate which a long life of industry, 
perseverance and honorable dealing enabled him to accumulate. He served as 
the first treasurer of the county, and also held the office of postmaster for years 
prior to 1829. In building he had no equal in the early history of Warren. 
The first steamboat to navigate the upper Allegheny was a monument to his 
enterprise and public spirit. He was an early member of the Presbyterian 
Church, and when the first church edifice of the society was erected he was 
much the largest contributor. He died in Warren February 15, 1861, aged 
seventy-five years. 

Lothrop S. Parmlee, Archibald Tanner's competitor in the mercantile busi- 
ness for about twenty years, located here permanently in 18 17. He passed 
some months at Warren as early as 1808. Subsequently he had resided at 
Marietta, Ohio, and Jamestown, N. Y.; was engaged in merchandising at the 
latter place just before removing to Warren. A native or former resident of 
Oneida county, N. Y., he was gentlemanly in his manners, high spirited, im- 
pulsive and loquacious. Both he and Mr. Tanner were enterprising, fair- 
dealing business men, and by their example and public spirit did much to 
mould and shape and give character and stability to the early residents of the 
town. 

In 1 8 19 Ebenezer Jackson had nearly completed a building on the Carver 
House corner. In it the first term of court was held, commencing Monday, 
November 29 of that year, and here Jackson and his successors kept tavern for 
many years. It finally became known as the Warren Hotel, but after the lapse 
of thirty years from its completion gave place to the Carver House. 

Among others who became residents during the years from 18 19 to 1822 
were William Arthur; Joseph Adams, a carpenter; Philo Brewer, cordwainer; 
John Brown, prothonotary ; Samuel Graham, tailor; John Hackney, tailor; 
Daniel Houghwout, carpenter; Josiah Hall, a law student with Abner Hazel- 
tine ; David Jackson ; Abner Hazeltine, attorney at law ; Abel Mansfield, car- 
penter ; William Olney, carpenter ; Joseph Hall, stone mason ; Asa Scott, 
blacksmith ; Hezekiah Sawyer, carpenter ; Samuel Saxton ; Lansing Wet- 
more ; Johnson Wilson; A. Stebbins, shoemaker; R. Chipman, shoemaker; 
J. Dinnin, tailor ; Adam Deitz, gunsmith ; Miner Curtis, shoemaker. 

At a later period, yet prior to 1830, some old numbers of the Warren 
Gazette furnish valuable information concerning the town and its inhabit- 
ants. Thus, early in the spring of 1826 Archibald Tanner informed the public 
through the columns of the Gazette that he continued to keep on hand " an 
extensive assortment of Dry Goods, Hardware, Queen's Ware, Glass Ware, 
Men's and Women's Shoes, Straw Bonnets, &c. Spades, Shovels, Tongs, Tea 
kettles, a few barrels of Dried Apples, Old Pittsburgh Whiskey, Tea, Chocolate, 
Cofiee, Pearlash, Pork, Cheese, Codfish, Lard, Flour, Salt, &c., all of which 
will be sold as low for ready pay as can be purchased in the Western country." 



336 History of Warren County. 

At the time Tanner began his career as a mercliant in Warren, flour was 
worth $15 per barrel; salt, $2.75 per bushel; tobacco, 50 cents per pound; 
bacon and pork, 25 cents per pound ; tea, $3.00 per pound ; black cambric 50 
cents per yard ; cotton sheeting, unbleached, 62 cents per yard ; India sheet- 
ing, 70 cents per yard ; coffee, 37^ cents per pound ; whisky, $1.75 per gallon ; 
ginger, $1.00 per pound; pepper, 62 cents per pound; allspice, 62 cents per 
pound. 

On the 6th of May, 1826, the Gazette announced " the arrival in this port, 
on Tuesday last, of the Transport, 12 tons burthen, D. Jackson of this place 
master, in 13 days from Pittsburgh, laden with flour, whisky, iron, nails, glass, 
&c., for A. Tanner and others; " also on the same day two other keel boats 
with two passengers and more whisky from Freeport. 

On the 27th of the same month and year, the editor said : " On Wednesday 
last the citizens of our village [he was more modest than present ones, who 
term a small borough a city] for the first time were cheered by the arrival in 
it of a four-horse stage. It will be seen by the advertisement of Edson & Ea- 
ton [Obed Edson and Harry Eaton] that they have commenced running their 
line of stages regularly between Dunkirk (on Lake Erie) and this place. This 
speaks much in favor of the population and improvement of our countr}'." He 
further remarked that if any one had talked in favor of such an enterprise five 
years previously he would have been regarded as "visionary and chimerical." 
Under the management as then announced, stages were run twice a week 
between Dunkirk and Jamestown, and once a week between Dunkirk and 
Warren. 

A few weeks later Uriah Hawks made his bow to the public, and informed 
the readers of the Gazette that he had " opened a shop on Water street, east 
of Jackson's Hotel, where he has on hand and will continue to keep spinning- 
wheels of all kinds, made of the best stuff, which he will sell cheap for cash or 
country produce." 

During the latter part of May, 1827, Joseph 1 lackney advertised that he 
had " taken the commodious stand in the town of Warren known as the ' Man- 
sion House,' lately occupied by William Pierpont, and has supplied himself 
with a stock of liquors and other accommodations suitable for travellers, and 
all those who please to honor him with their custom." 

In 1828 Orris Hall gave notice " that he has just received from New \'ork 
and offers for sale in this village, as cheap for cash as can be purchased in the 
Western country, a general assortment of Foreign and Domestic goods," etc., 
etc. " Also Liquors, Loaf and Brown Sugar." L. S. Parmlee likewise an- 
nounced for sale in the same number " an elegant assortment of Dry Goods, 
as cheap as the cheapest." 

There was also noted in the columns of the Gazette, in the summer of 
1828, the arrival " from luirope of eighty German and I'rcnch emigrants, 



Borough of Warren. 337 

■who have pitched their tents at the mouth of the Conewango, where they are 
visited by the citizens of the village old and young, and while looking at their 
quaint dress and wooden shoes, they can but gaze and wonder." During the 
same year, too, Thomas Struthers and Samuel A. Purviance, attorneys at law, 
became residents of the town. 

On the22d of January, 1829, in a description of the town, furnished at the 
solicitation of the publishers of the United States Gazette, the editor of the 
Warren Gazette said: "The only public buildings we can boast of is a brick 
court-house and public offices of stone, fire-proof The court-house is not 
large, but neat and convenient, substantially built and well finished, with a 
well-toned bell in it weighing with the yoke 362 pounds. We have a jail, also, 
although it has once or twice been mistaken for a turkey pe7i. Our village con- 
tains fifty dwelling houses, mostly frame, two stories high, painted white, and 
tenanted. Five stores (well fillfd), three taverns, two tanneries, two black- 
smith shops, five shoemakers, one saddler and harness maker, two chair makers, 
one wheel wright, one cabinet maker, two carpenters and joiners, one hatter, 
one wagon maker, six lawyers, two doctors, one baker, two masons, six free- 
masons, two saw mills, and a grist mill." 

The chief event of this year (1829) was the celebration of the 4th of July. 
It had been decided to assemble at "one of the Sisters," a small romantic isl- 
and in the Allegheny River, about one mile and a half above the village. Ac- 
cordingly about half-past one P. M. the party embarked on the Warren Packet. 
A small band struck up Hail Columbia and the boat moved off. But the voy- 
age up the river suddenly terminated at the " ripples," where the craft stuck 
fast in the gravel, and the passengers, instead of going up, were only too glad 
to come down again ; the men of the party being compelled to get out into 
shallow water and shove the boat off. This done they floated down with the 
current, and landed at the point formed by the confluence of the Allegheny 
and Conewango rivers. Here in a beautiful grove " tables were erected and 
covered with the choicest provisions. After the repast the tables were cleared 
and the company again took seats, his Honor Judge Hackney, being appointed 
president, and Thomas Struthers, esq., vice president. Then followed volun- 
teer toasts by Hon. Joseph Hackney, A. Tanner, esq., Thomas Struthers, esq., 
W. L. Adams, M. Gallagher, esq., Parker C. Purviance, William P. McDowell, 
Jefferson Smith, J. H. Shannon, and S. S. Barnes, which were respectively 
drank amid much good humor. In the evening the party re-embarked on 
board the boat, and, as the band played several national airs, slowly moved into 
the current towards the village. . . . On landing a procession was formed, 
and to an appropriate air struck up by the band it proceeded to Mechanics Hall, 
from which place the company retired to their homes at an early hour, all well 
pleased with the amusements of the day." 

In 1830 the merchants doing business in Warren were Archibald Tanner, 



338 



History of Warren County. 



Lothrop S. Parmlee, Robert Falconer, Orris Hall, Samuel D. Hall, Daniel 
Chase, and N. A. Lowry, dealers in general merchandise; O. Stanton & Co., 
grocers, and Milton Ford, grocer and druggist. The physicians during the 
same year were Abraham Hazeltine and Thomas Huston. 

By a legislative enactment approved April 3, 1832, the town was erected 
into a borough. The first borough election was held at the court-house May 
7, 1832, when the following officers were chosen: John Andrews, burgess; 
Joseph Hackney, Lansing Wetmore, Zachariah Eddy, James Stewart, and 
Albinus Stebbins, town council. On the 12th of May following the burgess 
and council appointed Thomas Struthers clerk, and John King street commis- 
sioner, and June 2, of the same year, Dr. Abraham Hazeltine was appointed 
borough treasurer. At the time of its incorporation the town contained three 
hundred and fifty-eight inhabitants. The first separate assessment roll of those 
residing or owning taxable property within the borough limits — the original 
in lots comprising three hundred acres — was completed in 1833, and from 
this list it is ascertained that the names of the taxable inhabitants at that time 
were as follows : 



Andrews, John, county commissioners' clerk, 

Arthur, James, lumberman. [etc. 

Arthur, Robert, lumberman. 

Adams, Warren L., cabinet maker. 

Adams, Joseph, mechanic. 

Booker, Philip, shoemaker. 

Brown, Alfred, single man. [nery. 

Bostuick, Henry, owner of shoe shop and tan- 

Blackley, John, single man. 

Bell, William, mechanic. 

Brown, Henry. 

Brownell, Silas. 

Chase, Daniel, merchant. 

Coe, Ariel. [fice. 

Clemens, Thomas, proprietor of printing of- 

Curtis. Asa. 

Curtis, Miner, shoemaker. 

Crippen, Daniel. 

Dilmars, John, single man. 

Deitz, Adam, gunsmith. 

Davis. John F., tailor. 

Eddy, Zachariah. 

Eddy, Isaac S., single man. 

Eddy, William. 

Edgar, John, mechanic. 

Ferguson, Morgan, mechanic. 

Farrington, Jesse, shoemaker. 

Ford, Milton, grocer. 

Falconer, Ilobtrt, merchant. 

Graham, Samuel. 

Gray, Simon. 



Gregory, Porter. 

Gregory, Asa. 

Gordon, Joseph C, tavern keeper. 

Graham, James W., single man. 

Gordon. Lewis, single man. 

Geer, Benjamin. 

Geer, Caleb. 

Hunter, John. 

Hodges, Walter W. 

Hall, Joseph. 

Hawley, Alpheus, prop'r carding mills. 

Hall, Samuel D., merchant. 

Hackney, Joseph W., tavern keeper. 

Hodge, William. 

Hall, Josiah, attorney at law. 

Hackney, John. 

Hackney, Joseph C. 

Hawk. Peter. 

Hazeltine, Abraham, physician. 

Hackney, Margaret, widow. 

Houghwout, Daniel, carpenter. 

llook, Orrin. 

Hook, Francis. 

Hall, Orris, merchant. 

Hook, Moses. 

Jackson, David. 

Jackson, Ebenezer. 

Jackson, Thomas W. 

Kidder, Truman. 

King, John. 

King, J. Hamilton. 



Borough of Warren. 



339 



Kidder, Nelson. 

Luther, Jacob, shoemaker. 

Lilly, Henry. 

Lane, Asahel, single man. 

McDowell, William P., merchant. 

Masten, Cornelius, 

Morrison, Abijah. 

Morrison. William, single man. 

Mead, Darius. 

Mead, William. 

Merrill, Oilman, attorney at law, 

Magee, Dudley. 

Miles, Robert. 

Newman, Hiram S., profession. 

Nugent, James, mechanic. 

Olney, Rufus, potter. 

Osmer, John P.. mechanic. 

Olney, William A. 

Portman, John. 

Pier, William, justice of the peace, 

Parmlee, Lothrop S., merchant. 

Parker, Timothy F., physician. 

Pierce, Thompson, single man. 

Ray, Nesbit. 

Reese, Martin. 

Russell, Robert. 

Reed, Samuel, single man. 

The year 1834 was made memorable in the history of the borough by the 
building of the academy and the organization of the Lumbermen's Bank, de- 
tailed accounts of which will be found in succeeding pages. 

In 1835 the town must have been almost as badly overrun with snarling, 
snapping hydrophobia breeders as it is at present; hence many of its best 
citizens attached their signatures to a paper of which the following is a copy : 

" We whose names are undersigned do hereby agree to indemnify and keep 
free from all damages that may or shall legally accrue, to any person or per- 
sons, who shall kill any dog or dogs that shall be found running at large in the 
streets of the borough of Warren, the property of any citizen or other person 
residing in said borough for the space of three months from the date hereof, 
or any dog or dogs found as aforesaid without any owner or person along 
with them, claiming the ownership of them, for the space of time above men- 
tioned. Warren, February 2, 1835." 

This agreement was signed by William Bell, W. E. Griffith, William Sands, 
T. H. Fenton, Samuel D. Hall, James O. Parmlee, William P. Clark, John A. 

iDr. Henry Sargent was born at New Chester, N. H., in 1790; was a graduaie of Dartmouth 
Medical College; became a resident of Warren in 1833, and died here suddenly in August, 1851. His 
only child, a daughter, became the wife of Hon. C. B. Curtis. Dr. Sargent was highly respected as a 
citizen, and his great skill as a physician was widely known. 



Stewart, James. 

Struthers, Thomas, attorney at law. 

Sayles, Scott W. 

Sands, Alanson. 

Smith, William. 

Stebbins, Albinus, mechanic. 

Snyder, Simon, single man. 

Scott, Asa, blacksmith. 

Summerton, J. D., grocer; came here from 

Cayuga county, N. Y., in 1S32. 
Stone, Ellery, shoemaker. 
Stanton, Daniel, single man. 
Snyder, George, mechanic. 
Sargent,' Henry, physician. 
Skinner, Archibald, single man. 
Stevenson, Simeon G., tin smith. 
Stevenson, Reuben, mechanic. 
.Steadman, James. 
Smith, Abel. 

Turner, Thomas, tavern keeper. 
Turner, Joshua, burgess. 
Taylor, Justus, mechanic. 
Tanner, Cyrus, single man. 
Tanner, Archibald, merchant. 
Temple, Stephen, single man. 
Wetmore, Lansing, attornev at law. 



34° History of Warren County. 



Hall, Harrison French, J. M. Olney, Milton Ford, Robert Falconer, Archibald 
Tanner, Archibald Skinner, Robert Miles, William P. McDowell, Darius Mead, 
Thomas Morton, Joseph W. Hackney, Josiah Hall, James Vanhorn, William 
Pier, Oilman Merrill, Thomas Struthers, Samuel P. Johnson, George W. 
Snyder, Francis Everett, Thomas Clemons, Morgan Ferguson, Warren L. 
Adams, David Jackson, Z. H. Eddy, William Smith, R. McKinney, W. G. 
Morrison, James Steadman, and Carlton B. Curtis. 

Of those whose names appear in the above paragraph, only two now reside 
in the borough ; but what is still more remarkable than the fact that there 
should be but two survivors after the lapse of fifty-two years, is the coinci- 
dence that these men were then associated together as members of a law firm, 
and that their names were affixed to the agreement side by side. We refer to 
Hon. Thomas Struthers and Hon. Samuel P. Johnson. 

The Lumbermen's Bank failed in 1838, and, as we are informed by a relic 
of the past — a copy of the Warren Bulletin published in the early part of 
that year — Timothy F. Parker, Robert Miles, Cornelius Masten, jr., Archibald 
Skinner, and Benjamin Bartholomew were the commissioners appointed to 
investigate its affairs. This paper also announced the arrival of the steamboat 
New Castle from Pittsburgh, and the presence of a corps of engineers in the 
employ of the Sunbury and Erie Railroad Company. During the following 
year (1839) the first bridge across the Allegheny was built. 

The decade which followed was not marked by any extraordinary events 
nor an unusual degree of prosperity. The town kept along in the even tenor 
of its way, slowly increasing in population as a result of being the commercial 
center of a lumbering region. In the destruction of the pine forests in this part 
of the county a few of its citizens acquired considerable wealth, but the many 
— those who did the work, the chopping, sawing, hauling and rafting — barely 
earned enough to provide shelter and food for their families. A few minor 
manufacturing industries were established, while about an equal number from 
time to time suspended, by reason of the migratory habits of their operators. 
Many changes were likewise noted among mercantile firms, lawyers and 
doctors, as they came and went in the endeavor to better their financial con- 
ditions. There were a considerable number of men, however — such as Archi- 
bald Tanner, N. B. Eldred, C. B. Curtis, Thomas Struthers, Walter W. 
Hodges, Gilman Merrill, Orris Mall, Lansing Wetmore, Samuel P. Johnson, 
Henry Sargent, Abraham Hazeltine, Timothy F. Parker, J. D. Summerton, 
Hiram Gilman, Benjamin Bartholomew, Rasselas Brown, J. Y. James, Thomas 
Clemons, Andrew H. Ludlow, Joseph Carver, Stephen Carver, Robert Fal- 
coner, Richard S. Orr, Charles W. Rathbun, Lewis Arnett, Jerome B. Carver, 
Cornelius Masten, jr., D. V. Stranahan, John H. Hull, G. A. Irvine, G. W. 
Scofield, and a number of others — who, having become permanently estab- 
lished here prior to the close of the decade referred to, were active in the pros- 



Borough of Warren. 341 



ecution of their respective professions and occupations, and gave character and 
stabihty to the whole community. 

Until the year 1848 the only brick structures in the town were the court- 
house and the academy, while up the river a short distance a few Indian wig- 
wams with tenants were yet to be seen. During the year mentioned, however, 
an innovation upon the old order of things began, by the erection of the 
Carver House, upon the corner previously occupied by the old Warren House, 
or, in other words, the tavern built by Ebenezer Jackson in 1 8 19. The new 
hotel was opened for business in March, 1849, with John H. Hull (the former 
landlord of the old Warren House) installed as proprietor. In referring to the 
erection of the new building, the editor of the Mail, under date of August I, 
1 848, said : " Our village — or rather our borough — presents many indications 
of improvement. Among them we notice a fine block going up on the corner 
of Front and Hickory streets ; the basement of chiseled stone and the body of 
brick. It is to be used for a hotel and store, and bids fair to be what might 
be expected from the energy and enterprise of its proprietors — Messrs. Carver 
& Hall. It will greatly improve that part of Front street [an absurd expres- 
sion, still in vogue, the calling of Water street. Front street], and contribute in 
making Warren as distinguished for the elegance and convenience of its build- 
ings as it is for the beauty and romance of its scenery." 

In the same number of the Mail the editor also said : " The early settlers of 
this country who still remain among us, can probably discover some improve- 
ment in the facilities for traveling at the present day. Formerly it required 
about four days to come from Pittsburgh to this place, though some have come 
in less time. The roads were bad, carriages could not be procured. Forests, 
hills, valleys, rocks, brush, and mud greeted the weary footman. Accommo- 
dations were scarce. Darkness often overtook him on Pennsylvania's hills, 
while thoughts of home and loved ones there, were all that cheered him on his 
lonely way. Now, by the new line of stages, recently established by Richard 
S. Orr and others, the traveller can go from Pittsburgh to Buffalo in less than 
three days. Stages leave this place for Buffalo every evening (Sundays ex- 
cepted), arriving at Buffalo the next evening in time to take the Eastern cars. 
Also for Pittsburgh every morning at seven o'clock, going through in forty- 
eight hours. Good teams, good carriages, and low fares make this a good 
route." 

This is a pen picture of the ivondcrfnl traveling facilities afforded the citi- 
zens of Warren, and other points on the route between Pittsburgh and Buffalo, 
less than forty years ago. Yet, if the people of to-day had no better way than 
is here described — the delights of being jolted, thrown forward, backward, to 
the right or left, without intimation or warning, for twenty-four hours at a 
time, and still the journey not half over — there can be no doubt that they 
would consider themselves in even a worse condition than were the first set- 
tlers who uncomplainingly made their journeys afoot. 



342 History of Warren County. 

In the fall of 1848 an old building, which stood on the point at the junction 
of Water and Third streets, was torn down, and it was then first proposed to 
make the place a " public common." 

On Tuesday, March 6, 1849, between three and four o'clock A. M., the Ex- 
change Building — in which were the stores of Taylor & Arnett ; S. L. Axtell, 
and Baker & Hunter; S. G. Stevens, tin-shop and store; Summerton's tin- 
shop; the Standard printing office, S. J. Goodrich proprietor; the shoe-shop 
of E. N. Rogers, occupied by N. Ford ; the tailor shop of county treasurer H. 
L. Church, and Benjamin Nesmith's harness shop — was discovered to be on 
fire, and two hours later was entirely destroyed. Loss from $50,000 to 
$75,000. 

In May of the same year a resident, enraptured by his or her surroundings, 
indulged in a bit of poetic gush as follows : 

'■ \Y.\RREN. 

" Sweet village of a sweeter vale, 

Where flow.s the Allegheny bright, 
Thy beauteous scenes can never fail 
To fill this bosom with delight. 

" Let others talk of Southern climes, 
Where flowers blossom all the year ; 
Let poets pour their flood of rhymes, 
Where brighter lands to them appear; 

" But I will sing of thee, my home. 
For thou hast joys enough for me ; 
Nor will I breathe a wish to roam, 
While thus inspired with love for thee. 

"Yon river, on whose bosom sweet 

I've often watched, with childish glee, 
The sunbeams dance with merry feet. 
Is Nature's loveliest child to me. 

'• Then can I breathe a wish to roam. 

While thus inspired with love for thee ? 
No, thou art still mv chosen home. 
Sweet village, and must ever be." 

In the summer following, the three-story brick block on the northeast cor- 
ner of Water and Hickory streets, was commenced by Archibald Tanner. It 
was the second brick structure erected in the town for individual purposes, and 
to make room for it the old Jackson tavern, built by Daniel Jackson in 1805, 
was moved back. 

At this time, too, Warren had other residents possessed of literary ability, 
as witness the following : 

"THE END NOT VET. 

" The subscriber believing that the world will not come to an end in '49, 
but that '49 will end the last day of December next, and that Gen. Taylor 



Borough of Warren. 343 



cannot ruin the Nation (alone) and that Tom Benton and Calhoun will not be 
president until after they are elected ; that a National Bank or 'Independent 
Treasury ' is very convenient in every family (under proper restrictions) properly 
managed, and having of late embraced the ' one idea ' principle that every man 
must look out for himself, he has concluded to continue the 

SHOEMAKING BUSINESS, 

and spare no effort to please all who may favor him with their custom. You 
will find him ' armed and equipped ' as St. Crispin directs, in his shop over the 
Ledger office on Second street. Therefore, in the language of the poet, 
" All vou who dote on a good fitting boot, 
Whose pockets are filled with the Rhino, 
Pass ye not by, like an ignorant coot, 
He'll fit you most finely that / know. 

"Warren, July 24, 1849. N. FoRD." 

Among the merchants doing business in the town in 1849-50 were Watson 
& Davis, Summerton & Taylor, Hull & King, Baker & Hunter, Parmlee & 
Oilman, S. C. Brasington, and John A. Hall, postmaster, dealers in general 
merchandise ; William & T. S. Messner, grocers ; Charles W. Rathbun, liquors 
and groceries ; D. M. Williams, grocer, and Hazeltine & Co. (G. W. Hazel- 
tine and S. P. Johnson) dealers in drugs, books, stationery, etc., at Variety 
Hall. 

In 1850 Watson, Davis & Co.'s block at the junction of Second and Water 
streets was built, being the third brick structure of the borough. In excavat- 
ing for the foundation walls the bones of a human body were found, supposed 
to have been the remains of a French hunter or explorer, or of an employee of 
the Holland Land Company. 

In the spring of that year the maple trees, now densely shading the little 
park at the point separating Water and Third streets, were placed in position. 
Of the traveling "shows," which during that period regularly visited Warren 
in their rounds, the tent exhibitions of Quick & Co., Levi J. North, Barnum, 
and Dan Rice, and the hall entertainments of the Baker Family, the Burt Fam- 
ily, etc., seemed to be the most popular. 

In the summer of 185 I a form of diarrhcea became epidemic in the town 
and carried off many of its residents, particularly young adults and children. 

The Johnson block, on the southeast corner of Second and Liberty streets, 
was built in 1854, and was then considered to be the most imposing and best 
building in the county. 

The year 1859 closed with railroad communication established between 
Warren and Erie, and great was the rejoicing thereat. The lower railroad bridge 
was completed in September of the following year, and, resting on rather low 
abutments or piers, terminated steamboat navigation to points above. 

The United States census of i860 revealed the following facts concerning 



344 History of Warren County. 

the borough and its inhabitants: Total number of inhabitants, 1,742; total 
number of the same, foreign born, 417 ; total number of deaths during the year, 
22; total number of persons whose estates exceed $30,000,9; total number 
of persons whose estates equal or exceed $20,000, 19; total number of persons 
whose estates equal or exceed $10,000, 29 ; total number of dwelling houses, 
308. 

In July of that year the chief topic of thought and conversation for a short 
time was in relation to a bold burglary committed in their midst. The office 
of Hon. Thomas Struthers had been broken into and a safe containing $3,000 
in gold and many valuable papers carried off by thieves who left no traces be- 
hind them. After two or three days, however, the safe was found on James 
H. Eddy's farm in Glade. It had been broken open and the coin taken away, 
but the papers were found nearly intact. Suspicion was soon directed upon 
three Irishmen living near by, who upon being arrested were found to be the 
guilty parties, and a portion of the money was recovered. 

During the fall of 1 860 the marshaling of the ante-bellum militia companies 
of the district under Brigadier- General R. Brown and staff (the latter composed 
of George V. N. Yates, judge advocate; Nelson S. Woodford, quartermaster; 
Leroy L. Lowry, paymaster ; Harrison Allen, aid, and Samuel W. Brown, 
surgeon), the parades of the wide-awake marching companies, the great polit- 
ical campaign then in progress, and last, but not least, the oil excitement-^all 
conspired to make matters exceedingly lively in and around the borough. 

In the fall of 1864 wood was worth $7 per cord, and coal $12 per ton. 
For a small inland town literally surrounded by thousands of acres of timber 
land all in sight, this seems to have been an exorbitant price for common fire 
wood, even though it was at a time of inflated prices. 

In March, 1865, occurred the great flood remembered so vividly by many, 
and still to be seen — as pictured by the photographer. The roily^ rushing 
waters rose to their greatest height on the 1 8th, when the Irvine bottom 
opposite the town was one vast lake. The " Island " was covered to the depth 
of several feet, and all the buildings, lumber, cooperage, etc., near the banks of 
the Conewango and Allegheny were swept away. Hook's old saw-mill, which 
for nearly fifty years had been a familiar land-mark on the Allegheny some 
five miles above Warren, was lifted from its ancient site and transferred to 
Morrison's flat, below the town. 

Among the dealers in various kinds of merchandise at this time (1865) 
were O. H. Hunter, Beecher & Coleman, E. T. Hazeltine & Co., George L. 
Friday & Co., P. J. Trushel lSj Co., George Ball, Arnett & Galligan, Pierce & 
Shafer, William Messner, John Honhart, Schnur & Ruhlman, J. M. Turner, 
F. A. Randall, S. Burgess, J. B. Brown, D. D. Babcock, Otto Huber, Kelly 
Weaver, Christian Retterer, Jacob Lesser, C. L. Hassel & Co., George Rcig, 
L. D. Crandall, S. G. Stevens, L. W. Arnett, Adolph Saltsman, brewer. Smith 
& Messner, Abijah Morrison, A. Kirberger, and Rowan & Converse. 



Borough of Warren. 345 



The years 1867-68 witnessed marked improvements throughout the bor- 
ough. Many new buildings, both for dwelHng and business purposes, were 
erected, a number of them of a size and ornate style of architecture to this 
time here unseen. The handsome residences of Hon. R. Brown, Judge Will- 
iam D. Brown, Boon Mead, and Colonel L. F. Watson were among the num- 
ber then built. 

War prices still prevailed, which, in comparison with present rates, were 
almost frightful Thus, flour was worth from $12 to $16 per barrel; butter 
60 cents per pound ; potatoes $1.00 per bushel; lard 22 cents per pound ; 
pork 18 cents per pound, and sugar 15 to 20 cents per pound. All other 
commodities bought and sold — dry goods, hardware, etc., were equally as 
high in price, while the laborer and mechanic received but little more pay for 
his daily toil than he does to-day. 

About the ist of November, 1869, the buildings on Water street, occupied 
by Bennett, Carrie Denison, A. Ruhlman, S. M. Cogswell, P. Bysecker, Mrs. 
A. Ruhlman, Taylor & Messner, M. Carpenter & Co., O. H. Hunter, F. Fettee, 
J. F. Wells & Co., and Allen & Reeves, were destroyed by fire. In February, 
1 870, another conflagration raged, at the corner of Liberty and Water streets. 
A newspaper writer of that day said: "There were a few men who worked 
faithfully to subdue the flames and save property, and a very large audience 
collected to see them do it." 

By the census enumeration of 1870 it was ascertained that the borough 
contained two thousand and one inhabitants. The wire foot-bridge across the 
Conewango was built during the same year, and a stock company organized 
to build a suspension bridge across the Allegheny, which structure was 
finished in 1871. 

During the year 1872 a number of notable events occurred — Decoration 
Day was formally observed for the first time. The new union school building, 
which was completed a few months before at a cost of $23,000, was badly 
damaged by the fire which destroyed the old Germania Hotel. The old 
pioneer, Zachariah Eddy, died at the age of ninety-four years. A street railway 
extending from the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad station, via Water street 
to Glade, was built. Two one-horse, or "bob-tail," cars were brought into 
use, but it appears that there were then two cars too many. The enterprise 
proved to be a complete failure, and after about two years the rails were taken 
up, and all the material shipped to some locality more populous or appreciative. 
During 1872, also, the Irvine family, of Irvineton, proposed to donate to the 
borough, for a public park, thirty acres of land, lying on the left bank of the 
Allegheny, about one mile below the town; but as the proposal was accom- 
panied by conditions requiring the immediate expenditure of a large sum of 
money, it was considered that for a town having no gas or water supply, nor 
fire apparatus worthy of mention, the luxury would prove to be too expensive. 



346 History of Warren County. 

quite out of character; hence the proposition was respectfully declined. Gifts 
bestowed under conditions are not always acceptable. 

The building termed the Town Hall, on the southeast corner of Third and 
Hickory streets, was built in 1877—78, at a cost of about $9,000. 

In 1884 the substantially-built structure now occupied by the Warren 
Library Association was completed. For a number of years there had been a 
chartered public library in the town, but it had neither home nor income. Its 
destitution excited the sympathy of the Hon. Thomas Struthers, and aroused 
his beneficence. He therefore proposed to the citizens that if they would fur- 
nish the grounds he would build and donate to the association a structure of 
which all might feel proud. The site, a rather costly one, corner of Liberty 
and Third streets, was purchased with money contributed by L. D. Wetmore, 
H. A. Jamieson, William D. Brown, S. P. Johnson, F. Henry, Rasselas Brown, 
Willard White, C. W . Stone, M. B. Dunham, A. J. Hazeltine, O. W. Beatty, 
L. F. Watson, David Beatty, M. Waters, Benjamin Nesmith, A. Hertzel, H. L. 
Bartholomew, Robert Dennison, S. T. Allen, O. C. Allen, S. W. Waters, 
Christian Smith, E. T. Hazeltine, Beecher & Copeland, J. H. Eddy, F. H. 
Rockwell, Thomas H. De Silver, W. H. Pickett, C. H. Noyes, E. B. Frew, J. 
K. Palmer, Charles P. Henry, E. Cowan, O. H. Hunter & Son, Sol Cohn, J. 
E. Berkstresser, G. I. Mead, J. W. Jenkins. J. A. Weible, G. G. Mead, F. 
Barnhart, Albert Kirberger, Alice W. Jefterson, W. A. Rankin, Henry Knupp, 
James C. Wells, Hazeltine & Baker, George H. Ames, A. J. Davis, Medora I. 
Mead, H. E. Brown, M. V. Van Etten, P. H. Towle, Manville Bros., L. G. 
Noyes, Henry Cobham, W. W. Wilbur, William Schnur, Rufus P. King, M. 
Shaeffer, S. T. Daggett, George L. Friday, John Kropp, Thomas Keelor, S. P. 
Schemerhorn, Fred Morck, M. Mead, S. H. Davis, S. V. Davis, George H. 
Leonhart, J. VV. Stearns, Jane Orr, P. Greenlund, S. Keller, A. B. Miller, 
Rick Donovan, and A. H. McKelvy. 

Not including the site, the building cost about $90,000. Besides affording 
spacious and elegant rooms for the books of the association and visitors, it also 
contains one of the handsomest and best appointed halls for the use of opera 
and theatrical troupes to be found in Western Pennsylvania. The post-office 
officials, and the publishers of the Ledger, likewise find commodious quarters 
within its walls. 

A glance at the assessment roll of the borough for the \'ear 1885 discloses 
the following pertinent facts : Value of lots and buildings, $1,5 14,759; number 
of horses and mules, 221 ; number of cows, 37; number of resident taxables, 
1,167. The resident taxables for the year 1886 are 1,134 in number, thus 
showing a decrease of 33 in twelve months. This can be accounted for, how- 
ever, from the fact that for ten years or more Warren has been the rendez- 
vous of large numbers of oil men. As residents they are an uncertain quan- 
tity — birds of passage, coming and going constantly. Hence many former 




//^^ 



Borough of Warren. 347 

short-term Warrenites can now be found in Washington county, Pa., and the 
Ohio oil fields. 

Though the town is built upon lands the surface of which is but a few feet 
above the bed of the Allegheny, it is credited with an elevation of eleven hun- 
dred and ninety-eight feet above tide water, and six hundred and thirty-three 
feet above Lake Erie. Its population numbered considerably less than three 
thousand in 1880. The present inhabitants are estimated to be full five thou- 
sand in number, or more than the entire county contained in 1830. The last 
decade has witnessed the introduction of illuminating gas ; water, of the finest 
quality, from Morrison's Run ; the formation of an efficient fire department ; 
the inauguration of a system of drainage and sewage, and the utilization of 
natural gas as a fuel. 

In the " Warren County Directory," published at the Ledger office in 1886, 
Judge S. P. Johnson closed a brief article relating to the borough, as follows : 
"Warren has always kept up even with, and sometimes a little ahead of, the 
enterprise and progress of the surrounding world of the same age. She had a 
bell in her court-house, a chartered bank, a public hall, an academy, and a 
street railroad before Franklin, twenty years her senior in judicial organization, 
enjoyed these luxuries. . For the last twenty-five years it has furnished 

the bench with more judges, and the legislative halls, both State and National, 
with more representatives than any other town of its size in the State. For 
some years it was the head of steamboat navigation, until bridges obstructed 
the river's channel. It has now within its limited territory eight churches, well 
supported, four hotels, four restaurants, and of saloons five too many. It 
abounds in dry goods, grocery, drug, hardware, shoe, millinery, clothing and 
fancy goods stores, mostly permanent and successful business houses. In me- 
chanical and manufacturing establishments Warren is well supplied — of which 
the iron works of Struthers, Wells & Co., the Wetmore door and sash factory, 
and the Jamieson pail and tub factory are the largest. Besides these there are 
four planing-mills, two furniture factories, and other shops and factories in 
almost every branch of productive industry, including Piso's cure for consump- 
tion, and the Warren flouring mills. 

" Outside local history has given Warren the reputation, for some years 
past, of being a wealthy town, having large capital in proportion to its popu- 
lation. As an evidence of that it has had, and now has, three banks — the First 
National, the Citizens' National, and the Warren Savings Banks — owned entirely 
by her own citizens. For the fact, if it be so, it is indebted to no factious aid 
or circumstance ; it is the result of intelligent and persevering industry and at- 
tention to business for a lifetime, for which, notwithstanding the slurs of the 
ephemeral parasites that have floated into it upon the tide of oil develop- 
ments, they are entitled to much credit. All the so-called wealthy men of the 
town commenced life poor, and have acquired what they have, not by gam- 

23 



348 History of Warren County. 

bling in an oil exchange or bucket-shop, but in the prosecution of honest and 
legitimate business. These men came, or were here, before there were any- 
brick buildings in Warren, and by their enterprise have made it what it is — 
the most permanently prosperous and beautiful little city in the western por- 
tion of the State." 

MuxicnvvL History. — The following is believed to be a full and correct 
list of those who have served as burgess, town councilmen, and clerks for the 
borough, from its incorporation in 1832 to 1886 inclusive. 

1832. — John Andrews, burgess ; Thos. Struthers, clerk; council, Joseph 
Hackney, 1 Lansing Wetmore, Zachariah Eddy, James Stewart, and Albinus 
Stebbins. 

1833. — Joshua Turner, burgess ; Thos. Struthers, clerk ; Robert Arthur, 
Rufus Olney, Eben Jackson, Thomas Turner, and Scott W. Sayles. 

1834. — William Pier, burgess; Thos. Struthers, clerk; Francis Hook, W. 
W. Hodges, Oilman Merrill, J. C. Gordon, and Warren L. Adams. 

1835. — G. Merrill, burgess; C. B. Curtis, clerk; Henry Sargent, Orris 
Hall, John Edgar, Joshua Turner, and David Jackson. 

1836. — G. Merrill, burgess; C. B. Curtis, clerk; Hiram Oilman, N. B. 
Eldred, Geo. L. Chapel, W. W. Hodges, and J. D. Summerton. 

1837. — O. Merrill, burgess; C. B. Curtis, clerk; Geo. L. Chapel, J. D. 
Summerton, Hiram Oilman, W. W. Hodges, and N. B. Eldred. 

1838. — Hiram Oilman, burgess ; C. B. Curtis, clerk ; Abraham Hazeltine, 
Thos. Clemons, A. H. Ludlow, Joseph Carver, and John King. 

1839. — Zachariah Eddy, burgess ; C. B. Curtis, clerk; Lansing Wetmore, 
Abijah Morrison, Stephen Carver, Thos. Clemons, and A. H. Ludlow. 

1840. — Robt. Falconer, burgess ; C. B. Curtis, clerk; Abijah Morrison, 
Lansing Wetmore, Richard S. Orr, Stephen Carver, and Zachariah Eddy. 

1841. — J. D. Summerton, burgess ; C. B. Curtis, clerk; John Edgar, 
John II. King, Robert McKinney, S. G. Stevens, and H. L. Towle. 

1842. — Joseph Carver, burgess ; C. B. Curtis, clerk ; J. Y. James, John H. 
King, Richard Alden, Zachariah Eddy, and A. H. Ludlow. 

1 843.-^ John Edgar, burgess; C. B.Curtis, clerk; Henry L. Church, 
William Bell, S. G. Stevens, Silas Lacy, and Charles W. Rathbun. 

1844. — S. L. Axtell, burgess; C. B. Curtis, clerk ; Aaron S. Farmlee, 
Lewis Arnett, S. J. Page, James H. Eddy, and A. H. Summerton. 

1845. — Aaron S. Parmlee, burgess ; C. B. Curtis, clerk; Wm. S. Parmlee, 
Jerome B. Carver, S. 0. Stevens, Geo. Lobdel, and J. H. Eddy. 

1846. — Rasselas Brown, burgess ; C. Masten, jr., clerk ; H. T. Baker, R. P. 
King, Richard S. Orr, John H. Hull, and D. V. Stranahan. 

1847. — Carlton B. Curtis, burgess; J. D. James, clerk; Zachariah Eddy, 
Stephen Carver, Calvin C. Lovell, Thos. Clemons, and J. D. Summerton. 

1 June 2, 1832, al i» special eleclion, Kobt. Miles was elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the 
death of Joseph Hackney. 



Borough of Warren. 349 



1848. — W. W. Hodges, burgess; L. T. Parmlee, clerk; P. R. Bennett, G. 
W. Scofield, Benj. Nesmith, W. S. Parmlee, and Stephen Carver. 

1849. — Richard S. Orr, burgess; L. T. Parmlee, clerk; D. V. Stranahan, 
John A. Hall, C. W. Rathbun, Rufus P. King, and Philip Bucher. 

1850. — G. A. Irvine, burgess ; John F. McPherson, clerk ; Thos. Clemens, 
P. R. Bennett, Geo. L. Chapel, John Edgar, and Wm. Mead. 

1851. — R. P. King, burgess; John N. Miles, clerk; John H. Hull, Milo 
Parks, J. D. James, Benj. Nesmith, and Starling Waters. 

1852. — G. Merrill, burgess; J. A. Morrison, clerk; Boon Mead, J. D. 
James, Richard S.,Orr, S. J. Page, and Milo Parks. 

1853. — Milton W. Hull, burgess; I. S. Alden, clerk; S. J. Page, Richard 
S. Orr, Boon Mead, Milo Parks, and Andrew Hertzel. 

1854. — Orris Hall, burgess ; F. A. Randall, clerk ; H. L. Church, John 
H. Hull, Stephen Carver, Rufus P. King, and Wm. S. Parmlee. 

1855. — Oilman Merrill, burgess; Theodore C. Spencer, clerk; L. D. Wet- 
more, Thomas Clemens, J. B. Carver, A. Hertzel, and Peter Somers. Ap- 
pointed under amended charter — Rufus P. King, John H. Hull, J. Y. James,, 
and Chester Park. 

1856. — G. Merrill, burgess; Theodore C. Spencer, clerk; Rufus P. King, 
John H. Hull, L. D. Wetmore, Peter Somers, Andrew Hertzel, M. W. Hull,. 
A. J. Davis, W. F. Kingsbury, and Thos. demons. 

1857. — J. D. James, burgess; S. N. Dickinson, clerk; S. D. Hall, John M. 
Olney, George Offerlee, M. W. Hull, A. J. Davis, W. F. Kingsbury, Rufus P. 
King, John H. Hull, and L. D. Wetmore. 

1858. — J. D. James, burgess ; D. J. Hodges, clerk ; A. J. Davis, John H. 
Hull, John M. Olney, J. B. Carver, George Ofiferlee, C. W. H. Verback, S. D. 
Hall, W. F. Kingsbury, A. Brock. 

1859. — Thos. Clemens, burgess; G. Merrill, clerk; C. W. H. Verback, 
A. Brock, George Offerlee, John M. Olney, S. Burgess, J. B. Carver, John Sill, 
E. T. F. Valentine, S. D. Hall. 

i860. — G. N. Parmlee, burgess; H. Allen, clerk ; E. T. F. Valentine, A. 
Brock, C. W. H. Verback, Starling Waters, Christian Keller, John Sill, Chris- 
tian Smith, S. Burgess, and Andrew Hertzel. 

1861. — J. B. Carver, burgess; J. A. Neill, clerk; L. Arnett, J. H. Hull, C. 
Smith, John Sill, A. J. Davis, Andrew Hertzel, Christian Keller, Seneca Bur- 
gess, and E. T. F. Valentine. 

1862. — G. N. Parmlee, burgess; S. T. Allen, clerk ; L. Arnett, A. Hertzel^ 
George Offerlee, Christian Keller, John F. Davis, John Honhart, A. J. Davis, 
J. H. Hull, O. H. Hunter. C. Smith resigned. 

1863. — S. J. Page, burgess; Thos. Clemons, clerk ; L. Arnett, A. Hertzel, 
J. H. Hull, J. F. Davis, George Offerlee, O. H. Hunter, Rufus P. King, M. \V. 
Hull, and A. J. Davis. 



3SO History of Warren County. 

1864. — L. Arnett, burgess; Chas. Dinsmoor, clerk; G. N. Parmlee, A. B. 
McKain, Thos. demons, John F. Davis, O. H. Hunter, A. Hertzel, R. P. King, 
George Offerlee, and M. W. Hull. 

1865. — L. Arnett, burgess; Chas. Dinsmoor, clerk; R. P. King, R. D. 
Bartlett, J. H. Hull, Thos. Clemons, A. B. McKain, P. Bucher, A. Hertzel, G. 
N. Parmlee, and M. W. Hull. 

1866. — L. Arnett, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk; J. H. Hull, R. K. Rus- 
sell, A. P. Wetmore, R. D. Bartlett, Philip Bucher, G. N. Parmlee, John B. 
Brown, Thos. Clemons, and Chas. Dinsmoor. 

1867. — J. S. Page, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk; Philip Bucher, J. H. 
Hull, B. F. Morris, M. Schaffer, S. Keller, jr., C. Dinsmoor, R. K. Russell, R. 
D. Bartlett, and A. P. Wetmore. 

1868. — A. Hertzel, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk; R. K. Russell, Philip 
Bucher, C. Dinsmoor, F. A. Randall, S. Keller, jr., B. F. Morris, J. H. Hull, 

A. P. Wetmore, and M. Schaffer. 

1869. — S. J. Page, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk; J. H. Hull, S. Keller, 

B. F. Morris, C. Dinsmoor, John M. Olney, M. Schaffer, L. W. Arnett (died), 

F. A. Randall, and Philip Bucher. 

1870. — E. T. F. Valentine, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk; J. H. Hull, 
John M. Olney, Philip Bucher, George Offerlee, C. Dinsmoor, V. A. Randall, 
J. H. Eddy, Seneca Burgess, and S. H. Davis. 

1871. — E. T. F. Valentine, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk; J. H. Hull, 
John M. Olney, J. H. Eddy, Geo. Offerlee, S. Burgess, S. H. Davis, J. H. 
Mitchell, C. Dinsmoor, F A. Randall. 

1872. — Charles Dinsmoor, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk ; J. H. Mitchell, 
S. Burgess, J. H. Hull, F. A. Randall, James Nesmith, C. W. Stone, James 
Clark, jr., S. H. Davis, and J. H. Eddy. 

1873. — John Sill, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk; Seneca Burgess, Wm. 
Ryan, H. A. Jamieson, C. W. Stone, James Clark, jr., James Nesmith, F". A. 
Randall, John M. Davidson (removed), J. H. Hull (died Aug., 1873). D. W. 
C James and Geo. Ott elected to fill vacancies. 

1874. — John Sill, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk; James Clark, jr., A. 
Hertzel, C. W. Stone, M. B. Dunham, George Ott, Wm. Ryan, S. Burgess, 

G. H. Ames, and James Nesmith. 

1875. — E. B. Eldred, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk; James Clark, jr., 
A. Hertzel, M. B. Dunham, George Ott, Wm. Ryan, W. C. Rowland, G. H. 
Ames, E. G. Wood, and S. Burgess. 

1876. — W. H. Pickett, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk ; James Clark, jr., 
A. Hertzel, M. Spaulding, W. C. Rowland, M. B. Dunliam, P. J. Falconer, G. 
H. Ames, E. G. Wood, and Geo. L. Friday. 

1877. — C. H. Noyes, burgess ; Rufus P. King, clerk ; James Clark, jr., A. 
J. Davis, M. Spaulding, Geo. L. Friday, E. G. Wood, Peter Greenlund, W. C. 
Rowland, Wm. L. Lewis, and P. J. Falconer. 



Borough of Warren. 351 

1878. — M. Miles, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk; James Clark, jr., A. 
Hertzel, A. J. Davis, S. Burgess, Peter Greenlund, M. Spaulding, J. H. Palmer, 
G. L. Friday, and P. J. Falconer. 

1879. — S. T. Allen, burgess; Geo. O. Cornelius, clerk; A. J. Davis, D. 
S. McNett, S. Burgess, T. J. Clemons, A. W. Morck, F. Barnhart, W. H. Heck, 
A. Hertzel, Peter Greenlund. 

1880. — S. T. Allen, burgess; Geo. O. Cornelius, clerk ; D. S. McNett, 
A. Hertzel, A. W. Morck, Robert Dennison, C. A. Waters, W. H. Heck, T. J. 
Clemons, S. Burgess, and F. Barnhart. 

1 88 1. — S. T. Allen, burgess ; Geo. O. Cornelius, clerk ; D. S. McNett, A. 
W. Morck, C. A. Waters, W. H. Heck, A. Conarro, Robert Dennison, George 
H. Leonhart, A. J. Hazeltine, F. Barnhart. 

1882. — H. A. Jamieson, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk; A. J. Hazeltine, 
Robert Dennison, G. H. Leonhart, L. T. Borchers, A. Conarro, C. A. Waters, 
j: A. Bell, A. W. Morck, J. H. Eddy. 

1883. —Geo. P. Orr, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk; S. H. Davis, G. H. 
Leonhart, J. C. Siechrist, J. A. Bell, S. M. Cogswell, A. J. Hazeltine, L. T. 
Borchers, A. Conarro, J. H. Eddy. 

1884. — Geo. P. Orr, burgess; Rufus P. King, clerk; S. H. Davis, J. A. 
Bell, S. M. Cogswell, F. M. Knapp, J. H. Eddy, Joseph Walkerman, L. T. 
Borchers, J. C. Siechrist, August Morck, jr. 

1885 — C. C. Thompson, burgess; F. A. Cogswell, clerk; S. H. Davis, 
S. M. Cogswell, J. C. Siechrist, August Morck, jr., F. M. Knapp, Joseph 
Walkerman, Robert MacKay, Wm. Schnur, A. A. Davis. 

1886. — A. W. Morck, burgess; F. A. Cogswell, clerk; F. M. Knapp, 
Joseph Walkerman, August Morck, jr., Robert MacKay, William Schnur, A. 
A. Davis, Christian Smith, J. W. Crawford. P. J. Bayer. 

Since the incorporation of the borough, by the provisions of various acts of 
the General Assembly, passed from time to time, the corporate limits have been 
widely extended, and the authority of the town council largely increased. 
The public grounds on the southeast and southwest corners of Market and 
High streets, as shown upon the original plot of the town, likewise valuable 
strips of land along the Allegheny and Conewango not included in the original 
survey, as well as lands bordering upon Water street east of Market, have 
been, under such authorization, transferred by the borough to individuals. 

By scanning the minutes of proceedings of early councils, a few matters of 
interest, perhaps, to present residents have been ascertained. Thus, at a meet- 
ing held June 16, 1832, $80 were appropriated to grade and turnpike portions 
of Fifth, Liberty, and High streets ; but a few weeks later the resolution was 
rescinded. At the same meeting — June 16, 1832 — ten dollars were voted 
to improve the road leading from Water street down to the eddy near A. Tan- 
ner's storehouse on the bank of the Allegheny river, by cutting a ditch on 



352 History of Warren County. 

the upper side, "and prevent the water from running over and across the same, 
and by filling up the holes already washed next the wall in the lower side 
thereof." Fifteen dollars were also appropriated to be applied in reducing the 
grade of hills near John Andrews's office and the house of Lansing Wetmore. 
On the 4th of August, 1832, council met and " took into consideration the 
remonstrance of sundry citizens against the improvement of High street — No. 
15 on the files, and the same being under consideration, adopted the following 
resolution, viz.: Resolved, That the said Remonstrance is couched in disre- 
spectful and indecorous [terms] and that therefore the same be discharged from 
further consideration." 

On the 8th of June, 1833, council by an unanimous vote directed that the 
mills of Hawley & Parker — carding-machine works — fronting on the borough, 
be assessed. On the 6th of July following it was " Resolved that the Eques- 
trian Company of Mills & Harrison shall receive a license to exhibit and per- 
form for two evenings within the Borough of Warren, upon paying to the 
Treasurer Six Dollars. License to issue in like manner as licenses are issued in 
pursuance of the Ordinance framed 28th May, 1832, any thing in said ordin- 
ance of 28th May, 1832, to the contrary notwithstanding." The members of 
this council (1833), after making settlements May 3, 1834, for the year pre- 
ceding, unanimously resolved that they would make no charge against tlie 
borough for services rendered "as councillors." 

On the 3d of April, 1843, council " Resolved that the Borough of W'arren 
hereby appropriate Two Hundred Dollars for the purpose of Building a 
Bridge over the Conewango Creek, at the old location, at the foot of Second 
street, provided a sufficient amount can be raised to build said Bridge at the 
foot of said street, said amount to be paid to the Contractor as the work pro- 
gresses." On the 28th of March, 1844, it was enacted "that from and after 
the first day of May next, it shall not be lawful for any hog or swine of any 
age to run at large within the limits of the Borough of Warren." To that time 
it is to be presumed, free and unrestrained, they had rooted and wallowed to 
their hearts' content. 

Fire Department. — For many years Warren, in its ability and state of prep- 
aration to fight fire, was in about the same condition as other country towns at 
an early day — /. e., it had a small hand engine and a few feet of hose, the whole, 
usually, being out of repair when a fire occurred. We have ascertained that 
the borough possessed an engine of the class described in 1848; but there was 
no organized company to man it. This engine, with apparatus, etc., cost 
$1,000. During the year 1853 "Vulcan Fire Company No. 1" was organ- 
ized, of which David Law was mentioned as foreman, and Rufus P. King, 
Richard S. Orr, M. W. Hull, L. Rogers, Julius B. Hall, G. W. King, C. A. 
Horton, and M. D. Waters as among the original members. The German 
residents organized "Rescue I'ire Company No. i" in August, 1859, and an 



Borough of Warren. 353 



engine house was projected during the same year. This company was incor- 
porated by an order of court March 6, 1861, and they continued to render 
efficient service until 1869, when, becoming dissatisfied because the citizens 
seemed disinchned to render assistance either at fires or at any other time, they 
disbanded. The sum of $258, remaining in their treasury, was donated to the 
German Lutheran Church to aid in the purchase of a bell. Then followed 
the organization of" Allegheny Fire Company No. i," and the "Conewango 
Hose Company," about the ist of January, 1870. 

The steam fire engine "R. P. King" was received at Warren in December, 
1873, and the severe trial tests imposed proved to be eminently satisfactory. 
To the department has since been added the serviceable yet elegant apparatus 
manned by " Niagara Hose, No. i," "Watson Hose, No. 2," "Struthers's Inde- 
pendent Hose, No. I," and "Exchange Hook and Ladder, No. i." The mem- 
bers of the department are handsomely uniformed. Commodious quarters for 
the storage of apparatus, etc., are afforded by the borough building, known as 
the Town Hall. 

It is a fact worthy of remark, perhaps, that of all the conflagrations which 
have heretofore raged in the business part of the town, the flames almost with- 
out exception have spent their force upon old buildings, those that could best 
be spared; and in their places have arisen spacious brick structures, with 
modern improvements. 

Warren Academy, and Public Schools. — The famous old academy building, 
so often referred to in the local annals of Warren, was built during the years 
1834-36. It was of brick, and stood upon the southeast corner of High and 
Market streets — beautiful, spacious grounds, since divided into three large lots, 
sold to individuals, and now occupied by private residences. The history of 
the institution briefly told is as follows : 

By an act of the General Assembly, approved April 1 1, 1799, the governor 
was authorized to direct the surveyor-general "to make actual survey of the 
reserved tract of land adjoining the town of Warren, which has not been laid 
out in town or out lots," etc., and providing, further, "that five hundred acres 
of the same be laid off" for the use of such schools and academies as may here- 
after be established by law in said town." Under this act Alexander Mc- 
Dowell, of Franklin, then deputy surveyor-general, surveyed and marked the 
boundaries of the academy lands (lying west of the town and bounded on one 
side by the river), in the summer of 1799. By a legislative enactment, passed 
in 1822, Joseph Hackney, Lothrop S. Parmlee, and Abner Hazeltine were 
named as trustees, who, with their successors in office, to be elected, were to 
assume control of the lands and the academy when built. In 1829 an act was 
passed authorizing the trustees to lease "said 500 acres" (541 acres by correct 
measurement) for a period not to exceed ninety years. Thereupon, during the 
following two or three years, the tract was leased in lots of one hundred acres 



354 History of Warren County. 

each for ninety years, at an annual rental of not much over $ioo for the whole. 
By an act of the State Legislature, passed February 15, 1832, the sum of $2,000 
was appropriated to erect an academy building at Warren. This was followed 
by another act, approved April 8, 1833, which authorized the trustees to erect 
the building on grounds reserved at the laying out of the town for public build- 
ings, and directed that the sum of $2,000 already appropriated be used in the 
construction. This sum was increased to a considerable extent by individual 
subscriptions before the structure was completed. 

Hon. Rasselas Brown, the first principal of the academy, commenced teach- 
ing in the court-house in February, 1836, the academy not yet being ready for 
occupancy, and continued there until June of the same year, when a transfer 
was made to the academy, and its doors were opened for the admission of pu- 
pils for the first time. Judge Brown, then a very young man, continued to 
preside over the academy until 1838, when he retired to engage in the practice 
of law, and was succeeded by W. A. McLean. The latter's successors were 
John Dixon, Cyrus Brown, L. A. Rogers, Charles B. Curtis and a number of 
others. Meanwhile the new Union School building of the borough having been 
completed and provided with a corps of very competent teachers, the now old 
academy fell into disfavor. Free tuition in a fresh, new building, as compared 
with $3.00 per term for the higher branches, and $2.50 per term for common 
studies in a somewhat dilapidated structure, left it almost without patronage ; 
hence its doors were finally closed about the year 1857. It was condemned by 
the grand jury in 1864. An act of Assembly, passed March 22, 1865, author- 
ized the burgess and town council to sell and convey to the highest bidder at 
public sale the lands on which the academy stood, the proceeds of sale to go 
into the borough treasury. Accordingly the square was divided into three lots 
and sold separately August 17, 1865, the sum realized being $5,785. The 
building was purchased by Hon. William D. Brown for $300. 

Of the early history of the common, district, or public schools of Warren 
but little can be said in the entire absence of data, either traditional or authentic. 
We have in another place made mention of the fact that the father of the late 
Hon. Reuben E. Fenton, of New York, taught a school in Warren, in the win- 
ter of 1805-06. Thereafter no other reference or intimation regarding the 
schools or school-houses of the town is made until 1820, when the county com- 
missioners agreed to assist the school committee to " finish building the school- 
house," to the end that courts might be held in the same until a court-house 
could be built. This little school-house stood on the site of the first and of the 
present court-house. It is probable that when the first court-house was com- 
menced, in 1826, the school-house was removed to some resting-place not far 
away, and its use continued for educational purposes, until the building of the 
academy. The latter then became the school-house of the town, for those 
who were able to pay for the instruction of their children. 




(d.C ^^^^^ 



Borough of Warren. 355 



The old part of the present Union School building was built in 1854-56. 
Stephen Carver was the contractor for the stone and brick work, and J. L. 
Kappel for the wood work. The first teachers to preside within its walls were 
Charles Twining, of Lancaster, Pa., principal ; assisted by Miss M. C. Shat- 
tuck, of Groton, Mass., Miss S. E. A. Stebbins, of Clinton, N. Y., Miss Kate 
Miller, of Sugar Grove, Pa., and Miss S. O. Randall, of Warren, Pa. Hon. S. 
P. Johnson stood at the head and front in the movement which led to the 
erection of the building and the securing of the first very excellent corps of 
teachers. The first building cost $7,500, and was completed in December, 
1856. The new structure, which adjoins the one above described, was built 
in 1871 at a cost of $23,000. Together they afford room and educational 
facilities for a large number of bright-faced pupils. Prof A. B. Miller, a vet- 
eran instructor, has been in charge some twelve or fifteen years. His assist- 
ants during the present year are Miss Kate C. Darling, Miss Arline Arnett, 
Miss Carrie W. Coats, Miss Nannie C. Locke, Miss Libbie M. King, Miss Mary 
O. King, Miss Jennie Thomas, Miss Ellen Glenn, Miss Berta Thomas, Miss 
Mary O'Hern, Miss Mary Kopf, Mrs. Blanche Hawkins. At the West End 
school, also under the supervision of Mr. Miller, the assistant teachers are Miss 
Bessie Richards, Miss Mary Conrath, and Miss Laura Snyder. 

Banks. — Tlie Lumbermen s Bank of Warren, the first banking institution 
established in Warren county, was incorporated by an act of the State Legis- 
lature approved February 28, 1834. Robert Falconer, Josiah Hall, Robert 
Russell, Guy C. Irvine, Archibald Tanner, and Robert Miles, all of Warren 
county, were named as commissioners to execute the many provisions of the 
act. With Robert Falconer as president, and Fitch Shepard cashier, the bank 
began business during the same year (1834), with a paid-up capital stock of 
$100,000, divided into shares of $50 each. Subsequently the directors were 
authorized by a legislative act to increase the capital stock to $200,000. Its 
notes were widely circulated, and it transacted a large (and as it was supposed 
very successful) business until 1838, when the financial panic, which swept the 
whole country at that time, caused its sudden collapse and failure. Much of 
Mr. Falconer's private fortune went to swell the aggregate of losses ; besides 
being unjustly censured because of the failure, his proud, honorable, and 
sensitive nature met with such a shock that it gradually destroyed his mind 
and hastened his death. 

The Warren County Bank was chartered by an act of the State Legislature 
passed during the winter of 1852-53. The officers then mentioned were J. Y. 
James, president ; Orrin Hook, Rufus P. King, Thomas Clemons, John N. Miles, 
Myron Waters, and Lewis Arnett, directors. Soon afterwards an installment 
of $5 on each share of the capital stock of $100,000 was paid in. During the 
following winter another legislative act was passed providing that the institu- 
tion should be a bank of issue as well as deposit. All preparations having 



3s6 History of Warren County. 

been completed, the bank opened its doors for the transaction of business dur- 
ing the last days of November, 1854, with J. Y. James, of Warren, officiating 
as president, and Herman~Leonard, of the city of New York, as cashier. Said 
the editor of the Mail under date of November 24, 1854: "To-day (Friday) 

our bank is in the flood tide of operation Certainly there never 

was more need of a Bank here, or a more favorable time for one to commence 
operations, and we hope it may have a long career of usefulness and pros- 
perity." In 1855 a building for the accommodation of the bank was erected. 
Under date of July 30, 1859, we find the following mention of this bank in the 
columns of the Mail : " At the last term of court the Warren County Bank 
was changed to the North Western Bank, and under that name it re-opened 
last Monday. The bills of the old bank are redeemed when presented." From 
this statement it appears that business under the old title had been suspended 
for a time. In March, i860, the officers of the bank were Rasselas Brown, 
president ; John F. Davis, Rasselas Brown, F. Hook, J. Y. James, Carter V. 
Kinnear, Lewis Arnett, Rufus P. King, Carlton B. Curtis, Andrew Hertzel, 
Joseph Hall, George V. N. Yates, Hosea Harmon, and Lewis F. Watson 
directors. In December of the same year it was published as a noteworthy 
fact that all the banks in Western Pennsylvania had suspended, with the 
exception of the old Bank of Pittsbnrgli and the North Western Bank of War- 
ren. The further existence of the latter, however, was destined to be but brief 
in duration; for during the latter part of May, 1862, the North Western Bank 
closed its doors. A day or two later they were reopened and an effort was 
made to redeem hotne circulation, but after two days this plan was abandoned. 
The affairs of the bank were always fairly and honorably conducted in Warren. 
The trouble originated in New York city, where its finances were really con- 
trolled, and where they put into circulation more of the bank's issue than 
could be taken care of at home. 

Private Bankers. — In 1855 Augustus N. Lowry, of Jamestown, N. Y., 
established a private banking office in Warren. In December of the same 
year Chapin Hall, of Warren, also opened a similar establishment in Johnson's 
building, under the title of " C. Hall's Bank." After the failure of the North 
Western Bank Messrs. Beecher & Coleman opened a banking house in their 
hardware store opposite the Carver House, and continued it until the organiza- 
tion of the First National Bank, when their banking business, which had proved 
very satisfactory to the people, was transferred to the new institution. 

The First National Bank of Warren was organized at a meeting of stock- 
holders held at the Carver House on Saturday, August 6, 1864. At this 
meeting the following named gentlemen were elected to serve as directors : 
Chapin Hall, Thomas Struthers, Carlton B. Curtis, William D. Brown, Lewis 
F. Watson, Rasselas Brown, James H. Eddy, S. J. Page, and M. F. Abel. 
Subsequent!)', during the same day, this board of directors elected Chapin Hall 



Borough of Warren. 357 



president, and M. Beecher, jr., cashier. The capital stock of the association 
was fixed at $100,000, in shares of $100 each. During tlw two months which 
immediately followed the date of organization, Messrs. Hall and Beecher were 
actively engaged in collecting subscriptions to the capital stock, investing the 
funds thus obtained in United States bonds, and attending to the many and 
varied details preparatory to opening for business. This event took place on 
Monday, October 10, 1864, in the middle room of Johnson's Exchange block. 
Second street, George W. Tew, of Jamestown, N. Y., officiating as teller. 
The net profits for the first year amounted to $27,022.08, and the total busi- 
ness aggregated $17,655,749.62, being much larger than any year since, owing 
to the enormous sale of government bonds on which were allowed a large pre- 
mium, and the immense purchase and sale of exchange during the great oil 
excitement of 1864—65. Until 1872 the annual sale of drafts averaged over 
$1,500,000, and the paper discounted per annum amounted to $1,000,000. 

In April, 1871, the lot upon which stood the old building of hewn timbers, 
known as early as 18 15 as Dunn's Tavern, was purchased from John F. Davis 
and S. Burgess. The old structure (then the oldest building in the borough) 
was speedily removed, the work of erecting a new bank building commenced, 
and in October, 1872, the handsome edifice now owned by the association was 
completed at a cost, including grounds, of $16,000. 

Of the officers who have been connected with this bank, Mr. Beecher has 
served as cashier from the very beginning of its existence down to the present 
time. Chapin Hall, its first president, continued in office until January 2, 1866, 
when, having sold his stock, he resigned, and was succeeded by L. D. Wet- 
more, esq. The latter continued until July 22, 1871, when he resigned, deem- 
ing himself ineligible by reason of holding the office of president judge of this 
judicial district. Boon Mead was then elected to fill the vacancy and con- 
tinued as president until his death, which occurred August 19, 1880. His 
successor, James H. Eddy, was elected September 6, 1880, and held the posi- 
tion until July 4, 1885, when he resigned. Thereupon Hon. L. D. Wetmore 
was again elected president and has continued to discharge the duties of that 
office to the present writing. Other officers of the bank (1886) are as fol- 
lows : George H. Ames, vice president ; M. Beecher, cashier; F. K. Russell, 
teller; L. D. Wetmore, J. H. Eddy, R. Brown, G. H. Ames, M. Beecher, A. 
T. Scofield, and Mrs. Medora I. Mead, directors. 

The Warren Savi7igs Bank was chartered by an act of the State Legis- 
lature early in 1870. Those named as corporators were Lewis F. Watson, R. 
Brown, O. C. Allen, W. F. Dalrymple, Patrick Falconer, David Beatty, P. J. 
Trushel, J. J. Taylor, B. Nesmith, S. J. Page, O. H. Hunter, J. R. Clark, M. 
Waters, W. W. Wilbur, Richard E. Brown, A. D. Wood, J. H. Nichols, L. B. 
Hoffman, W. H. Shortt, John A. Jackson, and James Kinnear. On the 12th 
of March, 1870, an organization was effected by the election of Lewis F. Wat- 



358 History of Warren County. 

son, O. H. Hunter, B. Nesmith, P. Falconer, O. C. Allen, P. J. Trushel, and 
W. H. Shortt, to serve as directors. Subsequently Lewis F. Watson was 
chosen president of the association, and he has continued to discharge the duties 
of that office to the present time. Business was commenced in the Watson & 
Davis block in April following, George E. Barger officiating as cashier. The 
latter served until February, 1872, when he resigned and was succeeded by A. 
J. Hazeltine, the present efficient incumbent of the office. The bank building 
now occupied was completed in 1876, at a cost of $10,500. 

The officers serving in 1886 are as follows : Lewis F. Watson, president ; 
Benjamin Nesmith, vice-president; A. J. Hazeltine, cashier; George B. Ens- 
worth, teller; Lewis F. Watson, Benjamin Nesmith, James Clark, M. B. Dun- 
ham, O. H. Hunter, A. J. Hazeltine, and L. R. Freeman, directors. 

The Citizens' Saving Bank was organized March 8, 1870. Among its 
stockholders were S. P. Johnson, L. L. Lowry, Boon Mead, Orris Hall, J. A. 
Neill, E. B. Eldred, J. H. Mitchell, R. Brown, L. B. Hoffman, J. R. Clark, R. 
K. Russell, David McKelvy, G. H. Ames, L. D. Wetmore, F. A. Randall, 
and William D. Brown. Of the stockholders named Messrs. Johnson, Lowry, 
Hall, Neill, Clark, McKelvy, and Eldred were chosen directors. L. L. Lowry 
was elected president and H. R. Crowell cashier. This association was not 
chartered. Its place of business was one door west of the Carver House; 
capital $25,000; stockholders individually liable. About the first of May, 
1875, a reorganization took place and the title of the institution was changed 
to the Citizens' National Bank. Its business is transacted in the corner of the 
building known as the Carver House. 

Ma)infactiiring Interests. — Although Warren has never been noted as a 
manufacturing center of unusual importance — indeed, in this respect hardly up 
to the average of towns peopled chiefly, as this was, by New Englanders, New 
Yorkers, and their descendants — yet it has always had its quota of artisans 
skilled in their respective crafts. Among its first residents were blacksmiths, 
shoemakers, tailors, carpenters, stone-masons, millwrights (those who could 
build, repair, and operate water-power grist-mills, saw-mills, etc.), wheelwrights, 
or those who made and repaired spinning-wheels, cabinet-makers, etc. 

In 1829 the only mills within the limits of the town proper were two saw- 
mills and a grist-mill. One of these saw-mills had been built and operated by 
James Stewart for ten years or more prior to the date mentioned. The other 
saw- mill and the grist-mill were more recent acquisitions, having been built 
about the year 1828. Then followed a small tannery, and in 1833 the wool- 
carding and fulling-mills of Hawley & Parker were noted as in operation. 

In the summer of 1851 the old structure known as Stewart's Mills was 
remodeled by W. Y. Kingsbury, for use as a foundry and machine shop. His 
facilities as well as his manufactured products at first were limited, the latter 
being mainly mill-irons, plow-points, and repairing. His iron was brought up 




. r..y- \ 



/3 , /}^U/yyyuyi^ 



Borough of Warren. 359 



the river on flat-boats, and the coal used was hauled from Dunkirk. Subse- 
quently he began the manufacture of stoves. Still later Henry W. Brown 
became associated with him in the business, under the firm name of Kingsbury 
& Brown. In the fall of 1856 this firm completed a foundry, etc., at the lower 
part of the town, at a cost of $6,000. Not long after the completion of this 
building Mr. Kingsbury retired, when Mr. Brown formed a partnership with 
his brothers John and Thomas, and the business was continued under the title 
of Brown Bros. During the year 1864 John and Thomas Brown retired from 
the firm, when another brother, Joseph, became associated with Henry W., 
thus still keeping intact the firm name of Brown Bros. In 1865 the firm em- 
ployed sixty men, and their manufactures consisted of steam engines, circular 
saw-mill and shingle-mill machinery, stoves, plows, castings to order, oil pipe 
and oil tools. 

During the fall of 1868 the successors of Brown Bros. — Brown, Arnett & 
Co., or, in other words, Henry W. Brown, L. W. Arnett, and Thomas Struth- 
ers — completed the quite extensive brick buildings known at that time as the 
"Allegheny Iron Works." The facilities were greatly increased thereby, and 
a still larger number of men were furnished employment. A few minor changes 
occurred during the next seven years, and in 1875 the works passed to the 
control of the firm since and now owning them — Struthers, Wells & Co. 

The " Struthers Iron Works," under this management, have gained a wide 
reputation for the excellence of their products, and their machinery for oil wells, 
saw-mills, and tanneries reaches all sections of the United States, and also finds 
its way into Cuba, Europe, Mexico, and South America. Their specialty, 
however, is oil and gas-well machinery, and the large share of orders assigned 
to this department has frequently forced the management to run overtime. 
They build engines with cylinders from five by ten to thirty by thirty-six 
inches, ranging in horse-power from six to three hundred and fifty, and make 
boilers of any size required. The works are one square in extent, and the 
principal buildings, which are constructed of brick, range from one to three 
stories in height. They are conveniently located for the reception and ship- 
ment of freight — near the junction of the Philadelphia & Erie, Buffalo, New 
York & Philadelphia, and the Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley & Pittsburgh Rail- 
roads — and natural gas is utilized as fuel. Individually speaking, Thomas 
Struthers, J. C. Wells, A. H. McKelvy, and J. P. Jefferson are the men who 
control these works. 

In September, 1856, the sash and door manufactory of B. P. Bell & Co., on 
the " Island," was destroyed by fire. It had just been completed, and the losses 
sustained amounted to about $10,000. 

In July, 1864, the editor of the Mail, in an article on home matters, said: 
"The grist-mill and old saw-mill, owned for several years by Arnett & Orr, 
between the town and island, have been torn away. A new grist-mill is being 



36o History of Warren County. 

erected on the site of the old one, and a new saw-mill and factory will be erected 
where the old saw-mill was built so long ago as 1828. Arnett then (in 1828) 
came to Warren from Alsace, France, and worked on the mill-dam as a day 
laborer. . . . Now he superintends the erection of two mills and a factory 
on the same ground as principal proprietor, besides running one end of the 
Warren County Court." The new mills, and the sash, door and blind manufac- 
tory were completed in the summer of 1865, at a cost of $25,000. James 
Clark, of Warren, superintended the building of the saw-mill and " factory." A 
few weeks after their completion — in September, 1865 — these mills were sold 
by Arnett & Orr(Mrs. Jane Orr) to Boon Mead & IVIcDaniels, for about $50,000. 
The saw-mills, etc., are now owned and extensively operated by the Mr. Clark 
above mentioned, who for many years has been known as one of Warren's 
most active and respected citizens. 

The grist-mill, after some changes in ownership, passed to the control of 
George Ensworth, and while owned by him was burned in the conflagration 
which some four or five years ago again destroyed the " Exchange Row " on 
the south side of Water street. Upon its site was erected in 1882 the structure 
now known as the Warren Flouring Mills, by a company composed of George 
Ensworth (its present manager), S. P. Johnson, Andrew Hertzel, and M. Wa- 
ters. The main building is of brick, 46 by 72 feet in dimensions, and four sto- 
ries and basement in height, to which is added another structure, also of brick 
and the same height, covering grounds 32 by 32 feet in extent. The latest 
designed roller process for the production of the finest grades of flour, two run 
of stones for custom and feed work, etc., are among the equipments of this 
establishment. The machinery is propelled both by water and steam, an eighty 
horse-power Buckeye engine and a boiler of one hundred horse power being 
ready for instant use when the water supply fails. There are facilities for stor- 
ing twenty thousand bushels of grain, and one hundred and fifty barrels of 
merchantable flour, branded as " Conewango," " Snow Flake," and " Patent," 
can be manufactured per day. 

On the island, in the near vicinity of Clark's saw-mill, arc located the build- 
ings devoted to the manufacture of the world-famous remedy known as "Piso's 
Consumption Cure." About the year 1863 Mr. E. T. Hazeltine (then associ- 
ated in business with Hon. S. P. Johnson, under the firm name of Hazeltine & 
Co., druggists, etc.), having learned of some remarkable cures being eftected 
by this remedy, secured the formula and determined to manufacture the medi- 
cine for the general public. He began by preparing a few dozen bottles, and 
offering the same for sale at his drug store. The demand, when once its virtues 
became known, increased rapidly. An adjoining room was rented ; then a 
room on the third floor of the Johnson block. In 1870 the business had 
grown so large that more room was necessary ; hence a factory on the island 
was established, and the facilities increased to one thousand" bottles per hour. 



Borough of Warren. 361 

Since 1872 Mr. Hazeltine has devoted his entire attention to the manufacture 
and sale of Piso's Cure. Like all other proprietary medicines that have been 
made successful, its sale has been extended to every part of the United States 
and Canada by active agents and a constant and judicious use of the news- 
paper columns throughout the country. In 1880 a branch office and laboratory 
was established at Chelmsford, England, thirty miles from London. Mr. Haz- 
eltine personally superintends every department of the business, and has 
invented machinery now capable of filling two thousand bottles per hour. 
He employs altogether about fifty people. He likewise distributes annually 
millions of almanacs which are printed in his establishment. During the past 
year an extensive brick building has been erected, the business demanding a 
still further enlargement in capacity, etc.; and doubtless the production will be 
greatly increased in the near future. 

The very complete and extensive sash, door, and blind manufactory of L. 
D. Wetmore & Co. is situated in the lower part of the town, on and near High, 
Beech and Chestnut streets. The capacity is sufficient for the manufacture of 
150 doors, 150 windows, 40 pairs of blinds, besides large quantities of siding 
and flooring, daily. Their mills, office, dry-kilns and lumber yards cover more 
than four acres of ground, the main building alone, which is fitted with the 
very best of modern machinery, being 192 by 65 feet in dimensions. The 
interior of this building is so arranged that no unnecessary handling of material 
is required; the rough lumber is passed in at one end of the mill, it goes from 
one machine to another, and finally comes out at the other end a finished and 
exact piece of workmanship. During the past year these mills consumed over 
2,000,000 feet of lumber. Large shipments of manufactured products are 
annually made to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, etc., and intermediate 
points, besides supplying a considerable home demand. From fifty to sixty 
men are usually employed. 

Besides H. A. Jamieson's pail and tub factory, James P. Johnson's furni- 
ture manufactory, Philip Leonhart's brewery, the gas works, etc., there are 
other and varied minor manufacturing establishments in the borough, about 
the same as are found elsewhere, which the future chronicler of local events 
can unearth by turning to the directory and newspaper files of the present 
time. 

Merchants. — In preceding pages the names of nearly all who have been 
prominently identified with the mercantile interests of the town, from its first 
settlement until years quite' recent, have been mentioned. Ag a rule the mer- 
chants of Warren, no matter in what department of trade they have been 
engaged, have proved to be men of conscience, conservative, fair, and honor- 
able in their dealings. In the dry goods trade but three failures (one of them 
by a non-resident) have occurred in forty years, and a number of well-known 
citizens laid the foundation of large fortunes while so engaged ; among them 



362 History of Warren County. 

Lewis F. Watson, for twenty-one years a member of the firms of Watson 
& Davis, Watson & Rogers, Watson, Davis & Co., retiring in i860; Ben- 
jamin Nesmith, of the firms of Arnett & Nesmith and Crandall & Nesmith for 
sixteen years, retiring in 1 870; D. M. Gross, of the firm of D. M. Gross & 
Bro. for eleven years, retiring in 1884; M. Waters, as Hunter & Waters for 
four years, and O. H. Hunter, a member of the firms of Baker & Hunter, 
Hunter & Waters, Hunter & Mathews, O. H. Hunter, and O. H. Hunter & 
Son for forty-one years, and still in trade. The names of many others might 
be added, but those mentioned sufficiently illustrate the class of men who 
have heretofore represented the dry goods trade in Warren, in a manner quite 
satisfactory to themselves and their customers. 

Mr. O. H. Hunter, the widely-known dry goods merchant above referred 
to, has had a longer continuous business experience than any other merchant 
in Northwestern Pennsylvania, and possibly in the State. More than forty- 
one years ago, when but a boy, he commenced business here. He has con- 
tinued with varying success until the present, and now stands at the head of 
an extensive dry goods establishment, employing a large number of salesmen 
and women, the annual sales of which would be creditable to houses in any of 
our cities. He has seen Warren grow from a small hamlet to a populous 
town, containing among its residents a larger proportion of wealthy men than 
any other place of its size in Pennsylvania. 

Among the other leading merchants now engaged in business in the bor- 
ough are David Shear, a popular and heavy dealer in dry goods, etc., who 
with his brother succeeded an old firm in 1882; George L. Friday, C. P. 
Henry, George P. Orr & Co., Messner & Kopf, and J. J. Taylor & Co., 
grocers ; Johnson & Siegfried, A. W. Morck, and Richard R. Stewart, drug- 
gists ; Christian Smith, C. P. Northrop, and Offerlee & Son, boot and shoe 
dealers; Beecher & Copeland, and H. A. Jamieson & Co., dealers in hardware 
and oil-well supplies ; Morck Bros., and Wyman & Davis, jewelers, etc. ; George 
Ball, for many years an extensive dealer in clothing, custom work, etc. ; Jacob 
Keller, J. K. Ronne, C. and J. F. Retterer, merchant tailors, and A. A. Davis 
& Co., books, stationery, etc. 

Physicians. — Abraham Hazeltineand Thomas Huston were the first phy- 
sicians to reside and practice here of whom we have authentic data. Both 
were here as early as 1828. The latter remained but two or three years. Dr. 
Hazeltine, however, continued for a decade or more. He as well as Abner 
Hazeltine, esq., the first lawyer to locate in Warren, were representatives of 
the family of that name, which for three-quarters of a century has been so 
prominently identified with the history of Warren, Pa., and Jamestown, N. Y., 
all being descendants of a Vermont family of sterling worth, \\hich traces its 
origin back to the Pilgrim fathers and beyond. 

Then came Dr. Parker from Vermont, about 1832, closely followed by Dr. 




O^U^U-^^^^i^c/^i- 



/^ 



Borough of Warren. 363 



Henry Sargent, a native of New Hampshire, in 1833. Next in order came 
Dr. D. V. Stranahan, a native of Columbia, Herkimer county, N. Y. He be- 
gan the study of medicine with Dr. Sargent in 1833, graduated at the Fairfield 
Medical Institute in 1835, commenced to practice his profession in Warren in 
1840, and died here May 19, 1873. Dr. G. A. Irvine died in Warren in Feb- 
ruary, 1867. It was then stated that he had resided in the county thirty years 
and in the borough twenty-five years. He was a skillful physician, an accom- 
plished gentleman, the possessor of decided abilities, and enjoyed the respect 
and esteem of all who knew him.^ 

Dr. S. A. Robinson, it appears, who came to Warren in the fall of 1858, 
was its first homoeopathic practitioner. Dr. B. G. Keyes, of the same mode of 
practice, came in the autumn of 1859. Since that time many changes have 
occurred ; but the trails of those who have come and gone are considered too 
intricate to be followed. 

A County Medical Association was organized at Warren May 31, 1871, and 
a constitution, by-laws, medical code of ethics, and fee-bill adopted. The offi- 
cers then elected were D. V. Stranahan, president ; William V. Hazeltine and 
A. C. Blodget, vice-presidents ; H. L. Bartholomew, recording and correspond- 
ing secretary; C. H. Smith, treasurer; J. L. Burroughs, H. C. Daveny, and R. 
C. Sloan, censors. 

The physicians now in practice in the borough are William V. Hazeltine, 
W. M. Baker, H. L. Bartholomew, D. V. Stranahan, Richard B. Stewart, J. M. 
Davies (homceopathic), W. S. Fierce, E. D. Preston (homoeopathic), F. C. 
Stranahan, and F. W. Whitcomb. 

H0TEL.S, Taverns, etc. — Daniel Jackson, sr., was the first to receive a license 
to keep an inn in the town of Warren, and when this privilege was granted 
him, in 1806, he was the only licensed " mine host" in the eastern half of the 
county. In the western half at the same time Giles White was the only one 
lawfully entitled to dispense liquors and entertain the public as a tavern-keeper. 
Jackson had no opposition in town until about 1815, when Henry Dunn opened 
a tavern on the site of the First National Bank, in a house built of hewn tim- 
bers. In 1819 the third hostelry was opened by Ebenezer Jackson (son of 
Daniel), in a frame house which stood on the Carver House corner. 

Some five or six years later Archibald Tanner, having gained a firm foot- 
ing here and amassed some surplus capital, erected a row of buildings — small 
frame houses mainly — extending from Daniel Jackson's tavern to the site of a 
structure now occupied by F. R. Scott's book- store and G. W. Cogswell's meat 
market. On the grounds last described Tanner built a frame house intended 
for the entertainment of the public. It was the famous old " Mansion House," 

1 When this paragraph was written we unintentionally omitted mention of Dr. H. S. Newman, who 
it is believed settled in Warren prior to either Hazeltine or Huston. His wife died and was buried 
here in July, 1827, and he was still numbered among the resident taxables in 1833. 
24 



364 History of Warren County. 

and it was first opened for business about 1826, by William Pierpont. His 
successor a year or so later was Joseph Hackney. After various changes in its 
management, this stand finally passed to the control of Richard S. Orr. It 
was a low, rambling, story-and-a-half structure, with no pretensions to elegance ; 
but " Dick " Orr, in southern parlance, made a " heap of money " in it, and it 
is said dispensed more " hard licker " within its walls than the combined output 
of all his predecessors and contemporaries in the business, from 1806 down to 
the time of his retirement. Old Guy Irvine, and other coarse-grained and bel- 
ligerent lumbermen and raftsmen, frequently " made things howl " around the 
Mansion House; but the able and good-natured proprietor was equal to the 
emergency, and would soon bring order out of chaos. But few landlords on 
earth, probably, have ever been bothered with a customer more unreasonable, 
noisy, bulldozing and murderously inclined than were those of Warren with 
old Guy Irvine when he was loaded with " Old Monongahela." By his own 
exertions and the driving of those in his employ he amassed considerable 
wealth in the lumber business, and his money gave him some standing in the 
community. Occasionally he was given to generous, commendable acts. 
Nevertheless he was naturally coarse and brutal, and withal seemed proud of 
the reputation he had gained — the power to intimidate and terrorize the timid 
and peacefully inclined when within reach of his arm. He has long since 
passed beyond the line dividing the known from the unknown ; but his reputa- 
tion, traits of character, etc., still linger on this side. 

The Mansion House was closed as a tavern about 1856, when its lower 
rooms were utilized as stores, shops, etc. It was finally destroyed in the con- 
flagration which swept that part of the street in March, 1869 Surmounting 
its low, broad roof was a quaint-looking bell-tower in which swung a bell. This 
bell was transferred to the " Tanner House " — the Falconer stone building 
nearly opposite the court-house — in 1859, when Editor Cowan indulged in 
some facetious reminiscences concerning it, as follows : " Who has not heard of 
the old Mansion House bell of Warren ? For many long years it was the reg- 
ulator of the town. The sleepy heads couldn't get up in the morning till the 
bell rung, and sometimes not then. The cook couldn't set the dinner on until 
she heard its familiar clang. The boys couldn't quit work for meals until the 
bell turned on its old wooden wheel and told them the glad hour had come. 
If tlie clock ran down in the cold night it couldn't be got right until the bell 
rung. Then it was all right again, for didn't everybody go by the bell, and 
didn't the bell go by Bennett, and didn't Bennett go by the sun ? Yea, verily, 
and let him dispute the tell-tale rattle of the old bell who dare ! A watch 
wasn't good for anything if it didn't agree with the bell. A clock was forth- 
with dismantled if it varied a hair from that standard. If we had a jollification, 
felt merry and all got drunk, forthwith the old bell echoed our joy in merry 
peals from hill to hill. If the shrill, startling cry of fire went up from any part 



Borough of Warren. 365 

of town, forthwith the old Mansion House bell re-echoed the cry in tones that 
roused us like a signal gun." 

The building known as the Carver House was commenced in 1S48, and 
was first opened for the entertainment of the public in March, 1849. It has 
ever since enjoyed the distinction of being termed the leading hotel of the 
town. John H. Hull, its first proprietor and manager, continued in charge 
until January i, 1857, when he leased it or gave way to N. Eddy & Son. In 
February, 1859, Mr. Hull again assumed control, and remained until Decem- 
ber, 1864, when M. W. Hull and J. B. Hall made their bows to the public as 
proprietors. An addition, sixty-five by forty feet, three stories in height, with 
an entrance on Hickory street, was commenced by Mr. Hull, its owner, in the 
summer of 1865. In April, 1867, J. B. Hall, having purchased the interest of 
his partner, M. W. Hull, became sole proprietor. Williams & Scott assumed 
control in September, 1871, and in September, 1873, Myron Waters became 
the owner of the property by the payment of $20,000. Of the changes in 
ownership to this time we have no knowledge ; hence, where the term proprie- 
tor is used, as above, it refers to those who presided over its management, 
either as lessees or owners. Mr. Waters improved and enlarged the building 
to a great extent, and while owned by him it was leased and managed by dif- 
ferent parties until about 1882, when Mrs. C. W. King, its present proprietress^ 
became the owner by purchase. Under her control, assisted by her son the 
ever gentlemanly George W., and B. H. Johnson, the active, watchful man- 
ager, the Carver House has gained an enviable reputation far and near. 
Its furnishings are first class, and kept scrupulously clean and in order. Its 
table d'hote is always well spread with tempting viands, game, fruits and veg- 
etables in season, and last but not least, its employees are quiet, polite, and 
prompt in the performance of their duties. 

The Exchange Hotel, under the management of George H. Leonhart, a 
life-long and highly respected citizen of the county, and the Warren House, 
H. Buss, proprietor, are the only hotels, other than the Carver House, in the 
business part of the town. The buildings occupied are of brick, comparatively 
new, well appointed throughout, and both are extensively patronized. 

Secret Associations. — North Star Lodge No. 241, F. and A. AT., was 
chartered December 3, 1849. Its first principal officers were Joseph Y. James, 
W. M.; Henry Sergent, S. W.; Gilman Merrill, J. W. Those now officiating 
in these positions are James Cable, W. M.; Nelson Moore, S. W.; and Albert 
W. Rj'an, J. W. The lodge has a present membership of about one hundred 
and fifty. 

Occidental H. R. A., Chapter No. 235, was instituted August 17, 1871, with 
the following officers: Henry S. Getz, M. E. H. P.; D. M. Williams, king; 
George Hazeltine, scribe ; John H. Hull, treasurer ; Stephen Carver, secretary. 
The present officers are Nelson Moore, M. E. H. P. ; Willis M. Baker, K. ; Al- 



366 History of Warren County. 

bert W. Ryan, scribe ; Andrew Hertzel, treasurer ; Robert \V. Teese, secretary. 
Its members are about one hundred in number. 

Warren Conimandery No. 63, K. T., was organized May 27, 1885. The 
first officers were Caleb C. Thompson, E. C; Clarence E. Corbett, generalissimo; 
John M. Clapp, captain-general; O. W. Beatty, treasurer; George L. Friday, 
recorder. Those now serving are Clarence E. Corbett, E. C. ; Nelson Moore, 
G. ; George L. Friday, C. G. ; O. W. Beatty, treasurer ; William A. Talbott, 
recorder. The knights are about seventy in number. 

JVarrcH Lodge No. 339, /. 0. O. F., was organized in a hall which then 
included part of the third story of the Carver House, February 27, 1849. The 
first officers were John A. Hall, N. G. ; J. Warren Fletcher, V. G.; A. J. Davis, 
secretary, and Stephen Carver, treasurer. The lodge started with a member- 
ship (including charter members and those initiated during the first meeting) of 
about twenty-five. Their hall was dedicated June 26, 185 1. In 1852-53 there 
were nearly two hundred members in good standing. Thereafter for some 
years many seem to have become lukewarm in Odd Fellowship and gradually 
dropped out. Of late, however, the membership has increased, and now num- 
bers about one hundred and forty. To the old steadfast members of this lodge 
is due the credit of establishing the Oakland Cemetery, and hastening the 
building of the suspension bridge. The present officers are A. M. Rogers, N. 
G.; Frank Werey, V. G.; A. S. Dalrymple, secretary; P. E. Sonne, assistant 
secretary; George H. Ames, treasurer; R. P. King, C. C. Thompson, and J. 
P. Johnson, trustees. 

Kossiitk Encatnptncnt No. 98 was instituted in 1 850. Its present officers 
are F. K. Johnson, C. P.; J. P. Johnson, H. P.; S. E. Walker, S. M.; Frank 
Werey, J. W.; Dwight Cowan, scribe; George H. Ames, treasurer; R. P. King, 
W. C. Allan, and C. C. Thompson, trustees. 

Warren Lodge No. 481, K. of P., was instituted April 21, 1882, by Thomas 
Ij. Sample, D. D. G. C. The officers first installed were John C. Fuelhart, P. 
C; Harrison Allen, C. C; George H. Leonhart, V. C; Christian Arnold, P.; 
V. Meek, M. at A.; C. A. Richardson, K. of R. & S.; Peter Greenlund, M. 
of F.; E. F. Hodges, M. of E.; George Bradenbaugh, I. G.; A. Carroll, O. G.; 
G. C. James, C. P. Northrop, and John Graham, trustees. J. C. Fuelhart, who 
died in November, 1885, was the first representative to the grand lodge. The 
present officers are Richard B. Stewart, P. C; S.J. Martin, C. C; A. J. Heibel, 
P.; John H. Sandstrom, M. at A.; E. J. Phillips, I. G.; Jacob Hartman, O. G.; 
Peter Greenlund, M. of E.; J. R. Bairstow, M. of F.; W, Corwin, K. of R. & S.; 
George Ball, John H. Sandstrom, and A. Mull, trustees. L. T. Bishop was 
the last representative at the grand lodge and was then elected grand inner 
guard. On the loth of August, 1886, Uiiiforin Rank No. 24, K. of P., was 
instituted in Warren Lodge, of which L. T. Bishop is the chief officer. It has 
thirtv-two members. 



Borough of Warren. 367 



Eben N. Ford Post No. 336, Dept. of Pa., G. A. R., was organized with 
twenty-seven charter members June 24, 1883. The first officers were G. W. 
Kinnear, commander; D. W. C. James, S. V. C; John Rowland, J. V. C; 
George W. Cogswell, surgeon ; Fred Baltzinger, Q. M.; C. A. Waters, O. of 
D.; W. H. Taylor, adjt; S. M. Cogswell, Q. M. S.; C. A. Still, sergt-maj.; 
Theodore Bach, chaplain ; James A. Mair, O. of G. 

The members now in good standing are one hundred and sixty-three in 
number. They have pleasant rooms, where regular meetings are held every 
Thursday evening. The members of this post are noted for their thorough 
and very appropriate manner of annually observing Decoration Day, also for 
their promptness in extending a helping hand to needy comrades and their 
families. Charity, however, is one of the cardinal principles upon which 
the grand association is built. None respect a soldier's reputation or revere 
his memory as do soldiers, and none are so prompt to respond to an appeal for 
aid from an unfortunate comrade as they, no matter whether the giver or 
recipient belongs to the Grand Army or not. The ties, thoughts, and impulses 
born in bivouac, on the march, or on the field of battle are beyond the ken, the 
comprehension of simple mortals whose cheeks have never been fanned by an 
enemy's gun or its missiles. 

The present officers of the post are S. H. Davis, commander ; Ameriah 
Cook, S. V. C; John Rowland, J. V. C; Dr. H. L. Bartholomew, surgeon; 
W. J. Alexander, chaplain; W. H. Taylor, adjutant; J. J. Leonhart, quarter- 
master; John Townley, O. of D.; R. H. Smith, O. of G.; C. A. Waters, sergt- 
maj.; John Knupp, Q. M.-sergt. 

Laban Lodge No. 52, K. of H., named in honor of Laban Hazeltine, the 
originator of the lodge, was organized March 4, 1875. The officers then in- 
stalled were Laban Hazeltine, dictator; J. H. Bowman, V. D.; Monroe Hall, 
ass't D.; W. P. Lightner, reporter; P. J. Bayer, financial reporter; J. C. Wells, 
treasurer; Henry P. Hunter, sentinel; A. Merrill, guide. This lodge has paid 
out, to the present writing, the sum of $12,000, for the benefit of widows and 
orphans of deceased members. The present members are about sixty in num- 
ber, of whom the following are serving as officers: C. T. Boberg, D.; J. J. Ar- 
nold, V. D.; W. S. Leffiird, R.; J. Danforth, F. R.; F. K. Russell, treasurer; 
Dr. W. M. Baker, examining physician. 

Besides the associations above named there are several others in Warren 
of varied titles and aims, not of much importance, however, to the general 
reader. 

MiLlT.\RV Company. — Company I, of the Sixteenth Regiment N. G. State 
of Pennsylvania, we had nearly forgotten. It is composed of an exceptionally 
fine-looking body of men, and completely uniformed and equipped, can be 
placed in line ready for active service at thirty minutes' notice. Its officers are 
John M. Siegfried, captain ; F. M. Knapp, first lieutenant ; George H. Hamil- 



368 History of Warren County. 

* 

ton, second lieutenant. Of its civil officers, George N. Frazine is president ; 
Homer J. Muse, secretary ; F. M. Knapp, treasurer. 

Cemeteries, etc. — At the dedication of Oakland Cemetery, October I2, 
1863, Hon. S. P. Johnson delivered the principal address. His somewhat lengthy 
article indicated much thought and research, and was considered to be quite 
correct ; hence, from it we have selected the following paragraphs. We do 
not quote the judge literally, but close enough to render necessary the use of 
quotation marks : 

" For several years after the first settlement of Warren, tradition furnishes no 
history of schools, places of holding religious worship, or burial grounds. No 
common place of burial had been selected, yet scattered graves were visible along 
the river side. Some time prior to 1 8 1 o, however, a retired acre had been selected 
and set apart on the farm of Daniel Jackson as a habitation for the dead. Here 
the first settler in Warren, John Gilson, was laid March 12, 181 1 ; but to the grief 
of his descendants his location is lost. In death as in life, he has around him 
many of his contemporaries, among them Jackson, Dougherty, McKinney, and 
Henry Dunn. Here were interred the dead from Warren and the surround- 
ing country, down to 1823 ; but no head-stones or monuments were erected to 
mark their several resting places. The first memorial placed there was in 1839, 
at the grave of Sidney N. Berry. It consists of the stone by which he was 
killed at the Warren bridge, and, in the true spirit of monumental history, con- 
tains a record of that event. This yard is still used by several families on both 
sides of the Conewango, and a number of grave-stones have since been erected. 

" In the spring of 1823 two lots in the town plot, near the bank of the Con- 
ewango, containing two-thirds of an acre, were selected and purchased by the 
people of Warren for a burial ground. It was then sufficiently rural and re- 
mote from the actual residences of the few settlers who lived along the river 
bank. In April of that year a portion of this ground was hurriedly cleared off 
to make room for the last tenement of its first tenant, Mrs. Patience, widow of 
John Gilson, who died April 4 of that year, aged seventy years ; the pioneer 
of the dead to this new settlement, as she had been to the living in the local 
history of Warren. 

" The ground had been purchased by subscription, and a ' bee ' was made 
to clear it. Among the workers was one P21i Granger, an early settler, and 
prior to 1807 one of the proprietors of the property afterwards known as Hook's 
Mill. In a fit of simulated merriment he selected a spot under a hickory in 
the northwest corner, where he desired to be buried, and especially charged 
Judge Hackney and Zachariah Eddy with the execution of this request. A 
few weeks later he was drowned in the Conewango, and was buried in his 
chosen spot, the second body deposited in the new ground. 

"As no record of interments was kept, it is impossible to ascertain after the 
lapse of so many years the date or order of burials there, except as indicated 



Borough of Warren. 369 



by the few head-stones erected by surviving friends, in spite of the absence of 
both marble and marble-cutters. 

" Guided by these primitive monuments, it is ascertained that the body of 
Caleb Wallace, shot by Jacob Hook, on the 25th day of March, 1824, was the 
next one there deposited. A large native stone at the head of his grave has 
been rehearsing that melancholy occurrence for nearly forty years to all the 
passers-by, and is yet read by many with unabated interest. 

" Next in the order of deceased adults is Margaretta, wife of Archibald Tan- 
ner, who died January 28, 1825, aged twenty-five years; and next to her in 
time, Climena, the wife of David Mead, aged twenty-four years. Harvey 
Jones, who died May i, 1826, aged forty-three, is the next whose record is 
preserved ; and after him Sarah D., the wife of Dr. H. S. Newman, who died 
July 30, 1827. The inscriptions recording these deaths were all cut upon rude 
stones native to the soil. 

" During the same five years two similar memorials of parental aft'ection, 
with tender and touching inscriptions, were placed over the graves of two in- 
fants — one of Dr. Newman, close to its loving mother, and the other of Ethan 
and Matilda Owen. Close beside the latter, whose age was but five weeks, is 
a marble stone that records the death of John Owen, in 1843, a Revolutionary 
soldier, aged one hundred and seven years ten months and eight days, thus 
presenting in strong contrast the extremes of age at which the insatiate archer 
seeks his prey in the same family. 

" In about thirty years this two-thirds of an acre became filled so that it 
should have been entirely abandoned, when the two lots adjoining on the west 
were appropriated to burial purposes. About this time (1853) the idea of 
procuring new ground beyond the borough limits was generally adopted. Hence, 
for ten years the question was held in suspense ; at one time the town council 
took the enterprise in hand, but after three years it came to naught — died still- 
born. In i860 a company of gentlemen were incorporated by the court of 
this county, called the 'Warren Cemetery Company.' By this company, as 
well as by the town council and many private citizens whose zeal and public 
spirit would give the project no rest, every hill and dale, every mountain top 
and valley for miles around Warren was traversed, examined, and discussed. 
Indeed, upon the hill north of Warren considerable work was done, to make 
it accessible and adapt it to the purpose, by Mr. Tanner. 

" In this, as in most other public improvements affecting the interests of 
Warren, Mr. Tanner was the pioneer. But with his decease, and burial upon 
his own chosen ground, that enterprise terminated." 

At length Warren Lodge No. 339, I. O. O. F., stepped to the front, and 
as a result "Oakland Cemetery" was dedicated October 12, 1863. It has 
since been beautified with a display of much good taste, and contains many 
handsome monuments. Nearly all of the bodies interred in the grounds opened 
for such purposes in 1823 have since been transferred to " Oakland." 



370 History of Warren County. 



The Odd Fellows purchased forty-eight acres from Thomas Struthers, May 
14, 1863, for the sum of $2,100; the lands being deeded to John F. Davis, 
Charles S. Hessel, S. V. Davis, and their successors " in trust." Soon after 
two or three acres were purchased from the Biddle estate for a necessary front- 
age. The Odd Fellows began to improve the grounds in July, 1863. After 
the dedication lots were taken rapidly, and by the ist of May following $900 
had been returned to their treasury. About 1873-74 fifteen acres more were 
added. Thus this beautiful plot now contains nearly seventy acres. The soil is 
dry, underlaid by gravel. 

The Catholics of this parish also ha\'e beautiful and extensive burial grounds 
here immediately adjoining " Oakland." 

ReligioU-S Societies. — Tlic First Presbyterian Church. — There was no 
religious worship held statedly in Warren previous to the year 18 19. Occa- 
sionally Methodist itinerant preachers had held services at various places in 
the town and vicinity ; but there was no religious organization of any kind in 
the place. In 1819, Abner — afterward Judge — Hazeltine took up his residence 
in Warren. He had been in the habit of regularly attending worship at his 
former home in Vermont in the Congregational Church, and finding a number 
of persons here who had been accustomed to a similar attendance either upon 
Congregational or Presbyterian service in their old homes, he invited them to 
attend worship at his house every Sabbath, when he would read them a sermon. 
His invitation was accepted, and thereafter such services were held regularly 
until the school-house was built, on the site now occupied by the court-house, 
when the members of this little band removed their place of worship into the 
new building. 

In 1822 the Rev. Amos Chase, a missionary under the Presbytery of Erie, 
came, and formed out of this nucleus what was termed the First Presbyterian 
Church of Warren. It consisted originally of nine members — viz., Abner 
Hazeltine and Polly his wife. Colonel J. M. Berry and Eunice his wife, Samuel 
Oldham — who was in the employ of the Pittsburgh Synod as teacher of the 
Indians at Cornplanter town — John Andrews, Mrs. Rose Eddy, Mrs. Margaret 
Hackney, and Mrs. Amelia Winter, all of whom except the last-named were 
received by letter. Only five of these members lived in Warren — John An- 
drews, Abner Hazeltine and wife, Mrs. Hackney, and Mrs. Eddy. Mrs. Win- 
ter resided at what is now North Warren, on a part of the farm now occupied 
by the asylum for the insane; Colonel Berry and wife lived at Irvine's Mills, 
and Mr. Oldham at Cornplanter, fourteen miles up the river. This organiza- 
tion was not properly a church, having only one officer, a secretary, Abner 
Hazeltine, who remained in that position until he removed from Warren in 
1823. The society was reported to the Presbytery of Erie, however, and 
enrolled under its care, and supplied now and then with preaching. In 1824 
the organization was completed by the election of two elders, Nathaniel Sill 



Borough of Warren. 371 



and Colonel Berry. The first pastor was the Rev. Nathan Harned, who had 
been regularly educated for the ministry in the Baptist Church, but upon 
changing his doctrinal views and uniting with the Presbyterian Church, had 
been licensed by the Presbytery of Philadelphia. On the 20th of April, 1825, 
he was ordained and installed as pastor of the churches of Sugar Grove, Bro- 
kenstraw, and Warren, at a meeting of the Presbytery which was held at War- 
ren. On this occasion the Rev. Samuel Tait preached the sermon, and the Rev. 
Amos Chase made the ordaining prayer and gave the charges to both pastor and 
people. Mr. Harned must have been deemed rather impulsive by Mr. Chase, 
for in his charge the latter emphatically exclaimed : " Be discreet, you Nathan ! 
I charge you, be discreet." The extent and laboriousness of this field made 
it necessary for this relation, harmonious though it was, to be dissolved in the 
following May. During his brief ministry, however, Mr. Harned had organ- 
ized a Sabbath-school — a work in which he was greatly assisted by Cyrus 
Tanner and Colonel Berry. In 1829 what was known as "the accommoda- 
tion plan " was adopted by the church. The congregation was made up in 
great part of those who had been Congregationalists, and naturally a desire 
was entertained for the ecclesiastical government to which they had been accus- 
tomed ; and in deference to their wishes this plan was adopted, in which Con- 
gregational and Presbyterian forms were combined. The articles were drawn 
up by Thomas Struthers, esq., at the request of Nathaniel Sill, Colonel Berry, 
and others. The pulpit was supplied by ministers who were engaged tempo- 
rarily to fill it, and in their absence by laymen who read sermons. Under 
this form of government Silas Lacy and John Hackney were made deacons in 
1829, and the membership increased until in 1831 it numbered twenty-six per- 
sons. In that year a Rev. Mr. Coleman, of the Congregational persuasion, 
officiated for a short time ; and it was during his term of service that, at the 
solicitation of Cyrus Tanner, Rev. Samuel Orton, the then noted evangelist, 
visited the church in company with the Rev. Mr. Jones, of Mayville, N. Y., 
and held continuous services for two weeks. The result of this revival was 
most gratifying. Forty-two members were added to the church, and immedi- 
ately after, as a further result, the project of building a house of worship was 
started, and finally carried out. It was a wooden structure, surmounted by a 
cupola and bell, containing four pews and forty-six slips, besides a gallery on 
three sides, and a basement. The church was entered through a vestibule 
running the entire width of the church, reached from the outside by a flight of 
steps. The seats faced the two entrance doors, between which stood the pul- 
pit, quite high, after the fashion of that day, and surrounded on three sides by 
a space inclosed by a low railing. The building occupied the same site cov- 
ered by the present Presbyterian Church. The credit of pushing along this 
work is officially ascribed to Archibald Tanner. The frame was erected by 
George Snapp, and the structure finished by Archibald Skinner, almost without 



372 ' History of Warren County. 

aid. To this fact it is no doubt owing that, although the church was begun in 
1 83 1, it was not dedicated until the early winter of 1833. At this time the 
Rev. John McNair had recently succeeded Mr. Stone, and by him the dedica- 
tion was performed. The trustees of the property were Robert Miles, Warren 
L. Adams, and Samuel Graham. The expense of building the house of wor- 
ship was met by the sale of pews and slips. In 1835 a call was extended to 
Rev. Absalom McCready, a member of the Presbytery of Erie, to succeed Mr. 
McNair. Mr. McCready began at once upon the work of the new position, 
though he did not officially accept the call until 1837, on the 12th of April of 
which year he was duly installed. In the mean time the church had become 
dissatisfied with the "accommodation plan," resulting as it did in interminable 
contentions, and in 1836 it was abandoned and the association was reorganized 
as a Presbyterian Church, and the reorganization approved by the Presbytery 
at a meeting held in Meadville on the i ith of May. In this reorganization the 
elders elect were Silas Lacy and John Hackney, the former of whom lived at 
Sheffield, fifteen miles away, and who walked that distance to attend divine 
worship on Sabbath. In October, 1839, the pastoral relation of Mr. McCready 
with the church having been dissolved, the Rev. E. C. McKinney was procured 
as stated supply. The month following, an election for an additional elder 
was held ; but as no candidate received a majority of votes cast, it was post- 
poned indefinitely. The existing session, though small, was not idle, for at a 
single meeting five cases for discipline were presented : Two for intemperance, 
one for dancing, and two for neglect of ordinances. In the early history of 
the church, both before and after this date, the discipline was more rigidly 
enforced than now, and that was made matter of discipline which is now toler- 
ated. In 1 84 1 Mr. McKinney was succeeded by the Rev. Hiram Eddy, as 
stated supply for one year, at a salary of $500. Mr. Eddy was connected 
with the Congregational Association of Connecticut, but upon the request of 
the church unhesitatingly united with the Presbytery of Erie. On the i8th 
of January following the church adopted a constitution, under which, upon ap- 
plication of a committee, consisting of Lansing Wetmore and S. P. Johnson, it 
was duly incorporated by the Court of Common Pleas for Warren county, on 
the 23d of March, 1842. The trustees named in this instrument were Lansing 
Wetmore, T. F. Parker, Archibald Tanner, J. D. Summerton, and Aaron S. 
Parmlee. On the i6th of July following this board was organized by the elec- 
tion of Dr. T. F. Parker as president, and A. S. Parmlee as clerk. During the 
fall of 1842 the church was visited with a fruitful revival, which resulted in the 
addition to it of fifty-three members, and an increased interest in the work. 
An election for elders soon after the arrival of Mr. Eddy resulted in the choice 
of Isaac S. ICddy, Archibald Tanner, and Eben Ewell ; and another, immedi- 
ately after the revival, in that of James Osgood and Lansing Wetmore. 

The Rev. John Smith, tlie successor of Mr. Eddy, was installed on the 2Sth 



Borough of Warren. 373 

of January, 1846. Within two years, at his own request, the pastoral relation 
was dissolved, August 11, 1847. At this time the Rev. Miles T. Merwin was 
pastor of the church at Irvine, and was invited to supply the pulpit of this 
church in connection with his own, which he did, residing at Warren and 
preaching every Sabbath morning. While he officiated, the Sabbath-school, 
which, it has been said, " had died out from lack of wood and superintendents," 
was revived, the new superintendent being E. Cowan, and its teachers being all 
women. During Mr. Merwin's ministry the records of the church, session, and 
trustee books and papers concerning the building of the church and sale of 
pews, were irrecoverably lost. At a congregational meeting held April I, 
1850, it was resolved " That the Rev. John Sailor be invited to abide with and 
preach for us a year, in consideration of which the trustees be recommended 
to assume and promise to pay him $400 a year — provided a sufficient sum 
shall be raised upon subscription to justify their doing so." Mr. Sailor was 
thereupon engaged in accordance with this resolution. His ministry of five 
years was eventful, and was disturbed by a temporary schism — if such a 
phrase be admissible — concerning the ownership and right of disposition of 
pews and slips, which seriously affected the growth of the church, and the 
Christian zeal of the members of the community. 

On the 29th of August, 1855, at his own request, Mr. Sailor was dismissed 
from the pastorate, though he continued to occupy the pulpit for some time. 
After his departure the pulpit was long supplied by occasional preaching or 
the reading of a sermon by one of the lay members. 

On the 5th of February, 1856, a call was made out to the Rev. C. L. He- 
quembourg, who had been dismissed from the Ontario (new school) Presby- 
tery, and had not united with any other. At this time it was said that he 
intended to unite with the presbytery with which this church was connected, 
and he began his pastoral duties here when this was the prevalent impression. 
The bitterness of feeling engendered between the members of the church in 
former years had not, apparently, abated, and the new pastor was confronted 
with unpleasant difficulties in the way of harmony. This bitterness was not 
allayed by his sermons and discourses, if record and tradition may be trusted, 
for he was accused of preaching and avowing heretical opinions, which elicited 
explicit and determined protests from members of the church and session. 
The matter ended in litigation, the circumstances of which are too multifarious 
to be detailed here. It is stated that the unfortunate division of the church 
was due far more to the unhappy occurrences of other days than to the undue 
independence of Mr. Hequembourg, who was a man of high scholarship and 
warm heart. His successor in the pastorate was Rev. Robert Taylor. His 
relations with the church were most pleasant and profitable, though they were 
cut short in about one year, as Mr. Taylor was dismissed upon his own request, 
to accept another call, on the 26th of September, 1862. His successor, the 



374 History of Warren County. 

Rev. Dr. Hamilton, was invited on the 29th of July, 1863, to supply the pulpit 
for one year, and received a regular call to become the pastor on the i ith of 
January, 1864, in consequence of which and his acceptance he was installed 
on the 1 2th of May, 1864. This promising relation was cut short by the 
unhappy deposition of Dr. Hamilton from the gospel ministry. For about two 
years the church was then without a pastor, during which it was supplied by 
several ministers. The project of building a new church had been pushed for- 
ward for several years, and in this interim H. A. Jamieson was appointed by 
the trustees to solicit subscriptions for that purpose. On the 2 1st of March, 
1866, a resolution was passed by the trustees "that a new church edifice be 
built the present season, and that the plan submitted by S. G. Hoxie be 
adopted." On the 29th of the following August the corner-stone of the present 
edifice was laid. A week previous to this resolution a call had been extended 
to the Rev. W. A. Rankin, which was allowed to lie for a time in his hands for 
consideration, though in the mean time he was engaged to supply the pulpit 
and began his labors on the ist of May, 1866. He subsequently accepted the 
call and served the church until his successor, the present pastor. Rev. Perry 
S. Allen, was called. Mr. Allen was installed on the 7th of May, 1883. 
During the early part of Mr. Rankin's pastorate the church edifice was com- 
pleted at a cost of $26,000 (dedicated May 23, 1867), and a parsonage pur- 
chased and a fine pipe organ procured. 

At the installation of the Rev. Perry S. Allen the Rev. W. A. Rankin 
preached the sermon, the Rev. E. I. Davies, of Pittsfield, conducted the instal- 
lation ceremony, the Rev. Edward Bryan, of Bradford, Pa., delivered the 
charge to the pastor, and the Rev. L. H. Gilleland, of Tidioute, delivered the 
charge to the people. During this pastorate, which still continues, the church 
has grown in numbers and liberality and efficiency. During these four and 
a half years there have been added to the roll of the church 194 members. 
There have been contributed by the church $21,777 ^°^ payment of debts, 
repairs, and current expenses, and $14,533 for the boards and benevolent 
objects. The church stands second in the Presbytery of Erie in its benevo- 
lence. The present officers are as follows : 

Elders, Francis Henry, Elisha Thomas, A. H. McKelvy, H. S. Thomas, 
Prof A. B. Miller, Hon. Wilton M. Lindsey, and Judge William D. Brown; 
trustees. Judge S. P. Johnson, W. C. Copeland, J. P. Jefferson, Francis Henry, 
Judge William D. Brown; superintendent of the Sabbath-school, Hon. Wilton 
M. Lindsey; assistant superintendent, Dr. J. H. Jenkins; superintendent of the 
primary department, Mrs. William D. Brown; secretary of the Sabbath-school, 
J. P. Jefferson ; assistant secretary, John Danforth ; librarian, Hiram Eddy ; 
assistant librarians, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Eichenberg ; treasurer, Mrs. James 
Kitchen ; chorister, Dr. Joel Danforth. 

Connected with the church are two missionary societies which reflect great 



Borough of Warren. 375 



credit upon the the spirit of the members — the Women's Home and Foreign 
Missionary Society, and the Young Ladies' Missionary Society. 

The present value of the church property is estimated as follows : Church 
edifice and lot, $20,000; parsonage, $5,000; sexton's house, $1,000. 

The First Evangelical LiitJicran Church of IVarren.-^lt is difficult to pre- 
pare a complete history of the Lutheran Church at this place, from the fact 
that the early records of the congregation have been lost or misplaced ; and, as 
most of the members who participated in the organization have gone to their 
eternal rest, only a few dates and facts have been secured. About the year 
1830 a number of German Lutherans immigrated into this country from 
Alsace and Bavaria, Germany. This small number constituted the nucleus of 
the present large and flourishing organization. Through the influence of these 
early German settlers many of their friends were induced to come into this 
country, and to this county. As these Lutherans were unable to secure the 
services of a Lutheran pastor, a number were led to abandon the faith of their 
ancestors, and connected themselves with the Evangelical denomination, or 
German Methodists. Those who remained convened in private houses and 
school-houses, and worshiped God as they had been taught from childhood in 
their native land. Among the early German settlers and organizers of the 
Lutheran Church were Messrs. Messner, Hertzel, Schirk, Knopp, and Schuler. 
Thus German services were conducted by different individuals in private fam- 
ilies and in school-houses up to the year 1839, when the first German Lutheran 
minister, Rev. David Keil, occasionally visited and preached for these people. 
At first he served only as a supply, but afterwards more regularly until 1842, 
when he was succeeded by Rev. Brumbacher, who became a regular pastor of 
this congregation, residing among his people and preaching regularly in 
school-houses until 1845, when he resigned the pastorate. 

The next pastor was Rev. Mr. Wucherer, who assumed the pastoral charge 
of this congregation in 1846. During his administration the first house of wor- 
ship was erected and solemnly dedicated to the services of the Triune God, 
costing about $1,000. It is now occupied by the Swedish Lutheran people. 
He resigned this field of labor in 1848. In 1849 Rev. Julius Zoller took 
charge of the congregation and preached regularly about three years, and then 
was succeeded by Rev. Conrad Kuehn in 1852, who was the first pastor be- 
longing to some regular synodical body. He served this people about three 
years. After him came Rev. Mr. Browneck in the year 1855, and after a 
service of about three years he resigned this pastorate. 

In the year 1859 Rev. Henry Weicksel became pastor. Under his min- 
istry the congregation united with the Pittsburgh Synod. He resigned in 1863. 

The Sunday-school was first organized in the year i860. 

The next pastor was Rev. A. L. Benze. He assumed the pastoral charge 
of the congregation in June, 1864. During his administration the new, com- 



376 History of Warren County. 

modious, and handsome brick church was erected and dedicated to the wor- 
ship of Almighty God. Also a parsonage was erected along-side of the 
church, on a separate lot These lots and buildings cost about $20,000. After 
a faithful and self-sacrificing service of seven years and seven months he left 
this pastorate. His immediate successor was Rev. G. A. Bruegel, who took 
charge of the congregation on the ist of July, 1872. Under his pastoral 
care English services were introduced and an English Sunday-school organ- 
ized. He resigned this charge May 5, 1875. His immediate successor was 
Rev. F. C. H. Lampe, who assumed his office here on the 19th of September, 
1875, and continued to serve this people until the beginning of 1879. During 
his ministry an addition was built to the parsonage, involving an expense of 
$1,000. In the spring of 1879 Rev. G. A. Wenzel became pastor, and left in 
the spring of 1881, having served two years. On the 3d of September, 1881, 
Rev. P. Doerr became pastor of this congregation, and has labored in the field 
to the present time. Services are conducted in the German and English lan- 
guages. The membership numbers between 400 and 500 communicants. 
The Sunday-sphool numbers 200 scholars, twenty one teachers, and seven 
officers. The instruction in the Sunday-school is almost exclusively English. 
Two active organizations exist in the congregation — The Ladies' Society and 
the Young People's Aid Society. Various improvements have been made re- 
cently. A sawed- stone walk was laid around the church property, a wrought- 
iron fence built, a pipe-organ placed in the church and the church beautifully 
frescoed, church and parsonage painted, and other improvements made — all 
involving an expense of over $2,500. In all the church work the members 
have shown an untiring zeal, activity, and self-sacrifice. The Lutheran Church, 
though not the oldest, has still become numerically one of the largest congre- 
gations of Warren, and our public services are well attended. The officers at 
present are Rev. P. Doerr, president ex officio ; Jacob Rieg, secretary ; C. 
Schelhamer, treasurer. The remaining members of the church council are 
Charles Bartch, J. P. Hanson, Albert Leonhart, Louis Bauer, and William 
Highhouse. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church. — In 1806 Rev. R. R. Roberts, afterward 
elected bishop, visited Warren and other portions of Warren county, and was 
without doubt the first Methodist minister that preached the gospel in this 
county. In 1 812 Rev. Jacob Young, presiding elder of the Ohio District, held a 
quarterly meeting on the banks of the Conewango, a short distance above the 
village of Warren ; at this meeting Bishop McKendrie was present, and preached 
with great eloquence and power. In 18 17 Rev. Ira Eddy preached a sermon 
on the banks of the Allegheny River, two or three miles below Warren, and 
quite a revival of religion took place, and a class was formed consisting of Jo- 
seph Mead and wife, Mr. Owen and wife, Martin Reese, wife and mother, Ben- 
jamin Mead and David Mead. Soon after this class was increased to twenty- 



Borough of Warren. 377 



six members. Of this number the venerable Benjamin Mead is the sole sur- 
vivor; a hale man of ninety-one years, who through all these years has led an 
exemplary Christian life. In 1830 the Rev. James Gilmore was appointed to 
Youngsville charge, and, coming to Warren, found the small class spoken of 
above still worshiping below the village ; but there was no Methodist preach- 
ing in the village. During the year an extensive reformation occurred in War- 
ren and the class, numbering some seventy members, was transferred to the 
village ; and this was the first organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
in the new borough of Warren. Until the church was built they held divine 
worship in the village school-house. The charter of the present church is dated 
in January, 1836, and recites that at a meeting of the male members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church at Warren Station, borough of Warren, Pa., pur- 
suant to notice, in the east wing of the court-house on Monday, the 5th of Oc- 
tober, 1835, Rev. Samuel Ayres in the chair and John P. Osmer secretary, it 
was resolved, on motion, to appoint a committee to draw up a charter to be 
submitted for approval to the attorney-general of Pennsylvania, according to 
the provisions of an act of the Assembly of April 6, 1791, and that the com- 
mittee consisted of Rev. Samuel Ayres, William L. Snyder, and Benjamin Bar- 
tholomew. The style of the charter is "the Methodist Episcopal Church of 
Warren Station, borough of Warren, Pennsylvania." By its provisions the 
trustees of the church — viz., John Andrews, Albinus Stebbins, Joseph Mead, 
James Morrison, Robert Arthurs, Martin Reese, and Judah L. Spencer, and 
their successors — were to nave all the care and management of all the property 
of the church, real and personal. The early history of the church, subsequent 
to the dedication of the first building in 1833, cannot better be given than in 
the words of the recent pastor. Rev. W. W. Painter, as they appeared in a ser- 
mon which he preached upon the occasion of the removal from that church 
fifty-two years later (May 24, 1885), and with a few introductory remarks in 
the IVnrroi Mail of the following week. This article reads as follows : 

"Another old landmark is gone, or is going. The old M. E. Church edifice 
was vacated last week, and will soon be torn down to give place to a new and 
larger house of worship. It has done its work, and now goes into the past 
after a service of half a century. On Sunday of last week. May 24, Rev. W. 
W. Painter preached the last sermon in the old church and reviewed the his- 
tory of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Warren, most of which was pub- 
lished in the Ledger. He showed when this church was dedicated, fifty-two 
years ago, the M. E. Church in the United States had 2,265 ministers, and 
638,787 members. In 1884 it had 12,900 ministers, and 1,800,000 members. 
Of this church he said : 

" ' Great are the changes in any church in a period of fifty-two years. 
Probably not in many churches have the changes been so great as in this church 
in Warren. Not one of those who were members of this society when this 



378 History of Warren County. 

church edifice was dedicated in 1833 is a member of this society to-day. Mrs. 
Jane Waters, the oldest member of the society at present, united with it four 
years subsequent to 1833, when S. Gregg was the pastor. Benjamin Mead, 
for many years a member of this church, and one of the first members of the 
M. E. Church in Warren county, at the time this house was built was a mem- 
ber of a society organized a few miles west of Warren at a place then known 
by the name of Brokenstraw. E. P. Steadman was the pastor, and Joseph 
Mead, James Morrison, and Martin Reese were the trustees who superintended 
the erection of this house of worship. 

" From what we can learn, the little band who composed this society when 
this edifice was erected, toiled hard and sacrificed nobly, some of them giving 
more than one-tenth of what they had of this world's goods. Even then they 
could not have succeeded had it not been for the liberal assistance of those 
outside of the church membership. They labored nobly and well, and we have 
entered into their labors. The time has come for us to show ourselves worthy 
to be their successors in the erection of a new church edifice ; a house of wor- 
ship not only for ourselves, but for our children and all who shall come after 
us to worship within its walls. A precious privilege I trust we shall esteem it, 
to bring to a speedy and successful completion this now prospective house of 
worship. May the same spirit of self-sacrifice that actuated that little society 
fifty-two years ago prompt us to give and work and pray until we shall to- 
gether rejoice in the success that God gives to every self-sacrificing, believing 
worker in his vineyard ! 

" It is a source of regret to mc that I have been unable to find the names or 
the number of members who composed this society in 1833 ; we trust their names 
are all written in heaven. In 1833 this region of country was a part of what 
was known as Pittsburg Conference. In 1836 the Erie Conference was organ- 
ized. The following is a list of the names of the pastors stationed in the M. 
E. Church in Warren since the date of the dedication of the church edifice : 
1834, A. Plimpton; 1835, S. Ayres ; 1836-37, S. Gregg; 1838-39, B. S. 
Hill; 1839, in part, L. Kendall; 1840, A. Barnes and B. S. Hill; 1841, A. 
Barnes; 1841-42, I". J. L. Baker; 1843, John F. Hill; 1844-45, J- K. Chapin, 
1946-47, N. Norton; 1848, J. K. Hallock ; 1849, J. O. Rich; 1850-51, 
R.J. Edwards; 1852, R. S. Moran ; 1853-54, H. H. Moore; 1855, A. C. Tib- 
bitts; 1856, E. B. Lane; 1857, D. C. Osborne ; 1858-59, J. Robinson ; 1860- 
61, J. S. Lytle; 1862-63, O. L. Mead; 1864-65, P. Pinney; 1866, T. Stubbs ; 
1867, C. R. Pattee; 1868-69, R. W. Scott; 1870-71, E. J. L. Baker; 1872- 
73-74, A. J. Merchant; 1875, O. G. McEntire ; 1876-77-78, R. M. Warren; 
1879, W. F.Wilson; i88o-8i-82,J. M.Thoburn; 1883-84-85, W.W. Painter.'" 

About five years ago, or more, a project for the building of a new house 
of worship was set on foot, which culminated in the present structure, the fin- 
est in this part of the State or country. So successful were the sacrifices and 



Borough of Warren. 379 



labors of those who contributed time and labor and money to the accomplish- 
ment of this object, that we deem it worth while to describe the movement and 
the building in nearly the words of a writer in the Mail, in an article which 
appeared in that sheet on the 21st of September, 1886.^ 

" In 1 88 1 it became apparent that the needs of the society, which was rap- 
idly growing with the prosperity of our town and surrounding towns, required 
additional room to accommodate the church with its various departments of 
Sunday-school, social and other work. The official board that year, or in 
early winter of 1881-82, seriously considered the question. It was finally re- 
solved to enter upon the work of remodeling the old church by erecting in 
front an auditorium connecting with the old building, provided a certain sub- 
scription could be realized. Plans were drafted by Jacob Snyder, of Akron, 
O., and a canvass made in the church by Rev. J. M. Thoburn, resulting in a 
handsome amount — over $6,000 being subscribed. After further consider- 
ation it was proposed to build entirely anew an edifice costing $15,000 — the 
board rigidly acting in a conservative manner. At that time a church costing 
$20,000 was deemed to be out of the question. After the change was deter- 
mined upon, Rev. Mr. Thoburn commenced the canvass anew, increasing the 
former amount, it all being subscribed within the membership of the church. 
Owing to local causes and those unaccountable reasons that often occur, the 
work, after this subscription was raised, was laid aside — not buried, but post- 
poned. 

" When Rev. J. M. Thoburn reads these lines in his present home, Calcutta, 
India, we trust that he will feel, what we believe to be the fact, that the church 
society to-day have to thank him for really founding the new church project 
upon a sure basis, and for planting the seed which has richly brought forth fruit. 

" When Rev. W. W\ Painter succeeded Mr. Thoburn, he found the society 
still quartered in the old church, more crowded than ever, and still firm in the 
belief that a new church must be provided. The church records show that on 
March 25, 1884, it was resolved to tear down the church and erect a new one. 
The question then of the location of the church was actively discussed. It was 
generally thought best to build on a larger lot and dispose of the old prop- 
erty, by which means the society would have a place to worship during the 
process of building. On April 5, 1884, O. C. Allen was appointed a com- 
mittee to investigate and report in regard to lots which might be obtained. 
The school board thought it possible the church lot and building would be 
profitable and valuable for them, and the society was willing to exchange the 
building and lot for a lot suited to their purposes. Negotiations during the 
summer of 1 884 toward obtaining a different location for church building were 
fruitless, and the old church lot was decided upon as location for a new church. 

1 This article, we believe, was written by \V. H. Hinckley, of the firm of Wetmore, Noyes & 
Hinckley. 



38o History of Warren County. 

" Rev. W. W. Painter in the mean time proceeded with the subscriptions 
and secured the required subscription Hst of $i2,ooo. Early in 1885, as the 
list grew, the problem of actual work began to loom up, and the style of church 
to be erected was the next question to be decided. After consultation with 
various architects, the plan offered by Aaron Hall, of Jamestown, known as 
the Akron church plan, was adopted and Mr. Hall instructed to prepare nec- 
essary plans. On March 25, 1886, the building committee, M. B. Dunham, 
B. Nesmith, and A. Fisher, was duly elected. 

" The court-house, through the courtesy of J. Clinton, T. L. Putnam, and 
M. Crocker, the county commissioners, was secured as the place for holding 
services. 

" May 23, 1885, resolutions were passed to commence active operations at 
once. This was the decisive step toward which all previous efforts had been 
directed, and this dates the commencement of the work. On May 31, 1885, 
the last service was conducted in the old church by Rev. W. W. Painter, and 
on Monday, June i, 1885, under the direction of A. Fisher, the first blow was 
struck toward demolishing the old church, which rapidly followed. 

"The corner-stone was laid August 18, 1885. Rev. John Feate presided at 
the exercises, delivering an appropriate address and depositing beneath the 
corner-stone the box of records described at that time. 

" The burden of the work almost from the beginning fell upon Benjamin 
Nesmith, of the building committee. He assumed charge with his accus- 
tomed vigor, and from the date of the commencement, June I, 1885, down 
to September 19, 1886, there was, no cessation of operations. The debris of 
the old church was properly cared for and removed, the excavation for found- 
dation walls dug, and the stone work was contracted to Charles Ott, who laid 
the foundation walls completely. A. B. McKain superintended the frame 
work and erection of the trusses, rafters and towers. John Beebe, of James- 
town, was placed in charge of interior carpenter work when work was com- 
menced inside. The brick work was contracted to Benjamin Jones, of James- 
town. 

" Delays in securing plans carried the work late into the fall and winter of 
1885 and 1886, which fortunately proved open long enough for completion of 
the brick work before frosty weather. The cut-stone work was under direc- 
tion of Joshua Yerden, and the Ohio sandstone used, the native stone being 
used for steps and balance of stone work. Brick were furnished by Mecusker, 
of Jamestown ; the front, including the towers, being finished in pressed 
brick and the balance in selected brick. The slating and galvanized iron work 
and spouting were furnished by Machwirth Bros., of Buffalo. The outside 
painting and sanding was done by N. K. VVcndlcboe, of Warren. 

" The method of heating and ventilation is what is known as the Ruttan 
heating and ventilating process — the same employed in the new school-house 



Borough of Warren. 381 

in the West End, and insures distribution of heat and a constant change of air, 
which may be regulated to almost any temperature. The windows are made 
of rolled cathedral glass throughout, and put in by S. S. Marshall & Bro., 
and are of remarkable beauty in tint and design. The three large circular win- 
dows, fourteen feet in diameter, being especially attractive when lighted at night. 
The doors throughout, with the exception of eight hard wood doors, are from 
the factory of L. D. Wetmore & Co., Warren. The ceiling of the auditorium 
is of corrugated iron, furnished by A. Northrup & Company, of Pittsburgh. 
This ceiling is simple, durable, safe and handsome. Beck & Allen, of Warren, 
have made a lasting record for themselves in the plastering job. Tunstall & 
Thompson built the elaborate staircases and have also done themselves credit. 

" No pews are used in the church ; but in both auditorium and gallery chairs 
will be used, which are constructed with folding seats, provided also with foot- 
rest, book-rack, number-plate, hat-protector, and umbrella-rack. The wood- 
work is of deep, rich cherry or mahogany color. They are furnished by A. 
H. Andrews & Co., of New York. 

" The inside graining and finishing has been principally done by B. M. Slay- 
ton, of Warren, and the work speaks for itself. All of the halls and the 
kitchen are floored in hard woods. The entire building is finished in oak and 
ash and wainscoated throughout, the natural grain of the wood being left un- 
touched, except by the polishing, filling and varnishing, making the appearance 
delightfully substantial and handsome. 

"The ladies of the church deserve the highest encomiums. They have never 
faltered a single moment. Their subscription of $1,000, increased to $1,500, 
was paid promptly, adding another round $800 for carpets and chairs in the 
Sunday-school rooms. They have sewed all the carpeting from gallery top to 
kitchen. They have labored in hot and cold, wet and dry, pleasant and unpleas- 
ant times, and as they have continued to do what they could, have given time 
labor, money, everything, for the cause they loved. During the various 
changes of the church in the past fifteen months the utmost harmony has 
prevailed, and under the careful and sacrificing attention of Rev. W. W. 
Painter the congregation has remained intact and all current expenditures of 
the church provided for. Other churches and the Good Templar Lodge and 
order of A. O. U. W. kindly tendered them the use of their edifices and halls, 
and the congregation greatly appreciate their courtesy and interest. Rev. W. 
W. Painter will ever be held by church, congregation, and the citizens of the 
community in the highest esteem, for the highest measure of Christian fellow- 
ship and untiring zeal in promoting, fostering, and at last successfully terminat- 
ing the work of erecting this building, from which Christian influence will go forth 
through all the coming generations. He has received no extra compensation 
and mere temporal reward would be trivial ; but the affection of his people and 
the blessing of God will surely attend him. 



382 History of Warren County. 

"The new pipe organ is a fine instrument. It was manufactured by John- 
son & Son, at Westfield, Mass., and cost about $2,ooo. What is called the 
great organ has 406 metal pipes. The swell organ has 290 metal pipes, and 
the pedal organ has twenty-seven wooden pipes, with numerous accessory 
stops, pedal movements, and wind indicator. The descriptive list of stops, etc., 
would hardly be interesting to the general reader. 

" The dedication took place last Sunday, September 19. The sermon of Dr. 
Sims Sunday morning was a very eloquent and earnest appeal for the Christian 
Church, from the 137th Psalm, 5th and 6th verses : ' If I forget thee, O Jeru- 
salem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee let 
my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above 
my chief joy.' The doctor is a silver-tongued talker, and held the crowded 
audience in close attention for nearly an hour. When he closed Dr. Boyle, of 
Pittsburgh, read the treasurer's statement showing the cost of the new struct- 
ure, including sidewalks, seating, lighting, heating, carpeting, furnishing, and 
new pipe-organ, is about $35,000. After deducting the amount subscribed 
and paid they found themselves in debt $20,000 ; and then commenced a 
zealous appeal for the money to be pledged then and there. The subscriptions 
were taken, payable in four annual installments. First they called for $500 
promises. Mr. Thomas Keelor responded first, quickly followed by B. Nes- 
mith, M. B. Dunham, and the other heavy men of the church. Mr. Dunham 
is the largest contributor, having paid nearly $7,000, besides giving his time 
and attention freely. Then came the $300 call. This dragged a little, but 
several responded ; then the $200, $100, $50, and $25 subscribers made up the 
sum of $16,000, before adjournment. At the evening session the whole bal- 
ance was pledged, making a splendid offering of $20,413.47 in a single day. 
The Methodist society entertain the deepest feelings of gratitude toward the 
citizens and friends who generously subscribed. It was a great success, and 
the members and managers have a right to feel very thankful to the liberal 
subscribers, as well as to God from whom all blessings flow. 

"The formal ceremony of dedication in the evening, after Dr. Boyle's ser- 
mon, was beautifully impressive. Dr. Sims called up the trustees and solemnly 
charged them to guard carefully the sacred trust placed in their keeping." 

Rev. W. P. Bignell, the present pastor, succeeded Mr. Painter in the fall 
of 1886. 

First Baptist Church of C/trist. — On Friday, the 2d day of May, 1834, in 
response to a request from a number of communicants of the Baptist Church 
who had previously united in conference, a council representing churches at 
Pine Grove, Ashville, and Carroll, and partly composed of delegates from the 
New York Baptist State Convention, convened at the court-house in Warren, 
for the purpose of organizing a church. The ministers present were Revs. 
Foot, Fuller, Coleman, and Gildersleve. After being accepted by the confer- 



Borough of Warren. 383 

ence as their council they proceeded to organize, choosing Isaac Fuller, moder- 
ator, and James McClellen, clerk. This body of believers was then recog- 
nized as a church — a member of the Baptist denomination. There were six- 
teen persons who thus composed the first germ of the present Baptist Church 
in Warren, viz. — Mrs. P. Curtis, Miss F. Curtis, Mrs. H. Gier, Mrs. P. Doty, 
Mrs. M. Shaw, Miss Elizabeth Morse, Mrs. P. Waters, Mrs. P. Strong, Miss 
Louisa Wheeler, Mrs. Mary Comstock, Mr. O. W. Shaw, Rfr. W. M. Morse, 
W. M. Gildersleve, Mr. E. Doty, and Mr. Curtis Pond, who was soon after 
elected deacon. 

The " articles of faith," though not recorded in the church book, were of 
that character, at least, that a Baptist council regarded them Baptistic. Hence 
public exercises were observed as follows : Sermon was preached by Rev. Cole- 
man, right hand of fellowship by Rev. Fuller, and concluding prayer by Rev. 
Gildersleve. 

For eight years this society held services without the aid of a regular pas- 
tor, and only occasionally listened to sermons from the missionaries, Revs. King, 
Williams, Gildersleve, Wilson, and Gill. All this time, and afterward, from 
1842 to 1857, they worshiped in the old court-house, on the ground now 
occupied by the new court-house. In 1844 a committee was appointed to con- 
sider the feasibility of building a church edifice. Ground was purchased and 
some of the materials were drawn upon it, but unforeseen hindrances prevented 
the consummation of the project at that time. The pastors through this period 
were Revs. Handy, Everetts, and Smith, and the deacons were Messrs. Win- 
chester and William Snyder. At this time the Sabbath-school was organized. 
In the summer of 1859 the present church edifice was commenced, on the Mi- 
ner Curtis lot, near the then residence of Chapin Hall. It was completed in 
the summer of i860. A part of the subsequent history of this church is given 
in the language of Rev. E. D. Hammond, as reported in the Evening Para- 
graph on December i, 1884: 

" Commencing with 1857, we find this church still worshiping in the court- 
house. In answer to a pressing call from the little church, Rev. B. C. Wil- 
loughby became pastor, remaining until i860. As a result of his wise manage- 
ment and persistent efforts, the church building in which we congregate to-day 
was built and dedicated to the worship of God in i860. Too much praise can- 
not be given to the self-sacrificing pastor and little band at that time. During 
the same pastorate the church improved spiritually and increased in member- 
ship. It was during this period that two brothers were taken into this church 
who have proved to be ambassadors for Christ and an honor to the church. I 
speak now of John S. Hutson, received in April, 1858. Believing himself to 
be called to the work of the ministry, and the church discerning in him gifts and 
graces fitting for the work, he was licensed to preach the gospel. He soon 
afterward took a letter from the church and went to fully prepare himself for 



384 History ok Warren County. 

the work. After completing a college course and graduating from the theolog- 
ical department of Lewisburgh University, he was ordained in 1868 to the reg- 
ular work of the gospel ministry, and has since served as pastor of the churches 
at Stockton, N. Y., Allegheny City, Pa., and Warren, O. 

" Rev. G. W. Snyder was converted during the winter of 1857 and 1858, and 
at once began active work for the Master at Sheffield, where he was teaching 
school. A number of his pupils were converted. He united with the church 
in May, 1858. He pursued his studies in Allegheny College and Crozier The- 
ological Seminary, graduating from the former in 1863, and from the latter in 
1869. After this he became pastor of the church at Columbus, N. J., remov- 
ing from there to Lock Haven, Pa., where he died in the summer of 1874, and 
in the summer of his life, being at the age of thirty- seven. He was a devoted 
minister of the gospel, an earnest student of the gospel, and loved learning for 
its own sake. His early struggles for a thorough education no doubt aided 
in taking him away. 

" The church may well cherish the memory of these two sons. They are 
noble sons of their mother church, and may the church live to conceive and 
bear for the gospel many such men ! 

" In 1864 we find another era in the history of the church. Norman Snyder 
and Deacon Gerould are deacons. In the fall of 1866 Rev. George Balcom 
came to hold revival meetings ; he was here four weeks, and as a result several 
were taken into the church. From 1866 to 1869 Revs. Hastings and Evens 
were pastors. In 1869 Rev. Trowbridge became pastor, remaining two years, 
during which time the church worked hard. This baptistry was then put in, 
the bell was placed in the place where it now is, and some members were added 
to the church. 

" In December, 1876, Rev. Mr. Hulbert commenced meetings. A great 
revival spirit was then seen in the community, and the membership of the 
church was doubled. 

"In May, 1877, Rev. E. F. Crane became pastor. In the month of July 
Brother A. J. Hazeltine, Mr. Waid, and Mr. Lorie were appointed deacons. 

" In the summer and fall of 1877 the church underwent thorough repairs, 
costing $3,350, and was rededicated December 20, 1877. Thus we are ena- 
bled to see from this time a continuous growth along all the lines of church 
work and spiritual development. 

" In January, 1879, Rev. H. H. Lcamy became pastor, lasting two years, 
and some members were added to the church during the time. 

" In the spring of 1881 Rev. Mr. Rea, a graduate from Rochester Theo- 
logical Seminary, commenced his labors with this church. During his pastor- 
ate the church had a healthful growth and the membership grew from sixty- 
five to one hundred and seventeen. His pastorate ended in May, 1884. Within 
a year or more this church has lost by removal some efficient church workers. 



Borough of Warren. 385 

The Great Shepherd, however, has kept watch over the flock, and has filled 
the vacancies by others. Let us believe in the providence of God." 

The following are the names and dates of service of the respective pastors 
of this church from the beginning to the present : 

Church served by missionaries, 1834-42 ; Alfred Handy, Nov., 1842-June, 
184s; Rev. W. R. Northrop, supply, March, 1847-Sept., 1848; Wm. Everet, 
Sept., 1848-June, 1852; Wm. Smith, April, 1857-Sept., 1857; B. C. Wil- 
loughly, Oct., 1857-60; A.J. Hastings, Oct., i86s-Oct., 1866; Thos. Evans, 
Feb., 1867-Oct., 1867; I. Trowbridge, March, 1870-Aug., 1871 ; J. Harring- 
ton, Oct., i87S-Jan., 1876; E. F. Crane, April, 1877-Oct., 1878; H. H. 
Leamy, Jan., 1879-March, 1881; James Rea, April, i88i-May, 1884; E. D. 
Hammond, Sept., 1884-July, 1886; Wm. J. Coulston, Aug., 1886. 

The present membership of this church is 144, of which number one-third 
are male members. During the past year $103.63 was expended for benovo- 
lent objects. The estimated value of the church property is now $6,000. The 
present officers are Rev. William J. Coulston, pastor ; A. J. Hazeltine, clerk ; 
D. L. Gerould, treasurer; and H. E. Davis, secretary of the board of directors. 

St. Joseph's Church (Roman Catholic). — There is strong probability that 
the first religious services conducted by civilized men on the site of Warren 
borough took place more than a hundred and thirty years ago. There is evi- 
dence that during the progress of the French and Indian War an expedition 
of French Catholics passed from Canada to Fort Du Quesne and New Or- 
leans by the way of Lake Erie, Lake Chautauqua, Conevvango Creek, and the 
Allegheny River. From their records it appears that- they were accustomed 
to land at various places on the route for the purpose of holding religious serv- 
ices under the guidance of priests who accompanied the expedition (which 
was military in its nature and object), and that they buried at such places 
leaden plates inscribed with language revealing that they had thus taken pos- 
session of the country in the name of France. The records show also that 
they landed for such worship and formality at the junction of the Conewango 
Creek and Allegheny River. The plates have been discovered at a number of 
the places described in their records ; but, from vagueness, the spot on which 
they landed and in which they buried the plate at the mouth of the Cone- 
wango has never been determined. It has thus become a matter rather of 
conjecture than sober history, at least until the plate is unearthed and the 
exact site located. 

Among the first Roman Catholic families to settle in Warren county were 
three brothers named Thomas, Patrick, and Joseph Archbold, who came from 
Philadelphia in the early part of this century and took up about three hundred 
acres of wild land each, about two and a half miles below Irvineton. They 
were there previous to 1830. Other early families in the county were the Mc- 
Graws, of Triumph, the McGuires, of Tidioute, and William and Sylvester 



386 History of Warren County. 

Carlow, brothers, who came from Canada to Warren. The first bishop to visit 
Warren county was Francis Patrick Kendrick, who came from Philadelphia on 
horseback between fifty and sixty years ago, and held services at the house of 
Joseph Archbold. He also held services in the court-house at Warren. From 
this time the various places in the county were visited two or three times each 
year by priests from away, generally from Erie. The first Catholic Church 
edifice in the county was built at Warren about 1850, and has recently been 
converted into a school-house for that denomination. Rev. Father de la 
Roque remembers with gratitude the unselfish assistance rendered at that time 
by Protestants toward completing the house of worship. Orris Hall contrib- 
uted the lot on which the church now stands, and Mr. Summerton, the mer- 
chant, gave two hundred dollars, which was increased by other contributions 
from similar sources. This building has now been used for a school-house 
about four years. When the first church was building, Warren was attended 
by Father Deane, of Erie, and also by Father Thomas Smith, of Crawford 
county, and Father McConnell, of Frenchtown, Crawford county. In 1854 
Father John Berbiger, the present assistant rector here, made his first visit to 
the church at Warren. The first resident priest was Father Thomas Lorna- 
gen, now rector of the parish at Corry. He was here from about 1858 to 1 866. 
Father Voisar, now in the diocese of Toronto, was rector of this parish in 1867 
and 1868. In 1869 the present rector, Rev. M. A. de la Roque, came here 
from Meadville, Pa., and remained in charge ever since. His assistant, Father 
Berbiger, settled here in 1880. 

The present house of worship was dedicated on the 6th of May, 1880, 
after a period of building which lasted two years. The cost of the edifice and 
site was about $20,000. There are now in the neighborhood of 150 families 
in the parish. The next church in the county was built at Tidioute by Father 
Lornagen about 1864. There are there at present some forty or fifty families. 
The church at Irvineton was erected in 1870, and is attended by Father James 
Lavery, of Tidioute. At this place there are about fifty Catholic families. A 
chapel was built on Quaker Hill in 1874, where about six families worship. 
The church edifice at Clarendon was built in 1876, and is attended by Father 
Berbiger. At this place are about 100 families. The church in Sheffield 
township was built in 1878, and is occupied by about fifty families, attended 
by Father de la Roque. In Garland a church has just been completed, which 
is under the care of the parish of Corry, and is occupied by some fifteen or 
twenty families. A lot has been purchased for the erection of a church at 
Kinzua, and this work will undoubtedly be completed in the near future. 

The old church edifice at Warren was converted into a school-house in 
September, 1883, and was divided into two departments. It was soon 
discovered to be too small, however, and in the summer of 1886 it was sup- 
plemented by an adjoining structure. The entire average attendance at these 



Borough of Warren. 387 



schools at present is about 150. The school is taught by sisters of the Bene- 
dictine order, five in number, who came from St. Mary's, in Elk county. They 
are thoroughly efficient, and give lessons in music in addition to the common 
branches of learning. 

Trinity Memorial Church. — The beginnings of the Episcopal Church are 
faintly indicated by the fact that a church called the Calvary Church, of War- 
ren, was incorporated by order of the court on the 8th of October, i860, and 
that the Trinity Memorial Church was incorporated on the 9th of March, 1867, 
and was undoubtedly the successor of the Calvary. The circumstances attending 
the organization of this church, and its subsequent history are given in the 
following extract from the Warren Mail of October 26, 1886. It is taken 
from an address written by M. Beecher, of Warren, and delivered upon the 
occasion of the laying of the corner-stone of the St. Saviour's Church at 
Youngsville, on the 21st of October, 1886. We reprint only so much as seems 
to be pertinent in this place. 

" An interesting event for Youngsville was the laying of the corner-stone 
of its new Episcopal Church last Thursday, October 21, under the direction 
of Dr. A. W. Ryan, of Warren, who was assisted by Rev. Henry Mitchell, the 
new assistant to Dr. Ryan, Rev. H. L. Yewens, of Franklin, Rev. S. P. Kelly, 
of Pittsburgh, and by the choir and vestry of the Warren church. 

" Among the ceremonies, William Schnur read the following paper prepared 
by Mr. Beecher, who was unable to be present. It was intended to be a cor- 
rect history of Trinity Memorial Church, of Warren, and its missions, and is 
well worthy of being read and preserved. 

" 'The part which has been assigned to me to-day in the exercises of this in- 
teresting, and, to the people of Youngsville, memorable occasion, is a very sim- 
ple and prosaic one. It calls for no flights of fancy, flowers of rhetoric, or well- 
rounded periods. It will deal simply with the leading events connected with 
the history of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Warren county, which is in 
reality but a history of Trinity Memorial Church, Warren ; and may the or- 
deals through which it has passed stimulate you to encounter and overcome 
obstacles and difficulties which in the distance may appear unsurmountable, 
but which grow smaller as you approach, and disappear when grappled with. 

" ' It is only by earnest, persistent effiart in any good work that success is 
ensured, and that too, oftentimes, in the face of apparent failure. " Be ye there- 
fore steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord ; foras- 
much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 

" 'Previous to the year 1858 there never had been but one service of the 
church held in Warren county. But in July of that year Rev. Dr. Egar, now 
of Rome, N. Y., who married a daughter of the late Judge Merrill, held one or 
two services in the Presbyterian Church in Warren. In i860 Bishop Bowman 
made a visitation, accompanied by Rev. Mr. Abercrombie, of St. Paul's church. 



388 History of Warren County. 

Erie, and held services in Johnson's Hall. The only ones to read the responses 
were Mr Struthers, Judge Johnson, Col. Curtis, Archibald Tanner (father of 
Mrs. Scofield), Geo. A. Cobham and family, Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins, Miss Mer- 
rill, Mr. and Mrs. M. Beecher. 

" 'Although the little band of worshipers there assembled looked somewhat 
lonesome in that large hall, it was an occasion of deep interest, and when the 
service was opened with — " The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth 
keep silence before Him," there was a feeling of solemnity pervading every 
heart, and that even there might be realized the promise that " where (even) 
two or three are gathered together in His name He would grant their re- 
quests." 

"'Two years later Bishop Potter, with his son Henry C, now assistant 
bishop of New York, held services in the Baptist Church. After this Bishop 
Stevens visited Warren and held services in the Presbyterian Church, and a 
year later Bishop Lee, of Iowa, in the Methodist Church. 

" 'On August 3, 1 86 1, about a year after Bishop Bowman's first visitation 
to Warren, he started from Pittsburgh to visit what was then known as the Oil 
Regions of Pennsylvania, a region infinitely smaller than what is now embraced 
in that name. When about twenty miles this side of Pittsburgh a landslide 
was encountered, which made a walk of about two miles necessary to enable 
the passengers to take a train awaiting them on the other side. In his then 
enfeebled condition the bishop was unable to keep up with the rest, and was 
missed when the train was about ready to start. On going back to look for 
him he was found dead by the roadside — another example of that mysterious 
dispensation of divine Providence which passeth man's understanding. So 
useful a life and so sudden and remarkable a death seemed to demand more at 
the hands of a bereaved people and diocese than was customary in ordinary 
cases to bestow. To that end it was suggested that a memorial church should 
be erected in the region he was about to visit when overtaken by death, and 
that the whole diocese of Pennsylvania should be asked to contribute for that 
purpose. 

"'Accordingly collections were taken up in all the parishes of the State, 
and the sum of $5,200 was realized. Then the question arose as to where the 
money should be expended. Bishop Potter, as one of the trustees of the fund, 
suggested that the site selected should be at some point on the Allegheny River 
between Kittanning and Warren — probably at the latter point. To this end 
he offered $4,000 of the fund, providing Warren would raise a like amount. 
This was deemed at that time as impossible. 

"'A delegation of sixteen was sent from Titusville to Philadelphia to repre- 
sent the church interests there and to pledge a compliance with the conditions 
imposed. Colonel Curtis was the only champion Warren had to represent her 
interests, he having business in the Supreme Court, then sitting in Philadelphia- 



Borough of Warren. 389 



He argued the case of his cHent ably and eloquently, but the odds were too 
great against him, and Titusville was awarded the $4,000. But as Bishop 
Bowman died on the banks of the Allegheny, Bishop Potter was anxious that 
a church should be erected to his memory immediately upon its bank, and to 
that end the balance of $1,200 was reserved for Warren whenever that amount 
would be required to complete a church edifice. This fund was invested in 
Philadelphia city 6 per cent, bonds, which afterward amounted to $1,800. 

" ' In the spring of 1864 Bishop Potter made a visitation to Corry with the 
rector of St. Paul's Church, Erie, Rev. John F. Spaulding, now bishop of Col- 
orado, fully impressed with the importance of at once occupying this region ; 
and through his solicitations and those of Bishop Stevens the Rev. C. C- 
Parker, then a deacon, was sent in June, 1864, to this new and then unculti- 
vated field. 

" ' It was arranged that he should hold services at Warren and Corry on 
alternate Sundays, with his home at Warren. The first regular services were 
held in Warren in the Presbyterian Church, on the afternoon of June 26, 1864. 
The next service was held in the Baptist Church, which had been secured until 
the following December. In September of this year a Sunday-school was 
organized. It opened with five scholars. During the Sundays Mr. Parker was 
officiating in Corry the school was held in the dining-room of Mr. Beecher's 
house on Liberty street. 

" 'When compelled to vacate the Baptist Church, rector and vestry were in 
a quandary what to do, as they were again thrown upon the charity of a cold 
world without an abiding place. Finally they decided to apply to Judge 
Johnson for the use of the east room in Johnson's Exchange. This application 
was met in a most liberal and Christian-like spirit. The hall, with the requisite 
number of settees, was at once set apart for the exclusive use and control of 
the church, free of charge. It was neatly fitted up for church and Sunday- 
school purposes, and here services were held until the completion of Trinity 
Memorial Church, in the summer of 1867. Soon after Mr. Parker's coming to 
Warren much discussion was had relative to the building of a church edifice, 
thereby enabling it to claim the Bishop Bowman fund reserved for that pur- 
pose. After many vexatious delays and hindrances a subscription was finally 
started. 

" ' During the winter the rector and his estimable wife taught the Sunday- 
school scholars an oratorio, with the aid of local talent, from which entertain- 
ment was realized a sufficient amount to purchase a cabinet organ for the 
church. 

" ' In the mean time, subscriptions having progressed satisfactoril}', the 
building of a church was decided upon. Matters were pushed as vigorously as 
possible — some delays occurring as a matter of course — and on the i6th day 
of July, 1867, the church was finished and furnished complete, at a total cost. 



390 History of Warren County. 

including the lot, of $11,375, ready for the first service, which was held that 
P. M. at five o'clock. 

"'The day following, July 17, the time fixed for the consecration of the 
church, the procession entered, preceded by J. H. Palmer, senior warden ; M. 
Beecher, junior warden ; C. B. Curtis, L. L. Lowry, John T. McPherson, John 
Sill, and Lewis F. Watson, and followed by Bishop Kerfoot, Rev. J. F. Spauld- 
ing, rector of St. Paul's Church, Erie ; Rev. Marison Byllesby, of Christ's 
Church, Meadville ; Rev. Henry Purdon, D. D., of St. James Memorial Church, 
Titusville ; Rev. R. D. Nevius, of Christ's Church, Oil City ; Rev. George C. 
Rafter, of Emmanuel Church, Emporium ; Rev. John T. Protheroe, of Em- 
manuel Church, Corry, and the rector, Rev. C. C. Parker. The sentence of 
consecration was read by Rev. Mr. Billesby, and the sermon was preached 
by the bishop. The services throughout were exceedingly interesting and 
impressive, and all rejoiced that the labors of years had at last been rewarded 
with full fruition. Mr. Parker continued his earnest work for nearly a year 
afterwards, when he resigned his charge and removed to Greenburg, Pa. His 
resignation took effect Easter Monday, 1868. To his self-sacrificing efforts 
and untiring zeal, and a faith that though in darkest hours sometimes wavered 
yet never forsook him, to him more than any one else is Trinity Memorial 
Church of Warren indebted for its present existence. At this date there were 
only sixteen names on the list of communicants, of which only three were 
males ; and of these for a long time the only one present to respond to the 
invitation " Draw near in faith," was Isaac Ruff, a colored man. 

" ' The next rector of this parish was the Rev. Henry S. Getz, of Mahonoy 
City, Pa., now assistant rector of the Church of the Holy Apostles, Philadel- 
phia. He was a God-fearing, God-loving, faithful Christian worker, who was 
beloved not only by his own congregation, but by all others with whom he 
came in contact, for his many noble qualities of head and heart. He was dean 
of this convocation until it was merged into the Erie deanery. He was also 
rector of the church at Tidioute, holding week-day services there. His rector- 
ship covered a period of upwards of thirteen years, when he resigned, his resig- 
nation taking effect on the 1st of October, 1882. 

" 'No special effort was made to secure another rector for several months, 
although many letters were received on the subject. It was not until the fall 
of 1883 that matters assumed a definite shape and the Rev. Albert W. Ryan, 
of Howell, Mich., was secured. Of his work in Warren, Clarendon, Youngs- 
ville, and other points in the county it would be out of place to dwell upon on 
this occasion. That he is peculiarly fitted for the work he has undertaken is 
fully attested by his superior mental endowments, his sound and varied scho- 
lastic attainments, and a push and vigor which stop at nothing short of success. 
His present assistant. Rev. Mr. Mitchell, comes to us as a stranger, but with a 
good record as an efficient and successful co-worker.'" 



Borough of Warren. 391 



Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Cluircli. — This church was organized 
on the 7th of June, 1871, some of the original members being Axel Carlson, 
George P. Miller, Herman Greenlund, Lars Hanson, Erik Anderson, and Adolf 
F. Larson. These with others, numbering in all about thirty-five, constituted 
the first organization. The meetings both before and after this time were held 
in the building still occupied, though it then belonged to the German Luth- 
eran Church. In this same year (187 1), however, the Scandinavian Church 
purchased the church building and lot, and now own it. The work of acquir- 
ing this property should be accredited chiefly to a Miss Sara Carlson (now 
Mrs. Larson), who distinguished herself by her Christian zeal at this time not 
only, but later, when she and her husband removed to Rock Island, 111., they 
presented $125 to this church, a remarkably unselfish gift, considering that 
they were and are by no means well to do. The price of the church building 
was about $800. It has been greatly repaired within and without since the 
last purchase was completed, and an addition erected in the front, surmounted 
with a neat steeple. 

The first Swedish preacher at this place was J. P. Loving, now living at 
Chandler's Valley. He was not an ordained minister, but came with good 
recommendations from the old country, and proved himself to be a man of 
sound doctrine and profound faith. He remained here between three and four 
years, preaching once or twice a month. J. Vender (who went from here to 
Rock Island, 111., was graduated from the Aug. College and Seminary, was or- 
dained a minister, and in 1882 died at his post on the Pacific coast). Axel 
Carlson, Erik Anderson, and others were good members and deacons of the 
church, who by their unwearied efforts in leading the Sabbath-school and 
prayer meetings, etc., kept up the interest of the congregation during vacancies 
in the pulpit. Several ministers of this conference who were stationed in this 
vicinity gave such time and attention to the welfare of this church during its 
feeble efforts at learning to walk, as their own congregations would permit. Rev. 
J. Millander, the first ordained minister who was given charge of this church, 
began his labors here in July, 1874. He was well Hked, and it was a great 
blow to his flock when about eighteen months later he handed in his resigna- 
tion. For some time after this the society was under the protection of students 
from the Aug. College and Seminary of Rock Island, III, especially under that 
of L. G. Abrahamson. In 1879 Rev. M. U. Norbury was called to take charge 
of the church ; eight calls previous to this one had elicited negative answers, 
but Mr. Norbury accepted. His stay here was but of a year's duration. Thus 
far this congregation had been obliged to divide the services of their pastors 
with several other congregations, as Kane, Titusville, Sheffield, etc. On the 
14th of September, 1881, the present pastor, Rev. N. G. Johnson, took charge 
of his labors here. Although he has had the care also of other charges, he has 
devoted as much time, or more, as could be expected. In the spring of 1882 



392 History of Warren County. 

he was forced by ill health to visit Sweden During his absence of some five 
months a Danish minister named P. C. Fronberg, then a recent arrival from 
Denmark, filled the vacancy. Although he was scholarly and zealous, his 
ideas did not conform with the preconceived opinions of his congregation, and 
a division arose in the church, which culminated in the separation from the con- 
gregation of a number of members. 

In 1883 a resolution was adopted that the church should build or buy 
a new parsonage, and subscriptions soon amounted to about $1,100, with 
which the present suitable and neat dwelling was purchased. The congrega- 
tion, although necessarily small in numbers, has indeed made wonderful prog- 
ress, considering the adverse circumstances which have conspired to retard 
their growth. In 1885 the young people bought a fine pipe organ for the 
church. The pastor has much to do, for besides his pastoral labors in Warren 
he has charge over congregations, or missions, at North Warren, Glade Run, 
Stoneham, Clarendon, Irvineton, Tidioute, Triumph, etc. As a rule the 
Swedes are a religious people, and have a decided penchant for the Lutheran 
persuasion. The church is an Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Augustana 
Synod, which synod has a membership of more than 100,000, and an ordained 
ministry of about 230 members. There are not far from 140 members be- 
longing to this church in Warren. The present officers are George P. Miller, 
Martin Nelson, Charles Peterson, J. Seyser, C. P. Anderson, Peter Holmes, and 
Otto Marker. The church property is valued at about $3,500, while a small 
indebtedness rests on the church of about $200. 

The Evangelical Association, of Warren, was organized in 1833 t>y Rev. 
John Seybert. Its original members were H. D. Grunder, Mary E. Grunder, 
Conrad Gross, Saloma Gross, Adam Knopf, Mary E. Knopf Jacob Wise, Sal- 
oma Wise, Magdalene Martin, Philopena Martin, George Weiler, Barbara VVei- 
ler, Martin Esher, J. J. Esher, George Esher, D. Gross, sr., D. Gross, jr., Jacob 
Ott, F. L. Arnett. 

In 1852 a brick church edifice was built on Liberty street. In 1883 this 
structure was extensively remodeled at a cost of $4,000. During the year 1 876 
a frame church was built at Mack's Corners, in Elk township, costing $1,200. 

The pastors of this association, which extends into Conewango, Glade, and 
Elk townships, have been, in the order of their coming, as follows : John Sey- 
bert, J. K. Kring, E. Staver, J. Bricklcy, J. Honecker, J. Boas, J. Yambert, H. 
Bucks, R. Miller, J. Lutz, H. Heis, J. Long, S. Heis, J. Rank, J. Truby, J. C. 
Link, J. Edgar, J. Dick, A. Stahle, S. B. Kring, A. Niebel, J. G. Pfeuffer, A. 
Long, C. Lindaman, B. L. Miller, Jacob Honaker, C. G. Koch, R. Mott, J. J. 
Barnhart, R. Mott, A. Rearick, B. L. Miller, W. Houpt, T. Bach, and L. M. 
Boyer ; the latter gentleman, a veteran of the late war and a native of Som- 
erset county. Pa., still being in charge. 

For many years the Warren congregation was e.xciusivcly German, and 



Borough of Warren. 393 



religious exercises were conducted in the language of the Fatherland. By 
degrees, however, English was introduced, and in the spring of 1884 it was 
wholly adopted. 

The present members are two hundred and forty-seven in number, and the 
church property owned by them (two churches and a parsonage) is valued at 
$1 1,000. 

We will conclude our remarks on church matters by saying that the first 
preaching in the county, of which we have authentic data, was rendered by 
the Rev. Jacob Cram, of Exeter, N. H., a missionary of the Congregational 
Church. From his journal it appears that in 1805 he journeyed across Ver- 
mont and New York States to Olean, preaching at many points along the 
way. From the latter place he proceeded down the river to Warren. He 
met the Cornplanter, and informs us that the Quakers had a mission near the 
latter's settlement, which was established by them about 1798. They also 
operated a small saw and grist-mill located near the mission. Cornplanter 
was rather cool, and expressed his distrust and dislike of Yankee preachers. 
He said he had seen and heard them at councils. They would preach and 
talk very fair to the Indians, but immediately afterwards would be found try- 
ing to cheat the poor Indians out of their lands. The missionary preached at 
Kinzua and at the house of Daniel Jackson, on the Conewango. At this place 
he said the people were very attentive, and he received more money from 
them for missionary purposes than at any other place in the western country. 
He also made note of the fact " that Warren had a beautiful situation for a 
town, though there were but four or five houses in the town plot." From 
Warren he journeyed northward (stopping to preach at the " Beech Woods 
Settlement") to Buffalo and into Canada, and thence eastward to his home. 

The first Methodist quarterly meeting ever held in the county was also 
convened at the Jackson homestead, on the Conewango, in 1812. There were 
present Bishop McKendrie, Rev. Jacob Young, the presiding elder of the Ohio 
District, Rev. John P. Kent, of Chautauqua county, N. Y., and Rev. William 
Connelly, of Venango county. Pa. Many people assembled from Kinzua, 
Brokenstraw, and the Beech Woods, and numbers of them, being compelled to 
stay all night, slept on the hay mow in the barn. 



394 History of Warren County. 

CHAPTER XXXni. 
HISTORY OF CONEWANGO TOWNSHIP. 

ALTHOUGH Conewango was not the first township to be organized in the 
county, it is given a place in these pages next to the borough of Warren, 
by reason of the fact that from 1 808, when it became the second township of 
Warren, until 1832, the town was only part of the township, and the corporate 
limits of the former are still largely environed by the latter. The term Cone- 
wango is supposed to be of Indian origin, but as now written and pronounced 
it bears no more resemblance in form and sound to the name applied one hun- 
dred and fifty years ago, than do the letters A and Z. From " Kanonogon " it 
has been changed through a long series of years to " Kanaougou," " Kanoa- 
goa," " Canawagy," " Conewauga," " Conevvagoo," " Canawago," " Conna- 
wango," until now we have what many simple folk suppose a simon pure Sen- 
eca term, spelled Conewango. A majority of our so-called Indian names of 
streams, towns, counties, territories, and States have gone through the same 
processes of change at the hands of white men. Indeed, they were wholly the 
work of white men in the first place. The Indians, as we all know, had no writ- 
ten language, and in the attempt to fashion their gutteral monosyllables into 
written English, hunters, traders, and interpreters — some of them densely 
ignorant in letters — have furnished us many wonderful Indian names. 

The name and original boundaries of this township were established by a 
commission (appointed by the Venango County Court in 1806), whose report 
and recommendations were adopted and confirmed by the same authority in 
1808. (See Chapter XIII of this work.) The township of Conewango then em- 
braced the eastern half of the county, and the first township election was held 
at the house of Daniel Jackson, in the town of Warren, which then consisted of 
five houses, in the spring of 1808. 

The first settler within its present limits, probably, was Daniel Jackson, 
who with his family began a residence on Jackson's Run, just north of Warren, 
in 1797. Much concerning him will be found in the history of Warren bor- 
ough, to which place he removed about 1805. 

Michael McKinney followed closely in the footsteps of Jackson as a settler 
of Conewango township, and it is believed by his descendants that he settled 
upon the farm where he lived for more than fifty years as early as 1798. He 
came here from Southwestern Pennsylvania, the scene of the Whisky Insur- 
rection — 1790-94. He died at the age of eighty-five years, of injuries 
received by a kick from a horse. His wife, a sister of Robert Russell, of Pine 
Grove township, attained the great age of more than one hundred years. Of 
the children born to them but one is now living — Eliza A., the wife of F. O. 



CoNEWANGO Township. 395 



Crocker, of this township. The old McKinney homestead is now embraced in 
part by the asylum farm at North Warren. 

Jacob Goodwin also settled in the township about 1798, by squatting upon 
the premises since known as the Dougherty or Dunn farm. He was McKin- 
ney's immediate neighbor on the north. 

Martin Reese, sr., with his two sons Martin, jr., and John, came from Lycom- 
ing county and settled on the beautiful plateau lying in the bend of the river 
below Warren, about 1803-04. Here the family resided for many years, the 
tract occupied being known as part of the outlots of Warren or " Reese's Flats." 
John Reese, one of the sons above mentioned, married Miss Marcia Owen and 
settled upon the farm on Conewango Creek, where he resided for more than 
forty years, or until his death, which occurred in July, 1852. They were the 
parents of an intelligent and respected family. 

William Sturdevant, Asa Scott, and Asa Winter were also very early pio- 
neers in the township. The latter was one of the first three county commis- 
sioners elected, and as early as 1815 he owned and operated a grist-mill on 
the Conewango. 

In 1 82 1, by an order of court confirmed March 8 of that year, the two 
townships of Brokenstraw and Conewango, which to this time from 1808 had 
embraced the whole county, were divided into twelve townships (see Chapter 
XXV). By this division the area of Conewango was reduced to but a fraction 
of its former extent. Still, it was yet a large township, for by the boundaries 
confirmed in 1821 it included the major portion of the present township of 
Glade, while Tionesta was temporarily attached to it. The first township elec- 
tion, after the changes above referred to, was held at the house of Daniel Jack- 
son, in the town of Warren, March 16, tR-^t 

In the mean time, while the town had increased but slowly in population, 
the township had become quite populous, and a number of well-improved farms 
were already to be seen. The first assessment under the new condition of 
affairs was made in 1822, and the following list embraces the names, etc., of 
the resident taxables in town and township during that year : 



Andrews, John, J. P., county commissioners' 

Andrews, Robert. | clerk, etc. 

Arthur, Boon. 

Alden, Richard, clothier, operating fulling-mill. 

Arthur, James, lumberman. 

Arthur, William. 

Arthur, Robert, lumberman. 

Ayres, John W. 

Ayres, Alfred. 

Adams, Joseph, carpenter. 

Ballard, .Samuel. 

Buckalew, Isaac. 

Brewer, Philo, cordwainer. 

Brown, Samuel. 



Brown, John, prothonotary. 

Brown, David, Esq. 

Bell, Robert. 

Chandler, Alvah. 

Crull, Emanuel. 

Cranston, Peleg. 

Chapman, Elijah. 

Clark, Joseph. 

Dalrymple, Mark C, distillery, value i?400. 

Dalrymple, Wm. 

Dunn, Henry, inn keeper. 

Doan, Levi. 

Dougherty, Charles. 

Derby, Edward. 



396 



History of Warren County. 



Davis, Patton. 
Eddy, Zachariah. 
Follett, James, Senr. 
Foilett, James, Jr. 
Foster, Jesse. 
Foster, David. 
Gilson, John. 
Granger, Eli. 
Geer, Asa. 
Geer, John. 

Graham, Sam!., tailor, house and lot in town. 
Gray, Joseph. 
Green, John. 
Green, Christopher. 
Green, Parker. 
Green, Edmond. 
Hackney, John, tailor. 
Hook, Moses. 
Hunter & Fisher. 
Hook, Jacob. 

Houghwout, Danl., carpenter. 
Harriot, James, of Meadville, Hackney's part- 
ner in saw-mill and lumbering business. 
Houser, John P. 

Hall, Josiah, house and lots in town. 
Hackney, Jos., Esq., associate judge. 
Hall, Joseph, stone mason, 
Hubbel & McConnell. 
Hazeltine, Abner, attorney at law. 
Jackson, David, house and lot in town. 
Jackson, Dan!., Esq., Justice of the Peace. 
Jones, Harvey. 
Jordan, Elisha. 
Jones. Jehu, single man. 
Kelly, Julius. 

King, John, house and lots in town. 
Kidder, Corbin, single man. 
Kidder, Nathaniel, settled about 1820. 
Lewis, James B. 
Littlefield, Stephen, carpenter. 
Miller, Linus H. 
Marsh, John, Sr. 
Marsh, Enoch. 
Marsh, Joseph. 
Mansfield, Abel, carpenter. 
McKinney, Michael. 
McKinney, John, 2d, single man. 
Mead, Joseph. 

When Limestone was organized, in 1829, and absorbed the now obsolete 
township of Tionosta, it took the latter, of course, from the jurisdiction of Con- 
ewango ; and by the erection and organization of (iladc township, in 1844, 



Mead, David, Jr. 
Mead. Benjamin. 
Owen, Eben. 

Owen. Barnabas, single man. 
OIney, Rulus. 
Olney, Stephen, Senr. 
Olney. Stephen, Jr. 
Olney, Wm., carpenter. 
Owen, Eben, Jr., single man. 
Owen, Orange. 
Owen, Ethan. 
Potter, Jabez. 

Parmlee, Barrett & Co., merchants in town. 
Parmlee, L. S. 

Pier. Wm., cordwainer in town. 
Portman, John. 

Reese, John, innkeeper and owner of saw- 
mill. 
Reese, Martin, Senr., outlots west of town. 
Rogers, Le\'i. 
Reese, Martin, Jr. 
Rogers, John. 

Stewart, James, double saw-mill, lived in town. 
Stebbins, Elijah. 
Stebbins, Albinus, cordwainer. 
Swift, Seth, single man. 
Stiirdevant, James, Jr. 
Scott, Asa, blacksmith in town. 
Sawj-er, Hezekiah, carpenter. 
Saxton, Saml., house and lot in town. 
Shirley, Moses, single man. 
Simmons, Peter. 
Sly, Timothy, single man. 
Shipman, James. 
Trask, Samuel. 
Tanner & Dunn. 
Thompson, Abraham. 
Thompson, Caleb. 
Tanner, Arch., merchant. 
Valentine, Robt., saw-mill. 
Wetmore, Lansing. 
Wait, Reuben. 

Willson, Johnson, single man. 
Wallace, Caleb. 
Winter, Asa. 

Walbridge, , a distiller. 

Young, Matt., county treasurer. 



CoNEWANGO Township. 



397 



Conewango was reduced to about its present limits. It is centrally located in 
the county, the Conewango Creek forming its eastern boundary. 

In 1832 the town of Warren was erected into a borough, and at this time 
the interests of the two — town and township — in civil affairs became separated. 
Separate assessment rolls were made out in 1833, and from them we learn that 
Conewango's taxables, including that part across the creek afterwards attached 
to Glade, were as follows. We will first explain, however, that a considerable 
number of those owning lands in the township were residents of the village. 
The names, where positively known to us, will appear in italics : 



Arthur, Robert, saw-mill and seat. 

Adams, Warren Z., 18 acres. 

Berry, Sidney, single man. 

Berry, John M., saw-mill, 288 acres. 

Buckalevv, Isaac. 

Berry, John J., 94 acres. 

Babcoclc, Merritt, 100 acres. 

Bell, Robert, 357 acres. 

Babcock. Harley, 200 acres. 

Babcock, David. 

Blakesley, Benjamin, 50 acres. 

Brown, Joseph, 100 acres. 

Ci-gswell, Hubbard. 

CruU, Emanuel. 

Carter Zoar, 50 acres. 

Clark, David, 50 acres. 

Colver, John D., 50 acres. 

Chapman, Amos B., 100 acres. 

Chandler, Josiah. 

Cole, William. 100 acres. 

Canon, Gilbert. 120 acres. 

Connoutt. Harr)-, 190 acres. 

Canon, Samuel, 92 acres. 

Chase, Danl., 100 acres. 

Clark, Martin. 

Davis, John S., 1 24 acres. 

Dunn, Henry, 204 acres. 

Doty, Halsey, 100 acres. 

Doty. Elisha, 150 acres. 

Doty, Isaac, 100 acres. 

Dailey, Saml., 160 acres. 

Dalrj-mple, Corning, 234 acres. 

Dalrymple, Joseph, 50 acres. 

Dean, Levi, 34 acres. 

Follett, 'James, 3 acres. 

Follett, James, Jr., 254 acres. 

Farnsworth, Josiah, 100 acres. 

Grander, Henr\', 100 acres. 

Geer, Asa, 50 acres. 

Gregory, Anson, 50 acres. 

Gibson, David, 1 50 acres. 



Gordon, Joseph C, 95 acres. 

Green, Parker, 50 acres. 

Gray, John E., 137 acres. 

Green, Christopher, 250 acres. 

Gregory, .Asa, 113 acres. 

Graham, Joseph, 50 acres. 

Gray, Jason, 30 acres. 

Huntington, Jacob, 100 acres. 

Hook, Orrin, 1186 acres. 

Houghwoiit , Danl., 74 acres. 

Herrick, Henry, 50 acres. 

Hibbard. Luther, 205 acres. 

Holt, William, 100 acres. 

Hatch. Dorastus, 84 acres. 

Hook, Francis, 56 acres. 

Hall, Saml. D., 83 acres. 

Houghton, James, 149 acres. 

Hamlin, Jacob, 1 50 acres. 

Hackney, John, 100 acres. 

Jackson, David, 100 acres. 

Joy, John. 

Jackson, Wm., 100 acres. 

Irvine, William A., 336 acres. 

Jennings, Edmond, 100 acres. 

Knapp, David, 50 acres. 

Kidder, Nathaniel. 100 acres. 

King, John, 73 acres. 

Leonard, Levi. 90 acres. 

Leonard, Calvin, 40 acres. 

Leonard, Arnold, 57 acres. 

Lee, Philip. 96 acres. 

Littletield, John. 180 acres. 

Morrison. Abijali. 

McKinney, John, Jr., (sheriff) outlot. 

Morse, Joseph. 

Morse, William. 

Morrison, James, 100 acres and outlots. 

McKinny, John, 50 acres. 

Mead David, 56 acres. 

Mead, Joseph, 114 acres. 

Mead Benjamin, 236 acres. 



398 



History of Warren County. 



McKinny, Michael, i6o acres. 
Mair, Hugh, 550 acres. 
Mallony. John, 100 acres. 
Mallony, Meredith, 89 acres. 
Owen. Ethan, 50 acres. 
Owen, Barney, ic» acres. 
Owen, Heman, 124 acres. 
Owen, Mary (widow) 124 acres. 
Olney, John, 100 acres. 
Olney, Stephen, 185 acres. 
Ott, Jacob, 75 acres. 
Parker, Titiwthy /•'., 231 acres. 
Porter, Abraham B., 156 acres. 
Parker, Oliver, saw-mill. 
Perkins, Edson, J saw-mill. 
Reese, John, 539 acres. 
Russell, Robert, 100 acres. 
Reese, Martin, 56 acres and outlets. 
Reed, John, single man. 
Shipman, William, 400 acres. 
Sturdevant, William, 150 acres. 
Salmon, Amos, 100 acres, 
Sturdevant, James, 100 acres. 



Strubler, Andras. 100 acres. 

Sidler, Jacob, 40 acres. 

Shaw, Joseph, 83 acres and i saw-mill. 

Snapp, George, 100 acres. 

Spencer, Judah, 92 acres. 

Spencer, Abner, 250 acres. 

Spencer, Alfred, 112 acres. 

Shutt, Adam, 80 acres. 

Scott, Asa, 1 19 acres. 

Sly, Timothy, 50 acres. 

Turner, Thomas, 99 acres. 

Taggart, James, 240 acres. 

Tanner, Archibald, 244 acres. 

Tamter &" Falconer, 814 acres. 

Turner, Luke. 400 acres and tavern stand. 

Taylor, Charles, 360 acres and saw-mill. 

Winter, Asa. 

Williams, Wm. 

Wilcox, Thomas, 75 acres. 

Wilcox, Thomas, Jr., no acres. 

Wiley, Saml.. 4 acres and saw-mill. 

Whitney, Joel. 

Wright, Justus B., 40 acres. 



Simmons, Peter, 586 acres. 

During the last fifty years many and varied changes have taken place. 
The township has not increased in population and wealth to an unusual extent, 
but the names and personal characteristics of its people have undergone al- 
most a complete transformation. Those of English and Scotch-Irish ancestry 
have given place to those of Alsatian and German origin to such an extent 
that at this time the latter seem to be largely in the majority. They are an 
honest, moral, and industrious class of citizens, of which any country should 
be proud. 

The general surface of the township is high and broken. The stranger in 
driving over its roads in mid-summer, when the foliage by the wayside is 
dense, is suddenly confronted by an abrupt hillside, or has an opportunity of 
peering down into a deep ravine at frequent and the most unexpected places. 
The land when brought under cultivation is productive and lasting, and abund- 
ant crops of hay, potatoes, oats, corn, etc., are annually produced. It is also 
■well adapted to grazing and dairying purposes. 

In 1886 the assessed valuation of taxable property, etc., was reported as 
follows : Value of lots and buildings, $80,735 ! acres of seated lands, 17,302 ; 
acres of unseated lands, 281 ; number of horses and mules, 312 ; number of 
oxen, four; number of cows, 386; number of resident taxables, 443. 

The little village of North Warren is very pleasantly located on the right 
bank of the Conewango, about two or three miles north of the borough of 
Warren. Besides the great structure known as the State Hospital for the In- 



CoNEWANGO Township. 399 



sane, it has a woolen-mill, hotel, post-office, lumber yard, two or three small 
stores for the sale of groceries, hardware, flour and feed, and a number of 
blacksmiths, carpenters, etc. 

The woolen-mills, first known as the " Falconer Woolen Works," were es- 
tablished about 1848. Their principal work was wool carding, though even at 
the first some coarse cassimeres, plain cloths, tweeds, etc., were manufactured. 
In later years they were owned by Judge Wetmore. About twenty years ago 
George Hazeltine came into possession, and he has since successfully operated 
them under the firm name of George Hazeltine & Co. 

In 1873 a State hospital for the insane was located near the village by a 
commission appointed by the governor. After a personal inspection of several 
of the northwestern counties, for the location of such an institution, its mem- 
bers found no place so perfectly adapted to the wants and purposes as this, in 
the beautiful valley of the Conewango. The corner-stone was laid in the 
presence of Governor Hartranft and other distinguished visitors, September 
10, 1874, and was sufficiently completed in 1880 as to admit patients. From 
the beginning its construction and management had been under the superin- 
tendency of Dr. John Curwen. In style, finish, and perfect adaptation to the 
purposes of its creation it is not surpassed by any similar institution in the 
State or on the continent. Its great good fortune has been to have the de- 
signing eye of Dr. Curwen over its architecture and construction, and of his 
learning and experience as physician-in- chief in its management and care of 
the unfortunate inmates. 

During the month of April, 1886, a correspondent of the Bradford (Pa.) 
Era prepared the following very complete description of this building, its size, 
cost, appointments, etc., and, believing that we can do no better byway of ex- 
planation, we insert it : 

North Warren Asylum. — The building, of brick faced with sandstone, is 
about 1,200 feet long, practically four stories high, situated about two miles 
north of the borough of Warren, in a beautiful valley drained by the Cone- 
wango Creek. It consists of a central building devoted to officers, reception- 
rooms, quarters for superintendent and medical staff, steward's office and 
rooms, pharmacy, sewing- room, chapel, and amusement hall. Extending at 
right angles from the center, and connected with it are a series of three con- 
necting wings, the north series devoted to male and the south series to female 
patients. These two series are divided into eleven wards each, making a total 
of twenty- two wards, capable of accommodating 600 patients according to the 
original plan, but now containing about 650, owing to the excessive overcrowd- 
ing of other similar institutions, and can hold without injury to the inmates 
quite a good many more. These wards connect with each other, those on the 
same floor by doors leading from one hall to another, and those on different 
floors by fire-proof stairways. In addition to the large double central stair- 



400 History of Warren Coui ty. 



way there are two exits from each ward by means of the fire-proof stairways 
referred to. The building is fire-proof throughout, well heated, lighted, and 
ventilated. Each is classified, patients being assigned to such one as their 
condition warrants ; No. i being filled with those convalescent or nearly so, 
while No. 1 1 contains the cases that are most violent and hopeless. The inter- 
mediate numbers are graded from one to eleven, except No. 4, which, on the 
north side, is a private and on the south a sick ward. Each ward contains a 
dining-room, pantry, bath-room, wash-room, clothes closet, an automatic closet, 
sitting-room, and is supplied with hot and cold water, elevator from the kitchen, 
dust-shaft, clothes-drop, dry room, and is thoroughly lighted, warmed and aired. 
There is not in the entire building a single room of any kind, used by patients 
or attendants, which is not better lighted, heated, ventilated, and kept cleaner 
than the rooms of the best hotel in your city. Absolute cleanliness of rooms, 
halls, table service, beds and bedding is the most striking feature about the 
building. 

The heat is furnished by four steel boilers, each one hundred horse power, 
by a system of indirect radiation as simple as it is complete. The cold air is 
drawn through two towers by means of large fans, and by the same fans driven 
through underground tunnels arched with brick into the halls or chambers in 
the cellar, containing the radiators. Above the fans in the towers is a coil of 
steam pipe, another at the entrance to the tunnel, and still another at the point 
where the tunnels enter the radiator rooms. Air having an external tempera- 
ture of zero will thus reach the radiator at about forty- eight above, and then 
passes through another individual radiator, inclosed and connected with the 
portion of the building designed to be warmed by it. Each room and hall 
has separate heating radiators, and can be shut off or opened at pleasure with- 
out in any way affecting the balance of the house. By means of ventilating 
flues from each department the foul air is carried into air ducts connected with 
the towers on the main building, the towers being thus not only an addition to 
the looks, but also to the utility of the structure. 

The same boilers also supply hot water, steam for cooking, and the laun- 
dry, and for running the carpenter and machine shops. The water is pumped 
from the Conevvango into a reservoir back of the house, and from there dis- 
tributed by gravity. The pumps are of the Worthington duplex make, and 
the quantity of water for all purposes is about 1 80 barrels an hour. The pump 
house and gas works are contained in a handsome brick building near the 
bank of the creek, about an eighth of a mile from the hospital. The gas is 
made from coal and is abundant in quantity and of fair quality. Coal (anthra- 
cite) is used as fuel, although natural gas was used until the gas company 
wanted the building and some of the rest of the earth, when the trustees con- 
cluded to fall back on the old standard fuel, and coal was reinstated. All the 
furniture used in the building is made in the shop, and all repairs, plumbing. 



Brokenstraw Township. 401 

gasfitting, etc., is also done by the regular employees of the State. A fine 
coach house of brick, in the rear of the house, furnishes ample quarters for the 
horses used for carrying the mail, airing the patients, and the steward's busi- 
ness. The garden supplies all the more common vegetables used, while the 
farming is perhaps as yet in its infancy. An immense barn, which will hardly 
bear favorable criticism either as to economy of construction, location, or adapt- 
ability to the requirements, is under process of erection. The grounds are 
being gradually laid out and beautified quite as fast as the limited means at 
the control of the superintendent will allow, and will in time be beautiful. 

Sixteen millions of brick were used in the building, which cost, including 
farm and buildings completed, in round numbers $1,000,000, and it can be 
said, to the credit of the gentlemen who had charge of the building and fitting 
up, that the money was well and judiciously expended. The work through- 
out is good, durable, and handsome, the material of the best, and the effect of 
the whole harmonious and elegant. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

HISTORY OF BROKENSTRAW TOWNSHIP. 

BROKENSTRAW township, which was organized as " Number Four," on 
the 8th of March, 1821, lies near the geographical center of Warren 
county, and is bounded north by Sugar Grove, east by Conewango and Alle- 
gheny River, separating it from the township of Pleasant, south by Deerfield, 
and west by Pittsfield. Although the soil of the town is for the most part well 
adapted for farming purposes, and is well drained by the Big Brokenstraw 
Creek, which takes its rise in the township of Columbus, and flows southerly 
and easterly through the townships of Spring Creek, Pittsfield, and Broken- 
straw into the Allegheny, and by Mathew's Run and Irvine's Run, which flow 
into the Brokenstraw, yet the original motive which induced settlement was 
the unusual facilities afforded by these same streams, and the splendid forests 
which at first covered the town, for lumbering. The names of these hardy and 
adventurous pioneers will be given soon. 

The name Brokenstraw, it seems, is taken from the Indian word of that 
meaning — Cushanadauga — bestowed upon this region from the fact that the 
Irvine Flats once bore an annual crop of tall prairie grass, which in the fall 
would break and fall over. About on the site of the present borough of 
Youngsville, during the Revolutionary War, the Indians had quite a village, 
called Buckaloon, from which they descended the river in canoes and commit- 



402 History of Warren County. 

ted depredations on the country below. In 1781 Colonel Brodhead, with a 
detachment from Pittsburgh, attacked, and, after a siege of some days, drove 
them from their village, and destroyed a large crop of corn then growing on 
the flats. He then fortified his position by erecting breastworks at the highest 
point on the bank of the river, a short distance above the mouth of the creek, 
traces of which may still be seen. It is stated that Robert Andrews, who is 
mentioned more at length in the " History of Pittsfield," was the pioneer set- 
tler on the Brokenstraw ; but he was not long in advance of the first settlers in 
this township. The first resident settler here was probably John McKinney, 
who came on in the summer of 1795, with commissioners appointed by the gov- 
ernor to survey this part of the country. " McKinney," as the Hon. Samuel 
P. Johnson has well said, " was then a fresh import from the Emerald Isle, 
young, vigorous, and adventurous ; had first halted at Lancaster, where his serv- 
ices were engaged by the commissioners. His visit here had given him a view 
of this valley, and a knowledge of the fact that there was land here to be had 
for the taking." Accordingly he returned the next year, and took up what is 
still known as the McKinney farm, about one and a half miles east of Youngs- 
ville, on the road to Irvineton. There he lived two or three years alone, clear- 
ing the forests and subduing the obstinate wilderness. He then returned to 
La..^aster and married Miss Arthur, who afterward lived here with him and 
reared a family which have since become prominent beyond the town limits for 
energy and integrity. McKinney's house afterward became the hotel of the 
settlement. He was shrewd, hospitable, genial, and thoroughly democratic. He 
was one of the most extensive farmers of the neighborhood, and was a heavy 
dealer in lumber, horses, cattle, etc., etc. He had a large family of boys, and 
one daughter. The children of his son, Arthur, now occupy the old home- 
stead. John McKinney, jr., became a very wealthy citizen of Youngsville. He 
was the fifth sherifi" of Warren county, elected in 1831, and it was during his 
term of office that his father died. In 1829 he married Loranda, daughter of 
William Simmons, of Jamestown, N. Y., after which event they always lived 
on the place now occupied by his widow, in Youngsville. He died in Decem- 
ber, 1878. He was prominent as a lumberman, who in all his dealing avoided 
loss. 

In 1797 Callender Irvine, then a young man, undertook in person, aided 
only by his servant, " Black Tom," to make the actual settlement then required 
to perfect the title which his father, the famous Revolutionary general, had pro- 
cured. The first house stood on the ground now occupied by the railroad 
station at Irvineton, but this was abandoned for higher ground after the mem- 
orable " Pumpkin Flood " of 1805. When he came here his nearest neighbors 
were John McKinney, two miles above him, Mathew Young, on the site of 
Youngsville, and Robert Andrews, at Pittsfield. The Irvine family are of Scotch 
descent, some of their ancestors having received a grant of land in Ulster 







r-^»lPV HBFoir* 5»nA2ft** 




Brokenstraw Township. 403 

county, Ireland, from James VI. For some time before the year 1804 (when 
his father died) Callender Irvine was in command of the fort at Erie, Pa.; but 
he then resigned his command to look after the extensive property left to him. 
He shortly afterward became commissary-general of the United States army, 
a position which he filled for some thirty-four years and until his death. (For 
a sketch of this family, especially of Dr. William Irvine, see later pages of 
this work.) The title to this extended property in the eastern part of Broken- 
straw has thus never been vested in any hands but of the Irvine family. 

In the spring of 1796 Mathew Young, a Scotchman and a bachelor, 
" pitched his tent " on the site of the borough of Youngsville, and began a 
career which justly entitled him to the distinction of bequeathing his name to 
the beautiful and prosperous village that sprang up around him. Mr. Johnson 
relates an incident of him which so tersely illustrates one of his peculiarities 
that we cannot forbear inserting it in this place : " Late in the spring of that 
year (1796) Callender Irvine, anxious to cultivate acquaintance with his neigh- 
bors, and to see how they prospered, walked up to see Mr. Young, and found 
him engaged in opening out what is now the main street of the borough, and 
extending it down the creek. He inquired of Young, with real curiosity, what 
he was about, and why he was not putting in some crops. With the utmost 
simplicity he replied : ' Why, man, I'm more fond of a beautiful prospect.' To 
which Mr. Irvine retorted : ' The prospect is, you will either starve or have to 
leave the country before spring.' Sure enough, when fall came he had no corn 
and was kept from starvation only by the surplus of provisions Irvine had and 
generously furnished him, when he went abroad to winter." 

Young lived for many years the life of a recluse, making his home most of 
the time with John McKinney, sr., at whose house he often taught children in 
the evenings. He taught school frequently in town, a calling for which he was 
well adapted, being well educated, and a friend and general favorite of chil- 
dren. He was county treasurer from 1821 to 1823, the second to hold that 
office (Archibald Tanner being the first). In 1807 he built the first saw-mill, 
on what is called the Siggins water power. He died on the 4th of August, 
1825, while on a visit to Charles Smith, in Deerfield township, and was brought 
back in a canoe and buried in the village cemetery at Youngsville. His 
remains now lie in the cemetery of the Odd Fellows. He is described, by one 
who well remembers his appearance, as being tall, slender, and erect, with very 
light complexion and (in later years) with white hair. " He was simple in his 
character, earnest in his purposes, and eccentric in his habits, with a kind heart 
for all, and an integrity that was never tarnished." 

In 1798 Hugh Wilson emigrated from Northumberland county and set- 
tled on the place now occupied by the Rouse Hospital. He owned this entire 
farm of four hundred acres, and became a prominent and influential farmer and 
lumberman, though he had no mills. He reared a large family, and had one 



404 History of Warren County. 

of the best farms in the county at the time. About 1835, by some misadven- 
ture in business, he became involved in debt, and was obhged to leave the 
home to which he had become endeared. He went to Clearfield county, where 
he died in 1S46. He was a man of generous and manly impulses, and an 
honest purpose. His hospitality was boundless. 

Contemporary with him, Joseph Gray settled on what was afterward called 
the McGuire and still later the Horn place, on the Brokenstraw. 

In 1793 Darius Mead, with his sons David, John, Darius, and Joseph, and 
two daughters, emigrated from the Susquehanna River in what is now known 
as Lycoming county, to the tract of land now embracing Meadville, from 
whom it took its name. By reason of the hostile demonstrations of the Indians 
they removed to Franklin, where was a fort and United States garrison. The 
following spring, while the father was plowing in a field in the vicinity, a party 
of three Indians came stealthily and suddenly upon him, seized and bound him 
hand and foot. They took him about twenty miles into the woods westerly 
from Franklin, where they stopped to encamp for the night. While the Indians 
were cutting wood for their camp fire. Mead succeeded in extricating one of 
his hands. As one of the Indians came up with an armful of wood, and was 
bending over in the act of kindling the fire. Mead stepped up, and drawing a 
large hunting knife from the Indian's belt, plunged it into his heart. The 
other two came up at that moment, and a desperate encounter at once com- 
menced. It is supposed that Mead succeeded in mortally wounding one of his 
antagonists, but he was finally o\'erpowcred and brutally murdered, and cut to 
pieces with a tomahawk. 

After the subsidence of the Indian troubles, David and John Mead returned 
to Meadville. In the spring of 1799 Joseph and Darius removed to Warren 
county with their families, the former settling on the Big Brokenstraw, where 
Mead's mill now stands, about a mile west of Youngsville. Darius located on 
the farm more recently owned and occupied by Captain James Bonner. In a 
year or two, however, he joined his brother, and with him built a grist-mill 
and two saw-mills. This was the first grist-mill in Warren county, there being 
at that time no mill within a radius of thirty miles. To the mill at Union, and 
that belonging to the Holland Land Company at Titusville, many grists were 
borne from this county on the backs of their owners or of the patient oxen, 
guided through the trackless forests only by Indian trails. Mead's mill, it has 
been said, was the Mecca to which the population of a large district made 
regular pilgrimages for supplies. It is said that in dry times some grists came 
forty miles. The inhabitants of Columbus brought their grists to this mill in 
canoes. Darius Mead was an acting justice for several years, and was hospita- 
ble and social in his habits. It is told of him that once, pending the delivery 
of a sermon at his house the Rev. Bishop Roberts, Darius Mead and his friend 
Isaiah Jones went to the cupboard and indulged in a drink of whisky. When 



Brokenstraw Township. 405 

requested to postpone the drinking until after the services were over, he replied : 
"Bishop, stick to your text; never mind us and we'll not disturb you." 

Darius Mead died in 1813, and was buried in the cemetery on the original 
John Andrews farm. In 18 13 Joseph removed to a farm on the Allegheny 
River, three miles below Warren, including the island which still bears his 
name, and passed the remainder of his life there, dying in March, 1846. His 
wife, Hannah, died on the 25th of February, 1856, at the age of seventy-seven 
years and four months. They were the parents of fourteen children, eleven of 
whom were living at the time of their mother's death. Many of the descend- 
ants of these hardy brothers are now living in Brokenstraw township, and are 
worthy of their ancestry. 

After the death of Darius Mead the mill came into the hands of his 
nephew, John Mead, who had labored in them since 1807, as a hired man. 
John Mead, jr., was born near Sunbury, Pa., on the 28th of August, 1786. 
While he was yet a mere child his father, John, sr., removed to the valley of 
French Creek at Meadville, as before stated. In the spring of 1807 John, jr., 
came to the valley of the Brokenstraw, in company with his brother William, 
to labor in the mills of his uncles, Joseph and Darius. He married Sallie Hoff- 
man on the 1 2th of October, 1809, and built his house on a piece of land 
which his father-in-law gave him. In 18 14 he and John Garner bought the 
Mathew Young tract of 400 acres, for $2,500 — the tract containing nearly all 
the land now within the limits of the borough of Youngsville. He rebuilt the 
Mead mills several times. He died on the 4th of November, 1870. Before 
his death his son Darius operated the mills for some time, and finally sold the 
saw-mill to Mad. Alger and the grist-mill to H. T. Marshall. In connection 
with these mills it is well to mention honest and ingenious John Gregg, who 
came in the early part of this century and settled about two miles north of 
Youngsville. He ground the corn for the Mead mill, and also preached the 
gospel according to the Methodist persuasion, made hickory splint cables for 
the lumbermen at three dollars apiece, and educated two sons for the ministry. 
His brother, Samuel Gregg, a bachelor, hired out to Judge Siggins and cleared 
for him the place now occupied by his son, William F. Siggins. 

Another early settler, whose arrival in Brokenstraw antedates the year 
1806, was William Arthur, who lived two miles west of Youngsville on the 
Brokenstraw, and as late as 1820 owned the mills at Wrightsville. His farm 
is now occupied by his son, William Callender Arthur. William Carpenter, 
also here previous to 1806, lived on the Brokenstraw, and is remembered as a 
lumberman of considerable activity. On one occasion he accompanied John 
Siggins and Daniel Horn to New Orleans on a raft. On their way back Sig- 
gins died at Natchez. Carpenter died some time previous to 1830, and has 
now no descendants in town. Still others who are mentioned in the list of 
taxables for 1806 were William Cochran, a single man, who sawed in the mill 



4o6 History of Warren County. 

of Judge Siggins, and who afterward went to Pithole during the oil excite- 
ment, and became wealthy ; David Carr, who owned two hundred acres of 
land at the mouth of the Brokenstraw ; Abraham Davis, brother of Elijah, 
who (Abraham) lived on the Brokenstraw in the eastern part of the borough 
of Youngsville, on the place now occupied by his son, William A. Davis, and 
who farmed and lumbered until his death, something over twenty years ago ; 
John Davis, brother of Abraham, who lived on what is now East Main street 
in Youngsville, on the place now occupied by his descendants, who was the 
father of ex-Sheriffs Sylvester and Sylvanus Davis, now of Warren, and who, 
though poor, left his children an inheritance of brain and brawn which has 
secured them a competence and a good position in life; William Davis, brother 
of John Davis, and father-in-law of W. H. Shortt, who, until his death about 
seven years ago, lived in the eastern part of Youngsville borough ; Philip Huff- 
man, who lived in the western part of the present township of Brokenstraw, 
and carried on quite a farm there, where he died more than thirty years ago, 
an old man ; and Barnabas McKinney, who at first lived on a farm near the 
present Irvinton, until the early death of his wife, after which he came to live 
with his nephew at Youngsville. 

Nearly or quite all of the settlers before 1806 have now been mentioned, 
among them being some of the most prominent men in the history of the 
town. This chapter would be very incomplete, however, without some men- 
tion of such men as Judge Siggins and Abraham Davis, and others who 
arrived between the years 1806 and 1820. Judge William Siggins was born 
in Center county, Pa., in 1789. His father died in 1801, and two years later 
he came with his brother George to Pithole, in Venango county, then a wilder- 
ness almost uninhabited. It is related that the few settlers who were there 
were holding at that time an old-fashioned revival, that William Siggins was 
converted from the primrose paths of religious indifference, that he had the 
power, and that he received a pious impulse which did not forsake him in all 
the after years of struggle and activity. In 1 807 he settled on the Broken- 
straw, on the site of Youngsville and of the place now occupied by his son, 
William F. Siggins. There was no house of worship in this neighborhood 
then, and four years elapsed with little opportunity for Christian converse. In 
181 1, however, he had the privilege of going to Meadville to attend the first 
camp-meeting ever held in this part of the country. He married in 1812, and 
at that time built a grist-mill at Pithole. In 181 5 he returned to Youngsville, 
where he remained until his death, on the 15th of July, 1875. His wife preceded 
him in 1855. Judge Siggins was a life-long and fervent Christian, though for 
reasons best known to himself he severed his connection with the church as 
early as 1837. He had not only a "sound mind in a sound body," but a 
powerful mind in a powerful body, and it was a pity that he had not the ad- 
vantage of a more thorough academic training, which would have made him 



^ 't^ tl^%^ 







^ ^' 



Brokenstraw Township. 407 

more skillful in the use of the weapons that nature had put into his hands. He 
bore an active part in the War of 18 12, and was with Commodore Perry at 
Erie. His mind was admirably adapted for judicial labors, a fact sufficiently 
attested by his long service as justice of the peace, and his long train of deci- 
sions, not one of which, it is said, was reversed on appeal. He was also asso- 
ciate judge for the five years following 1842. He was decidedly impulsive in 
disposition, though his strong sense of justice usually checked him from mak- 
ing a perverse use of his natural force. 

The parents of Judge Siggins were both from the north of Ireland, and 
were of Scotch descent. His wife was Polly Wilson, of Center county. Pa. 
They had twelve children — eight sons and four daughters — of whom three 
sons and two daughters are now living. Two of the sons, Nathaniel and Will- 
iam F., now reside in Youngsville. His youngest son, Porter, served during 
the late war in the One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment of Pennsylvania Vol- 
unteers, and rendered distinguished assistance to the Northern cause — taking 
part in nineteen engagements. He was killed at Antietam by a bullet, which 
passed through a pocket Testament to his heart. (For a sketch of William F. 
Siggins, see biographical notes at the close of the volume.) 

James Davis, who is now the most aged of the surviving settlers in Bro- 
kenstraw, came to this township from Columbus with his father, Elijah Davis, 
in 1809. Elijah came to Columbus from Northumberland county six years 
previously. In 1809 they settled on the site of Irvinton. In 18 15 they removed 
to what is now Youngsville, where Elijah Davis died in 1823. James Davis 
was born in Columbus on the 2d day of October, 1804. On the 7th day of 
November, 1827, he married Jane Martin, a native of what is now Fulton 
county, N. Y., who at the present writing (December, 1886) is still living with 
her husband. On the 7th of November, 1886, they were given a party by their 
numerous friends in Youngsville, and presented with several elegant gifts. Mr. 
and Mrs. Davis have seven children now living — two sons and five daughters. 
Mr. Davis says that when became here in 1809 the " forest primeval " had 
hardly been broken into. The largest clearing was a five or six- acre plot at 
Irvinton. On the east side of the Brokenstraw, in what is now Youngsville, 
Mathew Young had cleared a tract of nearly the same extent, and had built 
and started a single saw-mill. Young then kept bachelor's hall in a small log 
house on the ground between the present Wade house and the hardware store. 
John Arthur then lived on the site of the present residence of William F. 
Siggins, and operated the saw- mill for Young. The two saw-mills and the 
grist-mill of Joseph and Darius Mead were then in active operation in the 
western part of the town. One John Crawford lived near the turn of the road 
leading to Tidioute, at Irvinton, the place being afterward occupied by John 
Long. Joseph Gray lived near the site of the Irvinton station, where the 
spring and the oak trees may now be seen. John Andrews had built a saw- 



4o8 History of Warren County. 

mill below Irvinton, and lived where Dr. William Irvine recently died. There 
were no hotels or taverns in town, and no mills but those mentioned. The 
principal business even at that early date was the rafting of lumber to Pitts- 
burgh and New Orleans. The principal farmers in this neighborhood were 
Hugh Wilson, on the Rouse farm, and John McKinney, on the ne.xt farm 
below. 

Settlers Ai-riving between 1806 and 1820. — Following are brief items 
concerning the inhabitants of Brokenstraw township, whose arrival dates be- 
tween the years 1806 and 1820. Joel Barton was a farmer who lived about 
one and a half miles north of Youngsville, and a number of years after 
his arrival here removed to Pittsfield. Stephen Crippen lived about one 
and a half miles south of Youngsville. He was a carpenter by trade. He 
went west as many as thirty years ago. John Camp, a millwright, and an 
officer of the Methodist Church, lived on what is now called the Charles Whit- 
ney place. He was more than an ordinary man. About 1828 or 1830 he 
went to Missouri. John Crippen took up a farm on York Hill, also about one 
and a half miles south from Youngsville, but afterward sold his farm and moved 
to Youngsville, where he died, probably about twenty-five years ago. It 
seems that he has descendants now in Deerfield township. Judge Isaac Con- 
nelly settled on the farm which lies on the eastern line of Youngsville borough. 
He was the first associate judge appointed in Warren county, in i8ig, and 
held that office for twenty-one consecutive years. His son, W. W. Connelly, 
who now lives near Tidioute, was also associate for the five years following 
1876. Isaac Connelly lived for a number of years in Deerfield township, 
where he owned and operated a saw- mill, but came back to Brokenstraw, 
where he died about 1864. None of his descendants are now in town, though 
he has two sons and several daughters elsewhere. 

Isaac Davis lived on Hull's Hill for a number of years, but died in Youngs- 
ville. He had a large family. John Dougherty was one of the earliest of the 
school teachers in Youngsville. Between 1825 and 1830 he removed to Buf- 
falo, where he became a merchant and speculator in lands, and acquired great 
wealth. Jeremiah Dunn, it is said, gave Dunn's Eddy its name by the prox- 
imity to that place of his residence. This is two miles below Irvinton, in the 
Allegheny River. He had an early tavern at that point, but went away years 
ago, and none of the family remain in the vicinity. Richard Duprey occupied 
a farm in the northern part of the town, toward Sugar Grove. Although he 
had a large farm, he also had a large family, and the wants of the one en- 
croached to such a degree upon the productiveness of the other that poor 
Duprey was nearly always "hard up." He died at least as early as 1850, 
leaving descendants which still survive. Andrew or "Andy " Farrely lived 
below Irvinton, and had a whisky distillery near "Still House Run." He 
also engaged more or less extensively in the lumber trade. He is described 



Brokenstraw Township. 409 

as a hearty, driving fellow, tall and stout, and withal a good judge of whisky. 
He moved away at a pretty early day, leaving no descendants hereabouts. 
Roger Filer was a carpenter and joiner, and lived in Youngsville, where two 
of his sons, Samuel and Wallace, still reside and carry on the trade of their 
father. Roger died here of old age only a few years ago. Christopher Green 
came here in 18 17, and settled about half a mile east of the business part of 
Youngsville borough. In 1820 he removed to Yankee Bush, in Conewango 
township. James Green (grandfather of Dorwin Green, now a respected resi- 
dent of Youngsville) also came here in 18 17, and for some time kept a shoe 
shop in the western part of the borough. James Sturdevant, also grandfather 
of Dorwin Green, came in 18 17, and brought Dorwin with him, then an in- 
fant. Sturdevant settled on a farm in what is now the western part of the 
borough. He died very early, and was one of the first tenants of the old 
burying-ground. John Garner, who only a few years ago moved to Ohio, was 
an early settler on a farm about three miles west of the borough. He also 
owned and operated a saw-mill. Nathan Howard was the first occupant of 
what is now called CruU's Island, in the Allegheny River, and gave to that isl- 
and his name for a number of years. He went away, however, at an early 
day, and little is known about him. Powell Hoffman lived many years on 
the line between Pittsfield and Brokenstraw. His brother Jacob lived on the 
adjoining farm. They at last sold out and went to Union City. Descendants 
of theirs are now residing at Corry. Hull's Hill derived its name from Chester 
Hull, who was the first settler on its bosom. There he reared a large family 
and carried on a large farm. Three of his sons became Methodist ministers. 
Chester Hull died on Hull's Hill as early, probably, as 1825. Miner Noble, a 
cabinet-maker, lived and moved and had his being and plied his trade in the 
eastern part of the borough until about fifty years ago, when he and all his 
house went West. Amasa Ransom, a lumberman and farmer, lived about one 
mile west of the borough. He went to Beaver, Pa., forty years ago, though 
his son Adoniram has repurchased the old place and now occupies it. 

John Siggins was a single man and a brother of William, with whom he 
abode. He died previous to 1830. Another brother, Alexander, was a black- 
smith in Youngsville, and the pillar of the Methodist Church. His death oc- 
curred about twenty-five years ago. 

Adam Shutt lived and died on the Barney McKinney place, adjoining the 
Rouse farm. He reared a family of a number of sons and two daughters. 
One son, Jacob, is now an influential citizen of Covington, Ky., and another, 
William G., lives in Pittsford. 

Stephen Littlefield, a carpenter by trade, resided about two miles west of 
Youngsville until the oil excitement " in the sixties," when he sold out and 
removed to Kingsville, O. He was a strong Democrat and an influential poli- 
tician. He was elected the second sheriff of Warren county in 1822. His 



4IO History of Warren County. 

descendants are not living in this neighborhood at the present time. Thomas 
McGuire had a farm and dweUing house a short distance west of the site of the 
railroad station at Irvineton, where he died not far from forty years ago. 
Philip Mead lived in the western part of Brokenstraw township. He had a 
large family of children, a number of whom are now residents of this vicin- 
ity. He died about twenty years ago. He was but distantly related to his 
namesake, who was so long a merchant and justice of the peace in Youngs- 
ville. Samuel Trask, a farmer, lived in the western part of Youngsville village, 
where he died ten or twelve years ago. He had quite a family. A grand- 
daughter, Sigourney by name, is at the head of a mission at Hong Kong, and 
is also a physician. Alfred Van Armon will be mentioned again in connection 
with the early taverns of the town. He was accustomed, when his guests 
were treating each other, to invite himself to join them with the remark, 
" What have I done that I shouldn't have a drink ? " and thus receive pay for 
drinking his own liquor. Charles Whitney, who died about twenty years ago 
at his home in the western part of Youngsville borough, was one of the 
wealthiest and most extensive lumbermen of early times. None of his chil- 
dren are now living. Nehemiah York, who has the distinction of giving his 
name to York Hill, acquired his possessions in part by taking up 400 acres of 
State land. He died at his home but a few years ago, leaving " him surviv- 
ing," according to legal phrase, a number of sons and daughters. 

Henry Kinnear, son of Robert, was born in Ireland on Easter Sunday in 
1764. He came to this country about the year 1790. After passing a short 
time in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, he settled in Center county, where 
he remained a number of years. He married in 1797. Thence he went to 
Venango county, near Titusville, and came to Youngsville in 1815. During 
this season he purchased a part of the Mathew Young tract, built and occu- 
pied a small log house, and in the following summer erected a small framed 
storehouse. These buildings stood about on the site of the present Odd Fel- 
lows' Hall. Henry Kinnear was the first merchant in Youngsville. On the 
6th day of August, 18 16, he was appointed and commissioned a justice of the 
peace by Simon Snyder, then governor of the State. His commission was 
recorded in Franklin, Venango county, on the 27th of August, 18 16, and again 
in Warren county on the 19th of December, 1 820. In 18 19 he was appointed 
one of the first commissioners of Warren county, continuing in that office two 
terms. Besides clearing his land and cultivating in some measure his farm, he 
kept a store sufficiently stocked to supply the needs of the community, and 
continued an acting justice of the peace during his lifetime. 

About the year 1810, while Henry Kinnear was acting in the capacity of 
constable in Venango county, he had a warrant for the arrest of a notorious 
ruffian and desperado named Polen Hunter. Against the threats of the crimi- 
nal, Kinnear attempted his forcible apprehension, when he received from 




■Bw' iy SS BmXs Sins. JEv"^'* 



/L ^l._.X 



/ . / 



Brokenstraw Township. 411 

Hunter a wound in the hip from which he never recovered. It is said that he 
succeeded in obtaining pecuniary redress for the injury. He died on the 6th 
of March, 1826. He had a family of nine children, five sons and four daugh- 
ters, all now dead, but many of whose children are now residents of Broken- 
straw township or Youngsvilie borough. Henry P. Kinnear and C. V. Kinnear 
have been perhaps the most prominent of his sons in Youngsvilie. The latter 
was born in Venango county on the 8th of January, 1 808, and came to War- 
ren county with his father in 181 5. Upon the death of his father he took up 
the trade, and continued to be one of the prominent and active merchants of 
Youngsvilie for a period of fifty years, besides engaging to some extent in the 
lumber trade. On the 19th of May, 1836, he was appointed and commissioned 
a justice of the peace by Governor Joseph Ritner. When the office was made 
elective in 1842, he was the choice of the voters of Brokenstraw township, 
and by successive re-elections held the position for twenty-four years. He 
was county auditor for ten years, represented the county in the State Legisla- 
ture in the session of 1852 and 1853, and in 1871 was elected and commis- 
sioned an associate judge of the county, and served in that position for five 
years. He was a warm friend of the common schools, serving as director for 
near a quarter of a century. He died September 6, 1884. Henry P. Kinnear 
was born in Youngsvilie on the 26th of July, 18 16. As soon as he reached 
years of discretion he began to manifest an interest in public affairs, and, as 
has been said by another, he became a politician because he could not help it. 
He served two terms as sheriff of Warren county; the first from 1843 to 1846, 
and the second from 1861 to 1864. He was a member of the Legislature in 
the session of 1847 ^"d 1848. It was he who obtained for Youngsvilie its 
charter and for the Odd Fellows Cemetery Association theirs. He died June 
28, 1886. 

Early Business in Brokenstraw. — Mention having already been made of 
the first mills in the township, it is unnecessary in this place to recur to them. 
We have also stated something concerning the rude condition of the country 
in the first decade of years in its settlement. As late as 1 809 there were in 
all this part of the country only such roads as were demanded by the most 
imperative necessities of the inhabitants. When the route was determined 
upon, the underbrush was cleared away ; such trees as could not be avoided 
by a gentle curve were cut down, and the stump frequently left to be straddled 
by the wheels or runners of the vehicles ; and such mud holes as interposed 
very seriously in the path of the traveler were converted into corduroy. There 
was thus early no bridge at Irvineton, and the stream had to be crossed by 
fording, or by patronizing the ferry of Elijah Davis and his sons. Indians were 
plenty. About 1825 or 1830, however, the population had increased very 
perceptibly, and internal improvements had been considerably developed. The 
principal business was manufacturing lumber, or rafting timber down the river 



412 History of Warren County. 

to the various markets between this place and New Orleans. Saw-mills were 
therefore numerous. John Garner and Charles Whitney owned and operated 
the mill which stood farthest up the Brokenstraw within the present limits of 
the township, on a site which now gives forth no sign of former industry of 
this kind. Next on the way down stream were the saw-mills and the grist- 
mill of Joseph and Darius Mead. Then appeared the grist and saw-mill of 
Judge William Siggins, in the central part of the present borough of Youngs- 
ville, which their owner kept in operation until 1872. They then ceased run- 
ning. About forty rods farther down stood another saw-mill, owned also by 
Judge Siggins, which has not been in operation for many years. Still farther 
down Judge Siggins owned a grist and saw-mill (about three-fourths of a mile 
east of Youngsville). He afterwards sold them to Charles Whitney, who 
allowed the grist-mill to go down, but rebuilt the saw-mill. The last owner 
of this mill was William Freese, who long ago left it to the mercy of the de- 
composing elements. At Irvineton were the grist and saw-mill of Dr. William 
A. Irvine, which had been erected very early by his predecessor, under the 
direction, it is said, of his father. The mills are still in operation under the 
management of Dr. Irvine's estate. Dr. Irvine also erected and started a 
woolen-factory about thirty years ago, and a short time later set in operation 
a foundry which had been erected under his management. Both have been 
quiet for a number of years. 

The first tannery in town was built and operated by John McKee, on the 
site of the present stave-mill in Youngsville borough, as many as fifty years 
ago. After successfully operating it for a number of years McKee allowed it 
to fall into inocuous desuetude. Since that event Bowman & Culbertson built 
and operated a tannery in the northern part of Youngsville borough, which 
continued in operation until ten or twelve years ago. 

The only distillery in town within the recollection of living men was started 
by Mark Dalrymple on Still House Run, below the mouth of the Brokenstraw. 
Andrew Farrely afterward kept it running for a time, but left it early to 
decay. 

The Rouse Hospital. — Full details of the manner in which the munificent 
intentions of Henry R. Rouse were efiectuated in part by the erection of this 
building in war times are given in an earlier chapter of this work. 

MUMCIl'.M. HISTORY. 

Youngsville. — This borough, named from its first permanent settler, who laid 
out many of its streets, and seemed to have a prophetic vision of the relative 
importance in the county which the otispring of his somewhat fanciful energy 
would attain, had grown to be quite a village when it was incorporated, on the 
4th day of September, 1849, and organized on the 15th of Februarj' following, 
by the election of Archibald Alexander, burgess; William Siggins and John 



Brokenstraw Township. 413 

Hull, councilmen ; Philip Mead, treasurer; Henry P. Kinnear, clerk ; John Sig- 
gins, collector, etc. James Davis is authority for the statement that as early as 
1800 Mathevv Young carved the quaint word " Yungval " on a large flat stone 
which stood for many years on ground now covered by the brick hardware store, 
and was used as a doorstep. The name Youngsville was naturally given to the 
place as soon as it became a settlement, in the first decade of the present cent- 
ury. We have seen that the first store in the village or township was that of 
Henry Kinnear, opened in 18 16, which was practically continued until the 
death of his son, Carter V. Kinnear, in 1884. It is worthy of remark that W. 
D. Kinnear, a grandson of Henry and a son of Carter V. Kinnear, is now a 
merchant here. The next merchant was probably Henry McCuUough, who 
started a store across from Kinnear previous to 1830, on land which he had 
purchased from William Siggins. He removed to Pittsburgh as early as 1832 
or 1833, where he engaged in the wholesale iron trade and became very 
wealthy. John Gillespie started a store in Youngsville soon after the business 
of Henry Kinnear was established ; but he soon failed, and his name has not 
become prominent in the annals of the town. 

The first tavern in town was probably that unpretentious hostelry of John 
McKinney, below the Rouse farm. Mathew Young next built a hotel on the 
site of the present Wade House and sold it to John Mead and John Garner. 
The first landlord was Amasa Ransom, who leased it of Mead. In a short 
time after it was opened Mead and Garner sold the property, with ten acres of 
land adjoining the site, to John McKinney, who rented it to Cephas Hurlburt 
about a year. William Siggins followed, and was there in 1822, when William 
F. Siggins was born. The proprietors or lessees since the retirement of Judge 
Siggins, about 1823, have been, as well as may be remembered, as follows: 
John Layler, William Arthur, Morrell Lowrey, Robert McKinney, son of John, 
sr., Mathew McKinney, brother of Robert. At this period the house was torn 
down, and John McKinney immediately rebuilt, on the same ground, the pres- 
ent Wade House. Since then some of the landlords have been Peter S. Wade, 
son-in-law of John McKinney, who remained a number of years, besides 
others who remained but a short time, among them John Siggins, about 1846 
or 1847, William Gray and his successor, A. P. Garfield, the present proprie- 
tor, who came here about three years ago. The house is well kept, and looks 
carefully to the comfort of its guests. 

About 1822 Alfred Van Armon started a tavern on the site of the new 
brick store on East Main street, and was succeeded by Elijah Davis the 
younger, Robert Kinnear, and several others. It did not last long. The site 
of the American House was first used for hotel purposes about 1827 by 
Charles Whitney. Among his successors were Abraham Wilson, Thomas 
Turner, Dorwin Green and others. A short time previous to 1850 it burned 
and the present structure was erected by William Mead. 



414 History of Warren County. 

The Fairmont House first saw the light about 185 1, when John Siggins 
built it. Siggins had erected one there about three years before, but it had 
burned in the fail of 1849, and he rebuilt it in 185 i, about as it is at present. 
After keeping the house for a number of years he rented it to J. S. Trask, of 
Irvineton. Dorwin Green bought the property afterwards of the estate of John 
Siggins, and entertained the traveling public hospitably for a period, when he was 
succeeded, in November, 1879, by the present proprietor, C. H. Gregory, who 
besides keeping a first-class house deals extensively in horses and other live 
stock, carriages, wagons, etc. The house will comfortably accommodate 
thirty guests. 

Mills. — The early mills having been already mentioned at length, it will be 
necessary only to say a word concerning the mills now in operation in and 
about Youngsville. Some ten or twelve years ago R. A. Kinnear built a plan- 
ing mill near the railroad station, of which he still retains the ownership and 
active management. J. W. Agrelius, another of Youngsville's most promi- 
nent business men, in company with Carter V. Kinnear, who had a one-third 
interest in the concern, built a stave-mill, of which he is now the sole owner. 
It stands near the site of one of the old mills before mentioned. At the pres- 
ent writing we have not learned the new owner of the new saw-mill, built about 
six years ago by Jed. Bartlett, and afterward owned by Henry Woodin. The 
planing-mill now owned and operated by George Pierson was built about five 
years ago by himself and W. Filer. Mr. Pierson has been sole proprietor 
since the spring of 1886. 

Mercantile Business. — The merchant of longest standing now in Youngs- 
ville, we believe, is J. G. McKee, who established himself in business here 
about twenty years ago. Excepting about three years he has occupied the 
building which is now his store, all this period. He carries a stock of groceries 
valued at about $2,000. 

Mad. Alger came to Youngsville and opened a store on West Main street 
in the fall of 1867. In June, 1885, he removed to the building which he now 
occupies. He carries stock worth about $3,000. 

W. J. Mead and B. J. Jackson, who keep on hand a good line of hardware 
stock, and trade under the firm style of Mead & Jackson, formed their part- 
nership about eighteen years ago. Their goods are estimated to be worth 
about $7,000. 

J. VV. Agrelius, who deals in a stock of drugs and medicines valued at 
some $8,000, began his career as merchant in Youngsville about ten years ago. 
After dealing in partnership with Carter V. Kinnear one year and with VV. A. 
Mains two years he continued the trade alone, and is now sole proprietor of the 
business. 

The dry goods and general mercantile business now conducted by H. L. 
Mead & Co. was established by J. D. Mead in November, 1877. In Decern- 




^: C^^ r3^U^n^h 



Brokenstraw Township. 415 

ber, 1883, he took into partnership with him his son H. L. Mead, the relation 
continuing until July, 1886, when the present firm, consisting of H. L. and C. 
S. Mead, was formed. Their stock varies in value from about $7,000 to 
$8,000. 

The firm of McDowell & Kinnear, composed of L. McDowell and W. 
D. Kinnear, was formed about four years ago. The business was established 
about six months previously by William Spinner. The present firm are ex- 
tensive dealers in hardware of all kinds, carrying stock worth some $5,000. 
The junior member of this firm is, as has before been stated, a grandson of the 
first merchant in the town, and a son of the merchant who was longest in bus- 
iness in Youngsville. 

The general store of A. F. Swanson was started by the present proprietor 
three years ago. George K. Murray has dealt in jewels in Youngsville about 
three years. W. B. Phillips has had a harness shop here about two years. 

W. D. Belnap began dealing in general merchandise here in November, 
1886. Excepting three years which he passed in the army during the last war, 
and nine years in California, he has passed his mature life in Warren county, 
his father, Guernsey Belnap, having emigrated to Pittsfield from his native 
(Erie) county in 1826, when W. D. was six years of age. 

The Youngsville Savings Bank was established in 1875. The first presi- 
ident was John McKinney; vice-president, Henry P. Kinnear, and cashier, 
John A. Jackson. Mr. Kinnear succeeded Mr. McKinney as president and 
remained in that office until his death. B. J. Jackson is at the present writing 
vice-president, and John A. Jackson is cashier. 

Physicians, Past a7id Present. — The first resident physician in the township 
of Brokenstraw was Dr. John W. Irvine, who settled in the vicinity of Irvine- 
ton in about 1822, and after abiding there some eight or ten years returned to 
Philadelphia. He was, it is stated, an uncle of Dr. William A. Irvine. About 
1826 Dr. James A. Alexander settled in Youngsville and remained here in 
active practice until not far from 1853, when he removed to Kentucky, the 
place of his death. Dr. Benjamin F. Parmiter came to Youngsville about the 
same time as Dr. Alexander, but remained only two or three years. In 1847 
Dr. A. C. Blodgett, the veteran physician of Youngsville, made this place his 
home. A more extended sketch of his life appears in the biographical de- 
partment of this work. 

Dr. A. C. Axtell was born at Sheakleyville, Mercer county. Pa., on the 
14th of July, 1828; attended lectures and dissections in 1853-54 in Starling 
Medical College, at Columbus, O., and began to practice in 1854 at New Leb- 
anon, Mercer county. In April, 1865, he removed thence to Youngsville and 
has since then been continuously and busily engaged in practice here — a pe- 
riod at this writing of nearly twenty- two years. 

Dr. C. H. Jacobs was born in Mercer county. Pa., in 1856 ; was graduated 



4i6 History of VV'arren County. 

from the medical department of Western Reserve University at Cleveland, O., 
in February, 1883 ; and after a brief period of practice at Evansburg, Craw- 
ford county, came to Youngsville. 

Dr. S. C. Diefendorf, born in Jefferson county, N. V., on the 21st day of 
May, 1847, was graduated from the Geneva Medical College in the class of 
1868-69. He practiced for a time with a preceptor at Syracuse, N. Y., and 
removed to Youngsville two years ago. 

Hugh Addison Davenny, M. D., is also a native of Mercer county. Pa., 
where he was born in 1849. He has been engaged in practice about twenty- 
one years. In 1869-70 he took a course in the Buffalo Medical and Surgical 
College. He first practiced seven years in Youngsville, then four years in Oil 
City, seven years in Fredonia, Mercer county. Pa., three years in Mercer, the 
county seat of that county, and on the 28th of July, 1886, came back to his 
old home in Youngsville. 

Laivyers. — The only regular legal practitioner acknowledged by all the 
courts of the State who practiced in Youngsville was J. B. Delamater, who 
made Youngsville his home for a short time about thirty-five years ago. He 
afterward became prominent as an oil dealer and politician, and is now wealthy. 

The Post-office. — Until about the year 1819 the inhabitants of all this 
vicinity used to obtain their mail matter from the earlier office at Pittsfield. 
At that time Henry Kinnear was appointed postmaster, and opened an office 
in Youngsville, which was named Brokenstraw. Alfred Van Orman succeeded 
Kinnear in two or three years, and during his brief term the present name of 
the office was adopted, an office having been given to Dr. William Irvine at 
Irvineton, with the name of Brokenstraw. Other postmasters at Youngsville, 
nearly in their order, have been F. W. Brigham, W. F. Siggins, Andrew Alex- 
ander, Henry P. Kinnear, Frank Kinnear, Erasmus Foreman, A. M. Belknap, 
about twenty- one years, J. W. 'Agrelius, and the present incumbent, VV. J. 
Davis (2d), who received his appointment from President Cleveland on the 
9th of November, 1885.1 

Irvineton. — Twenty-five years ago the site of Irvineton \illage presented 
to the traveler no signs of life beyond the quiet industries of the farmer, or the 
occasional shouts of lumbermen rafting their timbers down the river. Soon 
after that period, however, the intense oil excitement that agitated the entire 
region embraced within the limits of the several northwestern counties of Penn- 
sylvania served to develop the resources which were given to this place by its 
natural position, and a lively village grew up. The name of Irvineton had 
been given to the vicinity previous to this time, and it now centered at this 
village. The post-office had been kept during all the previous years across 
the river, by Dr. Irvine and Edward Biddle. The first settler, strictly speak- 

' W. J. Davi.s is a grandson of Abraham and a son of Klijali L. Davis, the latter of whom is now a 
resident of Cincinnati, whither he removed in 1838. 




RoHKRi Thompson. 



Brokenstraw Township. 417 

ing, on the site of the present village, was John Cooney, who is now a mer- 
chant of thrift, and the postmaster at this place. Mr. Cooney came here in 
in 1866 and "pitched his tent in a field;" the nearest neighbors being the 
Irvine family across the creek. Mr. Cooney built a house a few rods west of 
his present residence, opened a store in the front, and slept in the rear. At 
this time the oil excitement was very high, and there was also considerable lum- 
bering. Besides his business as a merchant, Mr. Cooney boarded a number 
of men for several years, and thus deserves the credit of opening the first tav- 
ern in Irvineton. During his second year here he built another house, and 
during the third year still another. Three years ago he removed one of these 
old buildings to the site of his present store, and removed to it. He lumbered 
extensively when he first came, and acted also as a contractor for the building 
of railroads. There were then no mills in this part of the township except the 
mills of Dr. Irvine, at the mouth of the creek. The first regular hotel at Irvine- 
ton was built by Michael Swing in the latter part of the year 1 866, and opened in 
the spring of 1867. It stood just north of the present railroad station. It 
burned about eleven years ago, while kept by R. Donovan. Donovan rebuilt 
it and kept it until another fire consumed it, in the spring of 1886. The only 
hotel now in the village was built by R. A. Kinnear in the fall of 1 886, and is 
kept by T. C. Nuttall. 

The first mill built in the village was erected by Perry Patch and Henry 
Walters about eight years ago. It is now operated by Patch & Arnold. H. 
and F. Walters are also now engaged in the manufacture of staves, etc., at 
Irvineton. 

After Mr. Cooney, the next merchant in Irvineton was William Singleton, 
who opened trade in 1867. There are now three stores in the village besides 
that of Mr. Cooney, viz., the drug and general store of George W. Shannon, 
which has been open for fifteen or sixteen years ; the general store of William 
H. Metzgar, who has traded here also about fifteen years ; and the general and 
feed store of George W. Kolfrat, which has been open a shorter time. 

The Post-office. — In 1867 the post-oflice was removed from "across the 
creek " for the convenience of the greatest number. Frank Metzgar was ap- 
pointed postmaster, and since then he and his two brothers, William H. and G. 
W., have held the ofiice for eighteen years. John Cooney was appointed to 
the position in November, 1885, and is the present incumbent. 

Scliools of Brokenstraw Township. — The first school taught in this town- 
ship was under the management and instruction of Mathew Young. The next 
teacher was probably Edward Jones. One of the earliest school-houses stood 
on the brink of the hill in Irvineton, near the site of the present union school 
at that place. Another early teacher was John Lee Williams. After the organ- 
ization of Youngsville borough in 1850, twp school-houses were built in the 
borough, and for eight or ten years these seemed to answer every purpose. 



4i8 History of Warren County. 

though one of them was enlarged in 1854, at an expense of $281. The next 
year a new building was erected on the east side of the creek, at a cost of $476. 
The schools were first graded in 1858, and W. F. Siggins took charge of the 
higher department, at one dollar a day and his dinner. Elizabeth Siggins took 
charge of the primary department, at four dollars a week, and boarded herself. 
The union school building was erected in 1871 at a cost of something more 
than $8,000. Its rooms are all spacious and well lighted and ventilated, besides 
being well furnished with modern furniture and all the equipments necessary 
to a school of the present day. It has four departments. The first principal 
was J. M. Hantz. The present one is W. W. Fell. At Irvineton the stone 
school-house built by the Irvine family was used until about fourteen years 
ago, when the present union school was built. It has three departments and 
is well prepared for the purposes of its erection. The principal is H. H. Weber. 
Besides these schools there are four others in the township. 

Ecclesiastical. — The first church organized in Brokenstraw township was 
the Methodist Episcopal, though there were services held here for years before 
the permanent organization was effected. Rev. William McConnelly, the first 
preacher on the Brokenstraw, preached near the site of Youngsville in the year 
1809. At this time (from 1800 to 18 16) the salary of an itinerant preacher 
was eighty dollars a year and traveling expenses ; an additional eighty dollars 
being allowed for the care of the wife, unless she was otherwise provided for, 
and sixteen dollars for each child. In 18 12 Jacob Young and Bishop McKen- 
dree passed through the valley of the Brokenstraw, stayed over night at the 
house of Darius Mead, and on the following day the bishop preached, after 
which Jacob Young formed a class consisting of the following members: John 
Gregg and wife, Jacob Goodwin and wife, William Arthur and wife, Anna 
Mead and her son Philip, Betsey Ford, Polly Arthur and Polly Campbell — 
eleven in all. That was previous to the formation of a circuit. In 18 13 the 
Chautauqua Circuit was formed, and was in the bounds of the Ohio Conference 
and the Ohio District. Youngsville was then one of the appointments. The 
circuit then had a membership of 150, and the entire conference, 1,690. John 
McMahon was preacher of the circuit, and Jacob Young was presiding elder 
of the district. From that time to the present there has been regular preach- 
ing at Youngsville. The list of preachers is as follows, it being borne in mind 
that they were not resident preachers before about 185 i : 18 14, Burrows West- 
lake ; 181 5, Lemuel Lane; 18 16, Daniel Davidson; 181 7, Curtis Goddard ; 
18 1 8, John Summerville ; 18 19, John Summerville ; 1820 (this year the Chau- 
tauqua Circuit was taken into the Genesee Conference and Genesee District, 
Gideon R. Draper presiding elder), Philetus Parker and David Smith; 1821, 
Parker Buell and Sylvester Gary; 1822, Parker Buell and Benjamin Hill; 
1823, Asa Abell and John W. Hill; 1824, Nathaniel Reader and John Scott; 
1825 (Chautauqua Circuit and Erie District taken into Pittsburgh Conference), 



Brokenstraw Township. 419 

Peter D. Horton and Joseph S. Barris ; 1826, Joseph S. Barris and Dow Pros- 
ser; 1827, John Chandler and John Johnson ; 1828 (Youngsville Circuit taken 
from Chautauqua Circuit), Hiram Kinsley and John Johnson ; 1829, John P. 
Kent and L. L. Hamlin ; 1830, James Gilmore and John J. Swazy ; i83i,John 

C. Ayers, Samuel E. Babcock, and G. D. Kinnear; 1832, A. Young and 
Thomas Jennings; 1833, Hiram Luce and D. Pritchard ; 1834 (Jamestown 
District), David Preston and H. N. Sterns; 1835, William Todd and James 

E. Chapin ; 1836, J. H. Tocket and Theodore Stone ; 1837, Josiah Flower and 
John Deming; 1838, C. C. Best and John Scott; 1839, B. S. Hill and Luther 
Kendall; 1840 (for this year only, this was named Youngsville, Warren, and 
Smethport District), B. S. Hill, A. Barris, and S. Henderson; 1841, Alexan- 
der Barris; 1842, John F. Hill; 1843, Martin Hineback; 1844, Horace Hitch- 
cock; 1845-46, O. P. Brown; 1847, D. Vorce and D. King; 1848, D. Vorce 
and R. L. Blackner ; 1849, S. Henderson and O. D. Parker; 1850, Samuel 
Sullivan (this year the circuit was divided by cutting off Wrightsville and Lotts- 
ville) ; 1851, Albert Norton; 1852, J. N. Henry and M. Hineback ; 1853, James 
B. Hammond; 1854, Samuel S. Warren; 1855-56, A. R. Hammond; 1857, 
Samuel Holland; 1858, Samuel Holland; 1859, H. M. Bettis ; i860, George 

F. Reese; 1861-62, David Mizenn ; 1863, A. H. Dome; 1864-65, C. M. 
Heard; 1866-67-68, James C. Sullivan; 1869-70, B. F. Delo; 1871, A. H. 
B^owen ; 1872-73, Joseph F. Hill; 1874, S. S. Burton (Garland added to the 
charge and the parsonage built); 1875-77, L. W. Riley; 1878, W. B. Holt; 
1879-81, A. S. Goodrich; 1882, I. N. Clover ; 1883-86, H. G. Hall ; 1886 and 
at present, T. W. Douglas. 

From the beginning until 18 18 the meetings were held for the most part 
in private houses or barns, and occasionally the school-house. In 18 17 a 
house of worship was begun on the site now occupied by the Swedish church, 
and was completed and first used in 1818. It was a small, cheap, structure, 
and in 1827 was replaced by a second edifice, which is now occupied for pur- 
poses of worship by the members of the Swedish Lutheran Church. This 
house the Methodists were satisfied with until about 1882. In that year their 
present convenient and commodious church edifice was built. A Sabbath- 
school was started about sixty years ago, and has been kept up ever since ; 
the average attendance upon the Sabbath-school is now said to be about fifty. 
The present trustees of the church and parsonage are Willard J. Davis, John 
Agrelius, Erastus A. Davis, G. A. Jackson, John Jackson, J. I. Sanford, M. 

D. Whitney, John Black, Henry Mead. The Sabbath-school superintendent 
is J. I. Sanford. The other church officers are, stewards, John Agrelius, Sarah 
Agrelius, Erastus A. Davis, Adelia Davis, W. H. Shortt, Willard J. Davis, Miss 
Florence Chipman, and Mrs. Jane Thatcher. J. I. Sandford is class leader. 
There is now a membership in the church of about 125. 

In the first half of this century, at the same time that she displayed her 



420 History of Warren County. 

unselfish interest in the town by building the stone school-house at Irvineton, 
Mrs. William Irvine showed her devotion to her spiritual faith by also con- 
structing, or causing to be constructed, a church in the same community, in 
which the Presbyterians for some time worshiped, but which is now occupied 
in common by the Presbyterians and Methodists. The services of the former 
denomination are conducted by the Presbyterian clergyman from Sugar Grove, 
and of the latter by the pastors of the Methodist Church of Youngsville. 
There is also at Irvineton a Roman Catholic Church, which was erected in 
1 87 1. It is attended by Father Lavery, of Tidioute, and has a membership 
of about forty families. At Youngsville also the Swedes have established a 
Lutheran Church, and have since their organization, some three years ago, 
occupied the old Methodist Church, though at the present writing they are 
engaged in building a neat and commodious edifice of their own. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

HISTORY OF ST'G.VR GKOVK TO\V\sniR 

THIS township was formed, as will be seen by reference to the general 
chapter devoted to the history of township organization, on the 8th of 
March, 1821, and was called, for immediate convenience, " Number Three." 
Its northern boundary line is coincident with the southern limit of the State 
of New York (Chautauqua county). It is bounded on the east by the town- 
ship of Farmington, south by Brokenstraw and parts of Conewango and Pitts- 
field, and west by Freehold. The southeastern part of this town is drained by 
Jackson Run, which flows thence southeasterly through the southern part of 
Farmington and the northeastern part of Conewango, into Conewango Creek 
just south of North Warren. Stillwater Creek rises in the western portion of 
Sugar Grove township and flows easterly through Sugar Grove village, and 
thence northerly into the State of New York. The soil in the valleys is prin- 
cipally a gravelly loam, and on the highlands chestnut. The surface was 
originally covered with a dense growth of forest — on the ridge in the south 
part with chestnut, to the north with beech and maple, and in the valleys with 
pine, maple, cherry, and black cherry. The remarkable predominance of 
maple timber afterward gave to the township its present significant name. 
For its agricultural wealth Sugar Grove is not surpassed by any region in this 
part of the State. While dairying is profitable here, it is not the exclusive 
interest, as the fruits and cereals are easily produced in great abundance. 

At the time of the formation of the township a conisderable population had 




•% ' b, ESSHts Sana. ITo. ~-' 



^^^' 



Sugar Grove Township. 421 

congregated here, composed, for the most part, of the most intelHgent and 
industrious elements of the older societies of the Mohawk valley and New 
England. A number of the early inhabitants of the town were also natives of 
Ireland and Scotland. The first permanent settler was undoubtedly Robert 
Miles, whose son and namesake afterward became prominent in Warren. He 
came up the river from Pittsburgh in June, 1797, with his family, in the first 
keel-boat that found its way to Warren. His farm at first embraced an area 
of nearly three miles square, though it was not rectangular in form. His 
dwelling house stood about one and one-half miles directly east of the site of 
Sugar Grove village. (See sketch in later pages of his son Robert.) Soon 
after his arrival Major Howe, Brigham Howe, and John Dickinson came from 
Long Island, though none of them was here long enough to become promi- 
nently identified with the business interests of this part of the county. About 
1800 came William Lopsley, the ever-to-be-remembered John Barr, and John 
Hood; in 1802 John Stuart, and in 1803 James Stuart, all from Ireland. 
Lopsley made a clearing about two miles east of the village, but moved away 
at an early day. 

John Barr was born in Ireland in 1766. Being of the ardent temperament 
peculiar to his race, he bore too conspicuous a part in the Irish Rebellion of 
1798, and was forced to flee his native country. His wanderings soon brought 
him to Sugar Grove, which he decided to make his home. He settled on the 
summit of the hill, in what is now the village, erecting his dwelling house near 
the site of the Congregational Church, as it now stands. He is described by 
those who remember him as an ingenious man, capable of turning his hand at 
any kind of work, besides engaging in his chosen vocations of agriculture and 
shoemaking. Many of his descendants are in town at the present day, and are 
numbered among the most respectable class. Mr. Barr was a born wit, and 
innumerable amusing anecdotes related to-day attribute their paternity to him. 
Among his personal possessions was an old-fashioned "bull's-eye" watch," 
more weighty than accurate. He was, for some reason, perpetually annoyed 
by questions as to the time of day, to which he invariably replied : " Sex past 

nine, and be d d to ye! Keep a time o' your own." In later life Mr. Barr 

became extremely convivial. He died on the 9th day of January, 1839, and 
was buried — not with his fathers, but in the village cemetery. 

David Brown, who deserves prominent mention by reason of the fact that 
he probably did more to build up the village of Sugar Grove than any other 
man, was another pioneer of the county. He was born in Belfast, Ireland, on 
September 7, 1777, and came to the United States in 1802. He resided in 
Franklin, Venango county, for a short time, at which place, on the 7tli of No- 
vember, 1803, he married Jennet Broadfoot. Soon after his marriage he 
removed to Warren, and was for a time in the employ of the Holland Land 
Company, living in the block-house built by that company on the bank of the 



422 History of Warren County. 

Conewango Creek, a short distance above the site of the present grist-mill. 
He was the purchaser from the Commonwealth of a large number of the town 
lots in Warren borough. He owned land in what is now Sugar Grove village 
as early as 1 806, as the list of taxables of that year sufficiently attests, and 
moved thither in 1807, or 1808, or possibly as late as 1 809. Here he made 
his permanent home. He erected one of the first framed dwelling houses 
(by some said to be the first) in Warren county, on the north side of the 
road from the village to Lottsville, a few rods west of Stillwater Creek, and 
upon the site of the present residence of James C. Hamilton. His farm had 
already been partly cleared by John Dickinson. In this house all his children, 
with the exception of his eldest daughter, were born. The old house has been 
moved a short distance from its original location, and at this writing (Novem- 
ber, 1886) still stands, one of the few relics of the early settlement of the vil- 
lage. Near to the house may still be seen the spring noted among the early 
settlers for its abundant supply of clear, cold water. Near to his dwelling 
house Mr. Brown erected, and, to the time of his death, in connection with a 
farm, carried on a tannery, said to be the first started in the county. 

He died November 26, 1825, and is buried in the village cemetery at Sugar 
Grove. In a lecture on the early history of Warren county, one who knew 
David Brown well, said : " He was well educated, wrote an elegant hand, and 
had an easy and flowing style of composition. He possessed the impulsive 
feelings peculiar to his nation ; was hospitable and generous to a fault. The 
needy never sought aid of him in vain when it was in his power to relieve 
them, and he frequently did so to his own pecuniary injury. These estimable 
qualities were concealed beneath a stern, sedate exterior. He was retiring and 
diffident, and seldom smiled." 

Jennet Broadfoot, who became the wife of David Brown, was born at Wig- 
ton, Scotland, November 4, 1 78 1. She had the solidity of character, the 
energy, the quiet resoluteness of purpose, and the tenacious adherence to 
religious convictions that characterize Scotch Presbyterianism. Attacked by 
disease that baffled the skill of local physicians, she sought medical treatment 
at Philadelphia, going the entire distance on horseback, and returning to her 
home after a few months restored to health. A few years later her husband 
died, leaving her with limited means to care for a family of seven children, the 
eldest eighteen years of age. With Christian fidelity, with patient, self-deny- 
ing love, she met the responsibilities cast upon her. She gave her children 
such education as was possible with the scanty means at her command, and 
by precept and example she sought to lead them in the way of Christian liv- 
ing. She was a friend to the poor, she sympathized with the sorrowing, and 
her ministrations of love to the sick and the dying were so universal, so con- 
stant, and so cheerfully rendered, that the benediction of all who knew her 
rested upon her. She died June 4, 1841, and lies buried by the side of her 
husband. 



Sugar Grove Township. 423 

The children of David and Jennet Brown were Mary, now Hving at Sugar 
Grove, and the widow of James Jagger ; Barbara, who died at Sugar Grove 
in 1840, the wife of N. B. Langdon ; Catharine, now living at Warren; John 
B., who died and was buried at Warren in 1883; Agnes H., now living at 
Jackson, Mich., and the widow of Walter Fish; James, who died and was 
buried at Sugar Grove in 185 i ; and William D., living at Warren, and now 
the president judge of the thirty-seventh judicial district of Pennsylvania. 

About the time of the settlement in Sugar Grove of David Brown, two of 
his brothers, James and John, also came here to live. The former settled on 
the farm afterward owned and occupied by Henry Catlin, and went down the 
river not far from 1820. John was a single man, kept one of the first schools 
opened in town, and lived with his brother David. He was nineteen years an 
inhabitant of Pennsylvania, and was prothonotary of Warren county at the 
time of his death, which happened suddenly at Warren on January 25, 1823, 
when he was in his thirty-sixth year. He was buried at Sugar Grove with 
Masonic honors. 

Other names found in the tax-list of the county for 1806, belonging to 
Sugar Grove inhabitants, are those of Charles Byles, William Evans, John 
Hood, John Portman, and John, James, and William Stuart. The first-named 
married a daughter of Robert Miles, and resided in town for a number of 
years. William Evans settled in the south part of the township, in the vicin- 
ity of Chandler's Valley, where he remained until his death, not long previous 
to 1840, and where some of his descendants are now living. John Hood was 
one of the very earliest of the pioneers in this vicinity, being a contemporary 
arrival with Robert Miles, about 1797 or 1798. He cleared, and occupied all 
his life after, a farm in the extreme north portion of the township, adjoining 
the New York State line, on the Jamestown road, and there operated a small 
grist-mill. He died in the decade of years which closed with 1830. John 
Portman lived here but a short time, and removed to Piije Grove township. 
He was still a young man in 1820, and married Pamelia, daughter of Alexan- 
der Clantz, who was probably the first man on the farm afterward owned by 
James Brown, and later still by Henry Catlin. Clantz then bought the old 
Robert Falconer place, and soon went away, giving place to Mr. Falconer 
himself. 

John, James, and William Stuart, three brothers of Irish nativity, settled 
here between the years 1802 and 1806, residing in the eastern part of the 
township until their deaths. James died August 3, 1825, aged sixty-eight 
years eight months and twenty-two days. His wife, Catharine, a sister of 
John Hood, survived her husband until March 26, 1847, when she followed 
him, aged eighty- seven years and twenty-eight days. They landed in the 
United States on the 13th of June, 1795. John Stuart, who was born in 
Antrim county, Ireland, on the 28th of May, 1780, died in Sugar Grove on 



424 History of Warren County. 

the 30th of June, 1862, being the last survivor of the three brotlicrs. He had 
two sons, James L. and John, the former of whom was born in this town on 
the 1 2th of November, 1807, and died in the village on the 24th of May, 1873, 
leaving a number of descendants in the town. John early went to Clarion 
county, where he preached the gospel, and ministered as physician, to the ne- 
cessities of the sick in body. 

Clark Dalrymple, who, at the time of his death in July, 1869, was the eldest 
of the surviving early settlers in Sugar Grove, came here from Massachusetts, 
his native State, in 181 1, when he was but sixteen years of age. In the spring 
of the next year he was followed by his father, David, who was born in Massa- 
chusetts in about 1765, and four brothers — David, Mark, Oliver, and Chauncey. 
The father settled just opposite and about ten rods east of the site of the pres- 
ent residence of his grandson, Noah Dalrymple (son of Clark), where he 
remained until about the time of his death in 1840. He also had three daugh- 
ters, and his descendants now comprise in part a numerous and respectable 
portion of the population of Warren county. 

Abraham D. Ditmars came here from Long Island in the spring of 1814, 
upon the advertisement and personal importunities of Agent Sacket, of the 
Holland Land Company, exchanging a farm in Long Island valued at $15,000 
for three thousand acres of wild land in this vicinity (and something was given 
him " to boot " ). He selected every alternate tract between what is now 
Sugar Grove village and Lottsville, after viewing the country in 18 13, and 
established his residence on the top of the hill immediately west of the village. 
The hardships which he suftered in making the long and perilous journey from 
Long Island were akin to those that all the pioneers were forced to brave. 
He brought his family across the Delaware from New Jersey at Easton, 
traveled thence to Belfonte, and by a rough road to a point opposite Holman's 
Ferry, on Allegheny River. There he crossed the river and went to the site 
of Titusville, thence through a trackless wilderness to the rude house of James 
White, on the Big Brokenstraw ; thence to the Widow Mead's, and, by an un- 
frequented and almost impassable road through Chandler's Valley, to his desti- 
nation. His family consisted of his wife, two sons, and five daughters (one of 
whom afterward became the wife of Darius Mead, of Brokenstraw). They 
were on the road from the loth of May to the 19th of June, and stayed two 
nights in the woods on the Allegheny Mountains, and one night between 
Titusville and lirokenstraw. At the beginning of the journey they had two 
good teams and wagons. At the termination they had the fore wheels of one 
wagon only, and those were nearly a wreck, the family having to travel on 
foot most of the distance from Brokenstraw. The personal effects were after- 
ward gathered up with great cost and difficulty. 

Mr. Ditmars has been described as a large, athletic man, six feet in height, 
erect and well proportioned, of gentlemanly bearing, an open countenance. 



Sugar Grove Township. 425 

large, dark-blue eyes, heavy jutting eyebrows, and a heavy voice. He was 
convivial to a fault. Another daughter was married to Lansing Wetmore, of 
Warren. His son, Abraham, jr., taught school in Sugar Grove some time 
after the year 1820. After living in this town a number of years, Abraham 
Ditmars returned to Long Island. 

David Stilson came to Sugar Grove from Westmoreland, Oneida county, 
N. Y. (whence many of the early settlers of this town emigrated), in March, 

1 8 14, and settled on what has ever since been known as Stilson Hill, in the 
southwest part of the town. He brought his wife and five children with him, 
and was obliged to cut his way through the woods. Four children were born 
to him after his arrival in Sugar Grove. His descendants are still numerous 
here. He carried on his farm successfully until the time of his death, June 6, 
1852, when he had almost reached his seventy-fourth year of life. 

In the month of January, 18 14, Richard B. Miller, then a young man 
nearly twenty-three years of age, made his way from Whitestown, N. Y., 
through Buffalo, up the lake to Mayville, thence through Jamestown and across 
the country to Sugar Grove, making his home on a piece of land which he had 
purchased from the Holland Land Company, on which his son Frank R. Miller 
now resides. He had married on the preceding month. He passed through 
Buffalo only two weeks after the destruction of that village by the British and 
Indians, when the whole site of the present city contained but one little log 
house, then occupied by a widow. Richard B. Miller died in Kentucky on the 
loth of June, 1832. Frank R. Miller, who now owns the place, was born upon 
it on the 6th of July, 1827. 

James Jagger, a native of Suffolk county, L. I., setded in this township in 

1815. A brother, Stephen, bought the old John Hood place about the same 
time, and continued the operation of the old grist-mill. He was in all respects 
an exemplary man. Among his several descendants now in town is his son 
Sylvester Jagger. Stephen Jagger died on the 8th of March, 1874, aged 
eighty-one years six months and eleven days. 

By this time (about 1818) the country began to display here and there the 
traces of advancing civilization. The empire of nature showed symptoms of 
yielding to the dominion of the rude arts of the woodsmen. There were three 
or four families in Sugar Grove village, a few settlers in the beech woods be- 
tween Sugar Grove and Pine Grove, besides the men already mentioned, and 
a few others. After the passage of the act of 1792 to induce the settlement 
of pioneers in Western Pennsylvania, and the subsidence of the Indian diffi- 
culties in 1795, immigration turned its tide in this direction. As already no- 
ticed, a number of the settlers came to this county by the way of Susquehan- 
na River and Pittsburgh. During the years 18 15-16 about thirty families came 
from Oneida county, N. Y., and settled principally in Pine Grove, Freehold, 
and Sugar Grove. Among those who settled in this town were David Stilson 



426 History of Warren County. 

and Richard B. Miller, already mentioned, and John Tuttle, Joseph Langdon, 
and Henry Catlin. Mr. Tuttle resided until his death, some forty years ago, 
in the western part of the town. Joseph Langdon cleared a place about a 
mile from the village, on the Ashville road, and during the later years of his 
life operated a grist-mill. He was born in Berkshire, Mass., on the 13th of 
January, 1 780, and died here on the 27th of April, 1857. His wife, Survina, 
died June 8, 1833, aged thirty-seven years. A number of their descendants 
still make Sugar Grove their home. 

Henry Catlin, a brother of Mrs. Richard B. Miller, came here about 18 16, 
and settled on the farm next north of that owned by his brother-in-law. He 
was born in Conway, Mass., on the 15th of January, 1785, and died in Sugar 
Grove on the 30th of July, 1845. His daughter Julia, now Mrs. L. H. Pratt, 
was born in what is now Rushville, N. Y., on the 31st of December, 18 14, and 
was consequently but two years of age when her father removed to Sugar 
Grove. Her retentive and accurate memory, stretching over a period of nearly 
seventy years, has been of great assistance to the compiler of this chapter. 

At this place should be inserted a sketch of one of the most noteworty of 
the pioneers of Sugar Grove, Robert Falconer. He was born in Inveraven, 
Banffshire, Scotland, on the 22d of December, 1780. He was descended from 
a wealthy and ancient family, who could never forget that they were " lairds " 
in the days of Monteith and Wallace and McDoogh, and bravely fought with 
Bruce at Brannockburn. Yet Robert was thoroughly republican in opinion 
and practice. He was graduated from old Aberdeen in 1808, and soon after 
emigrated to America, not only to increase his wealth, but to enjoy its free 
republican institutions, to which he was a convert. In this country he married 
Eliza, a sister of Henry Catlin and Mrs. Richard B. Miller, who was born at 
New Haven, N. Y., on the 15th of October, 1802, and affectionately per- 
formed the duties of wifehood until her death, on the 20th of January, 1850. 
For several years after his arrival in the United States Mr. Falconer was en- 
gaged in the purchase and sale of cotton in New York and Charleston, S. C, 
sending large invoices to Glasgow, and other parts of Scotland. In 18 16 a 
brother in Scotland, who never was in the United States, desired to join him 
in the purchase of lands, with the intention of making a Scotch settlement, 
for which the brother at home was to select and send over an extra class of 
emigrants. Accordingly, Mr. Falconer came to Jamestown, N. Y., in 18 17, 
and passed the summer in examining the surrounding county. He was an 
excellent surveyor, and many of our early roads were afterward surveyed by 
him. During this visit he would frequently make long trips into the wilder- 
ness, always on foot, and sometimes remaining away for a week. His favorite 
resort was along the valleys of the Stillwater and the Brokenstraw. Finally 
he selected lands just east of the village of Sugar Grove, which he declared 
should be his future home. He returned to New York for his family (by his 



Sugar Grove Township. 427 

first wife) in the winter of 181 8, and in the following spring was established 
in Sugar Grove. He was at that time deemed to be the most wealthy man in 
this part of the country. He loaned considerable money, and was very active 
in laying out roads, effecting improvements, and in all ways aiding in the set- 
tlement of the town. In 1829 he removed to Warren, and became interested 
in the Lumbermen's Bank, of which he was made president. Through the 
rascality of those who were supposed to be its friends and supporters, the bank 
was broken, and in his attempts to save it Mr. Falconer lost largely of his 
wealth, and suffered a permanent impairment of health. He returned to Sugar 
Grove in 1840 a mental ruin, where he died on the 20th of October, 185 i. 

Yet another prominent pioneer of this town and county was Captain 
John I. Willson. He was born at Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, N. Y., 
on the isth of August, 1781. His wife, Mary Elliott, whom he mar- 
ried in New York city in 1807, was born in that metropolis on the 29th of 
August, 17S9. Captain Willson's ancestors were from Ireland; Mrs. Willson's 
were Scotch. Inclined to a seafaring life, he engaged on board a vessel sailing 
from New York when he was about eighteen years of age. Commencing as a 
cabin boy, he rose to the command of the brig Franklin, sailing from New 
York to the Bermudas, of which he also became part owner. After the enact- 
ment of the embargo on commerce and navigation under Jefferson, he left the 
ocean, and with his young wife removed to Upper Canada, where his elder 
brother, David Willson, had preceded him, and where he cultivated a small 
farm, and taught school winters. In 18 19 he removed with his family to Sugar 
Grove. About 1821 he there opened a public house (which he purchased of 
Robert Miles, and which still forms a part of the present hotel), and made it 
for many years the most popular resort for travelers in that section of the 
country. 

Having retained his fondness for navigation, in 1825 he bought an interest 
in the schooner JSIilan, of Buffalo, and took charge of her as master in the 
lake trade. When the steamer Chautauqua, on Chautauqua Lake, was built 
he took charge of her for one or two seasons. Then, having purchased an in- 
terest in the schooner Nucleus, on Lake Erie, he was made master. As this 
was before the era of steamboats on Lake Erie, the Nucleus participated largely 
in carrying passengers, and was fitted up specially for that business. In 1836 
he disposed of his interest in the vessel, abandoned navigation, and returned 
to his family and home at Sugar Grove. He was a moral and an upright citi- 
zen, temperate in all his habits, and enjoyed the fullest confidence of the com- 
munity. He had been educated in the Society of Friends, but was tolerant 
and friendly towards other societies. He read much and was a man of intelli- 
gence and culture. 

The children of Captain Willson were Catharine Elliott, married to Charles 
Doane, of Aurora, Ontario, and residing there; Martha dinger, who died 



428 History of Warren County. 

in 1869, unmarried ; Mark Willson, and Eliza Willson, who resides at Winona, 
unmarried. John I. Willson died on February 16, 1859; his wife died on the 
9th of June, 1854. Both are buried in the village cemetery at Sugar Grove. 

Mark Willson, only son of John I. Willson, was born in 1 8 18. In early 
life he engaged in the mercantile business at Sugar Grove, and was successful 
as a merchant. He possessed the confidence of the community in which he 
resided, and was regarded as a man of strict integrity and good judgment. 
He was elected to the office of justice of the peace when he was only twenty- 
one years old, and was continued in the office by re-election for a period of 
twenty- five years or over. He also filled the office of postmaster several 
years, and was often called to fill various other local offices, which was always 
done with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. Mr. Willson was a 
public-spirited citizen, and always ready and willing to aid in every public en- 
terprise, contributing his full share in both time and money. He did much to 
improve the village by the erection of buildings of his own, and by aiding and 
encouraging others to do the same. 

Although not a member of any church organization, he was ever ready to 
aid in the support of all when called upon. In politics he was a Republican, 
and often represented his town and village in the county conventions of his 
party ; and while firm in his political opinions, he was always courteous toward 
those whose politics differed from his. 

In 1853 he married Elizabeth T. Hallock of Milton, Ulster county, N. Y. 
He has four children — two sons and two daughters — all of whom are married ex- 
cept the youngestson, John I. Willson, who is employed in the Merchants' Bank. 
Disposing of his property in Sugar Grove in 1863, Mark Willson removed 
with his family to Hastings, Minn., and continued in the mercantile busi- 
ness for three years, during a part of the time filling the office of mayor of that 
thriving city, and in 1S66 removed to Winona, Minn., where he has been 
since continuously successfully engaged in the banking business, and has for 
many years filled the position of president of the Merchants' Bank of Winona. 

James Elliott, brother of Mrs. John I. Willson, was the first person buried 
in the village cemetery at Sugar Grove — not far from the year 1820. 

John Hamilton, father of James C. Hamilton, now a respected citizen of 
Sugar Grove, was sheriff" of V^enango county before the division was effected 
that set off" Warren county, and frequently came through this part of his dis- 
trict on a bridle-path. The intimate knowledge of the resources of the country 
which thus came to him in the performance of his official duties attracted his 
attention to Sugar Grove, and in 1827 he removed hither, where he married a 
daughter of David Brown, and where many of his descendants now reside. 
He was born in York county. Pa., June 22, 1782, and died October 27, 
1857. Catharine, his wife, was born in Belfast, Ireland, March 13, 1789, and 
died September 29, 1862. 



Sugar Grove Township. 429 

Not all of the early settlers have received mention yet, liowever, it being 
the object of the writer to give a running account of those who bore a more 
conspicuous part in public affairs before locating the several members of the 
steady and sturdy yeomanrj who performed so useful a part in the settlement 
of the country by clearing away the forests and tilling the ground. 

Some time between the years 1806 and 18 16, as shown by the lists of ta.x- 
ables in the county, the population of Sugar Grove was increased by the ar- 
rival of Amos York, who gave to York Hill in the eastern part of the town its 
name ; Alexander Clantz, already mentioned ; Thomas Duprey, a blacksmith, 
who settled on the road between Sugar Grove village and Chandler's Valley ; 
David Mathews, who built his dwelling on Mathew's Run, between Sugar 
Grove and Youngsville; Thomas Page, who established a settlement near the 
farm of the Dalrymple family, and James Sturdevant, at Chandler's Valley. 
It was also about this time that John Chandler brought his family to the val- 
ley which has ever since borne his name. Stephen Sweet, a carpenter and 
joiner, about this time settled just east of the old Falconer house, near the vil- 
lage of Sugar Grove. He married a daughter of John Barr and left numerous 
descendants in Sugar Grove, several of whom are yet residing there. He was 
born on the 6th of September, 1786, and died on the i ith of November, 1865. 
His wife, Mary, was born February 26th, 1806, and died June 13, 1863. 

Between the years 1810 or 18 12 and 1820 quite a number of the settlers 
moved away from this part of the country, probably discouraged by the ex- 
treme and unprofitable hardships of pioneer life. But new forces were con- 
tinually arriving in such numbers as to counterbalance this efflux, and at the 
time of the formation of the township in 1821, the population was in excess of 
that at any previous period. Among the new arrivals were the following : 

James C. Austin, who taught winter school here for a time, and during the 
remainder of the year worked in the tan-yard of David Brown. At a later 
date he married a lady of Youngsville and removed in that direction. Nathan 
Abbott, who cleared a farm, still called the Abbott place, a little way west of 
Wrightsville. He was a good man and citizen, and died quite early. His 
descendants are numerous in this town now. David Allen, who married a 
daughter of Nathan Abbott, lived in the same neighborhood, and died there 
many years ago. Ezra Basset, a cooper, resided with his daughter, Mrs. Silas 
Hazen, at the village of Grove ; Mrs. Samuel Hall was also his daughter. He 
was a very pious man. His death occurred many years ago. Samuel Hall was one 
of the early tavern-keepers here. He came about 1820, and lived for a short 
time in a small bark-roofed shanty on the site of the house now occupied by 
Emri Davis, while his hotel was building. This hostelry stood on the site of 
the present bank, and was two stories high. Hall kept tavern there many 
years, and died on the 2d of February, 1854, aged seventy-six years. His 
wife, Polly W., died on the iith of December, 1848, aged sixty eight years. 



430 History of Warren County. 

For some time before his death Mr. Hall operated a grist and saw-mill, which 
he had built. Smith Burlingame, who is also mentioned in the list of taxables, 
was an employee of Samuel Hall. 

Simon Brooks settled about this time at Chandler's Valley. Joseph Berlin 
was an early settler — an Englishman — right on the ground now occupied by 
the village of Sugar Grove. He was a farmer. He died about 1835. Cor- 
nelius Bassett (not related to Ezra Basset), lived thus early on the farm next 
west to that occupied by Joseph Berlin, towards Watt's Flats. After a few 
years he removed from the county. Asa Curtis was a shoemaker, and built 
the house just east of the village of Sugar Grove, now occupied by Charles 
Temple. Curtis afterward went to Warren. John Chambers came from Eng- 
land, it is said, with Joseph Berlin, a fellow-bachelor, and lived for a number 
of years with him. Chambers then married and worked his farm until he died. 
Randall Evans settled at Chandler's Valley and cultivated a large farm there 
until his death. His descendants are numerous in that part of the township 
now. Samuel Foster, a gunsmith and blacksmith, married a daughter of 
Alexander Clantz,and lived near the bridge in the village of Sugar Grove. He 
was a good and an active citizen, and came to his death in 1837, while acting as 
constable, by being thrown from a horse. Thomas Fox, a farmer, lived on the 
place owned by Robert Falconer, and left descendants which are yet in town. 
His brother David lived on Stilson Hill, and died there many years ago. 
Annum Gregory settled at first at Chandler's Valley, and afterwards removed 
to a place about a mile east of Sugar Grove village. Mrs. Putnam Bugby, of 
Chandler's Valley, is his daughter. Thomas Green came from Gorham, N. Y., 
in 1 8 16, with Henry Catlin, and settled near Cornelius Bassett, where he died a 
number of years ago. His descendants reside in the same neighborhood now. 
Otis Green, brother of Thomas, came from the same place a few years later, 
and after living near his brother for some time, settled on the place just oft' that 
now owned and occupied by L. H. Pratt, where his death occurred. He was 
born in Massachusetts December 26, 1799, and died May 11, 1877. Silas 
Hazen, whose name has been before mentioned, dwelt in a house, still standing, 
•opposite the residence of Emri Davis. Hazen was a farmer and brickmaker, 
but did not remain in town longer than about ten years, when he removed to 
Michigan. Moses Harmon, grandfather of Hosea Harmon, resided in the east- 
ern part of the township. For information concerning this family the reader is 
referred to the sketch of Hosea Harmon, in later pages of this book. James 
and John Lowther, with two of their sisters, came from Ireland and settled in 
the northeastern part of the town. John married a daughter of John Hood- 
They were successful and industrious. Marcus Leonard, mentioned in the 
list, is not known to have been a freeholder here, but to have taught school in 
this town, and to have " boarded 'round." Isaac Lopus, a pensioner of the War 
of 1812, is still living in Sugar Grove, on the way to Watt's Flats. His chil- 





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ocn-i^^n^^y^ 



Sugar Grove Township. 431 

dren have by dint of economy and industry secured themselves a competence. 
Ambrose Pratt is another member of that honorable but much-abused class 
who earn a livelihood by teaching school. Stephen Smith was for a time a 
resident of the village of Sugar Grove, working the Richard Miller farm for 
three years. He died at Chandler's Valley. Bemsley Rowley lived about a 
mile and a half east of Sugar Grove village, and has descendants in town now. 
He died more than twenty years ago. Abraham Strickland lived with his parents 
near the New York line, and died suddenly at Willson's Hotel about 1824 or 
1825. Valentine Tiffany was a carpenter and joiner and lived in a house ofhis 
own construction, still standing, about one mile northwest of the village of 
Sugar Grove. His wife was a daughter of Samuel Hall. Mr. Tiffany removed 
to Michigan at a comparatively early date. Lodowick Wright was a mill- 
wright and the builder of Samuel Hall's mills. He lived near the home of 
Henry Catlin. He died on the 14th of June, 1828, in the sixty-second year 
of his age. 

At this period, about 1820, the roads in this part of the country were in a 
rough, unfinished condition, mere bridle-paths. The face of the country was 
still covered for the most part with thick forests. Chandler's Valley had a 
name, but was not yet large enough to deserve the dignity of being called a 
village. The village of Sugar Grove was very small. There was a small, un- 
painted school building on the site of the present union school-house. An acre 
of land had been donated to the " Utica school district" (as it was called, from the 
number of families herein from the vicinity of Utica, N. Y.) by John Barr, for the 
purposes of erecting upon it a good building for school purposes. The village 
had until about this time been known as Brownsville, after David Brown, the 
name giving place to that of Sugar Grove about 1821. The inhabitants of the 
village during this period have been already mentioned, among the most prom- 
inent being David Brown, Captain Willson, Samuel Hall, John Barr, Silas 
Hazen, Samuel Foster, Asa Curtis ; and the nearest neighbor outside of the vil- 
lage was Robert Falconer. The road between Sugar Grove and Jamestown 
was extremely rough — at times almost impassable — and was not in a line 
with the present road, but lay over the hill. A few years after this the present 
Jamestown road was laid out by Robert Falconer, Stephen Jagger, and Hulett 
Lott. The principal roads hereabouts were all laid out about 1830. 

Sugar Grove has a well-known inhabitant who has gone through experiences 
worthy of a permanent record. James G. Brookmire was born in Antrim 
county, near Belfast, Ireland, on the 2d of June, 18 10, and was the fourth of 
nine children. His ancestors were inhabitants of Ulster county, Ireland, whither 
they had come from England, probably at a time when war and massacre had 
nearly depopulated that part of the country and the home government was en- 
couraging the immigration thereto of Protestant settlers. His father was a 
cotton-spinner and worked in a cotton-mill in Antrim county from about 1790 



432 History of Warren County. 

until old age compelled him to relinquish active business. The son of whom 
we write was apprenticed to learn the art of making calico prints, etc., at the 
age of fourteen years, and at the termination of his necessary seven years, and 
when he was of age, he removed to Philadelphia, in this country, where he 
landed on the 4th of July, 183 1. After working two years and nine months 
at his chosen trade he returned to Ireland to see the girl who was waiting for 
him there, and whom he brought back very soon as his wife. At that time 
the recent destruction of the United States Bank had produced a panic in bus- 
iness and he felt the hard times sorely. He moved three times in as many 
years, the last time being to Bergen county, N. J. He soon started for Sugar 
Grove with his family — a wife and two children — and settled in the unbroken 
forest about three miles from the present village. Here he held three hundred 
acres nearly. The gold fever of California took hold upon him in 1850 and 
he sold fifty acres of his farm to aid him in reaching California. He went by 
public conveyance to what is now Kansas City, where he bought in with a 
company from Kentucky, and started into the wilderness on the 27th of June. 
There were then no white settlements on their way except Forts Kearney and 
Laramie. After the party reached Fort Kearney Mr. Brookmire resolved to 
break with his companions, whom he did not fancy, although to leave them 
was to incur great peril. They refunded, with unusual fairness, all he had paid 
in, and permitted him to take as company a well-trained dog. It was a fatal 
year — the year of an unexampled inundation of emigrants for the Far West, who 
were overtaken with all forms of disease, that decimated their numbers with 
pitiless regularity. On his route Mr. Brookmire witnessed wolves digging up 
the graves of those who had died and been buried in a shallow trench. He 
did not molest them, and was happily surprised to find that they did not seem 
eager to disturb him. He fell in with Indians — not the starved and half- 
clothed substitute for native grandeur which the government professes to pro- 
vide for free of cost at the present day, but the genuine, naked, rifled, mounted 
and painted savage. His good fortune did not desert him, however, and he 
was well treated by his savage hosts, in consideration of his giving them a por- 
tion of his ammunition. He was nearly drowned in Utah ; encountered a 
thunder storm on the Rocky Mountain ridge — a bolt of which tore up the 
ground at his feet and stunned him for a moment — and at last reached his 
destination, where in a few months he was doing well. At this time he heard 
from home of a legacy left his family from the old country, and was forced 
rather reluctantly to return home. He returned by way of Nicaragua to New 
York. Since then several other legacies have come into his possession, and he 
is now in more than comfortable circumstances, which he and his wife are 
worthy to enjoy. 

Early and Present Mills. — The first mill in the present limits of Sugar 
Grove township was undoubtedly, as has been stated, the grist-mill of John 



Sugar Grove Township. 433 

Hood, in the northern part of the town. The first grist-mill in the village was 
that built by Samuel Hall, as before stated, and which stood near the site of 
the present mill of G. Clark. Mr. Hall also operated a saw- mill with the same 
water power that impelled his grist-mill. These mills were afterward owned 
and operated by Joseph Langdon. The present steam mill on that site was 
built in 1856 at a cost of some $8,000, by S. P. Fuller, Russell Clark soon 
after purchasing a half interest. Another saw- mill was erected soon after 1835 
below the village, and was known as Watkins's mill, from its builder, Horace 
Watkins. Another saw-mill stood above the village, its builder being an En- 
glishman named John Sellers. These were all water mills excepting that erected 
by S. P. Fuller ; but the diminished volume of the streams which followed the 
clearing of the forests have expelled them all from existence. The only tan- 
nery of consequence ever operated in Sugar Grove is that previously mentioned, 
belonging to David Brown. Samuel Hall at one time had a small distillery, 
but it was short lived. The grist and saw-mill now owned and operated by 
M. W. Curtiss and P. Davis, under the firm name of Curtiss & Davis, was 
built about fourteen years ago by W. M. Haggerty and E. R. Wheelock under 
the style of Haggerty & Wheelock. In a few months Mr. Wheelock sold his 
interest to his partner. In January, 1876, Mr. Davis purchased a half interest 
in the business. The relation thus established continued until October, 1885, 
when Mr. Haggerty was superseded by Mr. Curtiss. The capacity of the grist- 
mill is estimated at about 400 bushels of grain a day. That of the saw-mill is 
stated at 3,000 feet of lumber in every ten hours. Connected with the saw- 
mill is also a stave and shingle-mill of good capacity. The mills are operated 
separately by steam, one engine for the grist-mill and the other engine running 
the saw, stave, and shingle-mills. 

George Haupin has recently started a cider and jelly-mill in Sugar Grove 
village, his first supply of apples for reduction arriving September 23, 1886. 
Mr. Haupin has been manufacturer of cider since 1874, during which year he 
began the business in Freehold. He has all the appointments of a first-class 
mill, and will undoubtedly build up a large business. 

The other manufacturing interests of Sugar Grove village are included in 
the carriage shop of W. W. Jones, who has been in business here about eight 
years, and the harness shop of J. J. Smutz, who came in June, 1883. 

Eai-ly and Present Mercantile Business. — If we exclude the manufacture 
and sale of brick, carried on by Silas Hazen, opposite the old framed house 
of* David Brown, the first store in town was that kept on the site of the pres- 
ent residence of C. F. Temple, by John Brown, brother of David Brown. The 
next merchant was Henry Higby, who kept store in Sugar Grove village about 
1823 or 1824, and was soon followed by Charles Butler. This store was on 
the ground now covered by the bakery. Subsequently, in this same building 
were Joshua Van Duzen, Pier & Co., and George Mosher. The oldest busi- 



434 History of Warren County. 

ness now in progress in town is tlie business of H. N. Frazine, dealer in har- 
nesses, etc., which was established by his father, Newton Frazine, in 1853, in 
the same building now occupied by the present proprietor, who succeeded the 
founder about fifteen years ago. Mr. Frazine carries from a thousand to 
twelve hundred dollars' worth of stock. 

The general store of A. G. Mclntyre was founded, in 1867, by C. P. Har- 
ris. The firm of Harris & Mclntyre was formed in 1881 — and the senior 
partner withdrew from the business in 1885. Mr. Mclntyre carries a stock 
which he appraises at about $15,000. 

Next in chronological order of establishment is the drug store of L. H. 
Darling, which was begun about 1869 by Dr. C. J. Phillips. Since he retired 
the several proprietors have been M. W. Lenox, Lenox & Smilie, George M. 
Burroughs, and the present owner, who succeeded Mr. Burroughs on the 1st 
of January, 1886. 

In 1 87 1 Theodore Van Duzen established the furniture business now under 
the proprietorship of his successor, M. W. Harrington, whose connection with 
the concern dates from 1873. Mr. Harrington carries stock valued at about 
$3,500. 

W. H. Mix purchased the old brick store in 1872, that being then, accord- 
ing to his statement, the only brick building in town. From the first he dealt 
in drugs, groceries, boots and shoes, glassware, etc. He moved into his pres- 
ent quarters in 1878. He values his stock at from $6,000 to $8,000. 

The firm of Smith, Wheelock & Co. began to deal in hardware, and built 
a store for that purpose in the summer of 1873. Successive changes since 
then have taken place, and now the sign reads " K. R. Wheelock & Son." 
Their stock is estimated at about $8,000 or $9,000. 

Augustus Scott, merchant tailor at Sugar Grove village, came about twelve 
years ago. The tin-shop and hardware store of John Barlow was started the 
same year. Mr. Barlow now carries stock worth $4,000 or $5,000. 

J. G., A. M. and A. D. McDonald, under the firm style of McDonald 
Brothers, established a general store in Sugar Grove village in 1877, and now 
carry stock valued at about $12,000. 

Wellman Brothers & Co., drugs and general merchandise. — This estab- 
lishment was founded in 1881 by W. D. and D. E. Wellman, who, in the sum- 
mer of 1886, formed copartnership relations with the present junior member of 
the firm, R. S. Cummings. They have been in their present building two 
years at this writing. They carry about $3,000 worth of goods. 

The general mercantile business now conducted in the name of Mrs. R. D. 
McDougal was started in 1881 by Hardin Hazeltine, her father. Her husband 
had charge of the store for about a year, ending in March, 1885, when the 
present proprietress assumed the management. 

S. G. Stuart began to deal in groceries in Sugar Grove village, on the 4th 
of September, 1886. 



Sugar Grove Township. 435 

Physicians, Past and Present. — In the earliest days of the township med- 
ical aid was obtainable no nearer than Jamestown. About the year 1820 Dr. 
Hiram Newman came to reside in a house next to the old school-house in 
Sugar Grove village. His wife was a sister of Abraham Ditmars. After a 
brief stay here of two or three years Dr. Newman sold out to Dr. Hiram Alden, 
who lived about three years in the same house. His successor was Dr. Jona- 
than Pratt, a single man, who boarded with Henry Catlin three years and then 
returned to Ontario county, N. Y. Then arrived another bachelor physician, 
Dr. Marcus Whitman, who boarded at Willson's Hotel. Several years after- 
ward he was followed by Dr. Noah Weld, who lived on the edge of the village 
toward Jamestown. He practiced in Sugar Grove a number of years and 
until his death, only a few years previous to the last great war. His son, Des- 
cartes Weld, afterward practiced here some time, finally removing to California 
for his health, where he died. Dr. Samuel Rogers and Dr. C. H. Smith also 
practiced in Sugar Grove a number of years. 

Of the physicians at present in practice in Sugar Grove village Dr. W. W. 
Seabury is the one of longest standing. He was born in this town on the 
17th of August, 1851, and received his medical education at the University of 
Wooster, at Cleveland, O. He also took a degree from the Western Reserve 
University of Cleveland. The date of his diploma from the first-named insti- 
tution is February, 1875. He practiced in Sugar Grove two years under Dr. 
C. H. Smith (who is now in Mason City, Iowa), and since then has continued 
for himself 

Dr. W. D. Wellman was born in Harmony, Chautauqua county, N. Y., • 
February 15, 1855, and received his medical education at the Eclectic Medical 
Institute of Cincinnati, O., from which he was graduated in June, 1881. He 
came to Sugar Grove in the following fall. 

Dr. W. M. Page received his medical education in the medical department 
of the Western Reserve University of Cleveland, being graduated from it on 
the 3d of March, 1886. In August following he settled in Sugar Grove. 

Dr. Fred A. Morrell was born in Strong, Me., on the 26th of October, 
1857, and obtained his professional education at the Long Island College Hos- 
pital in Brooklyn, N. Y., from which he was graduated in June, 1885. He 
practiced for some time on the resident staff of physicians of that institution, 
and came to Sugar Grove on the 1st of October, 1886. 

The only dentist in active practice at the village of Sugar Grove is Dr. H. 
B. Arnold, who practiced dentistry in New York State nearly forty years, the 
last thirteen of which, before his arrival in Sugar Grove, were passed in James- 
town. He came here in the summer of 1884. 

The Sugar Grove News is the only newspaper ever published in Sugar 
Grove, is apparently established on a sound basis, and is published by a veteran 
newspaper man, who " cannot remember when he couldn't set type." His father. 



436 History of Warren County. 

Adolphus Fletcher, established the Jamestown Journal about 1825 or 1826. 
The proprietor of the News is also the founder of the Warren Mail. He was 
in Southern Illinois fifteen or twenty years, and came here from Washington, 
D. C, where he had been in the employ of the government. The News is a 
clean, crisp, well-edited paper. Republican in politics and interesting in matter. 
It dates its origin to December, 1884. 

Sugar Grove Saznngs Bank was organized in April, 1877, with a capital 
of $25,000. The first officers were W. H. Shortt, president; J. H. Nichols, 
vice-president; J. B. Hamilton, cashier ; and J. H. Spencer, assistant cashier. 
Mr. Shortt is still president, and his son, C. M. Shortt, is the present cashier, 
having succeeded Mr. Hamilton in 1878. 

Hotels. — The only hotels of any prominence in the village of Sugar Grove 
have been that of John I. Willson and his successors, and that of Samuel Hall 
— the last building having been destroyed by fire about thirteen years ago, 
though it had not been kept as a hotel for some time previous to that date. 
As stated in the sketch of Captain Willson, he purchased the hotel (of Robert 
Miles) about 1 821, and retained the property until about the year 1857, when 
he sold out to James Patterson. In the summer of 1859 Aaron Smith suc- 
ceeded Patterson, and in one year was followed by James Dennison one year. 
Henry Sylvester, now of Sinclairville, N. Y., then came here and remained 
about one year. Since his withdrawal the successive proprietors have been 
Fred Alvord, William D. Edgerton, H. Harmon, Fred Alvord, George Owen, 
Porter Pemberton, David CruU, Jacob Wiggins, and the present proprietor, 
Charles Ricker, who assumed charge on the 4th of July, 1886. 

Agricultural Society. — The unquestioned pre-eminence of this township in 
agricultural matters has occasioned several attempts toward the organization of 
societies looking to the advancement of this art, the basis of a country's pros- 
perity. In the fall of 1857 an agricultural society was formed as a township 
organization auxiliary to the county society. It was officered as follows : L. 
H. Pratt, president; F. R. Miller, secretary; Dwight Buell, treasurer. It was 
decided that fairs should be held in or near the village of Sugar Grove, and one 
or two such fairs were so held. The society now in operation in this town- 
ship, however, dates its origin to the year 1874, when it was organized and 
soon after chartered. The first president was Darwin Wentworth ; the first 
secretary, David Jagger, and the first treasurer, E. R. Wheelock. Its pur- 
po.se is the advancement of the agricultural, horticultural, and mechanical arts. 
No premiums are offered at its fairs to fast horses, no gambling is allowed 
on the grounds, nor is any liquor sold. Grounds of about twenty or twenty- 
five acres are leased of three parties, and are a pattern of convenience and 
beauty. According to its charter, any person purchasing a family ticket be- 
comes ipso facto a member of the organization, the membership varying from 
1,000 to 1,500 in numbers. Once in three years the society elect a member 



Sugar Grove Townshii>. 437 

of the State Board of Agriculture. The present officers are Hon. Emry Davis, 
president ; David Jagger, secretary, and J. B. Hamilton, treasurer. 

G. A. R. Post. — This organization, which was named after James P. Younie, 
a brave soldier killed during the last war, was mustered in on the 21st of Jan- 
uary, 1885, by post commander J. W. Brighton, of Bear Lake Post. Follow- 
ing is a list of its officers : Commander, Samuel Lord ; senior vice-commander, 
W. G. Peckham ; junior vice-commander, B. F. Darling; surgeon. J. L. Bur- 
roughs ; chaplain, N. J. Cooper; officer of the day, A. D. Frank; adjutant, 
William A. Stuart; quartermaster, D. Fulkerson ; sergeant-major, H. Arters; 
quartermaster-sergeant, William A. Younie. 

Tlie Post office. — It is not known exactly when a regular post-office was 
established in the village of Sugar Grove, though it seems probable that the 
first appointee under the general government was Jeremiah Jolls, who, about 
1830, had an office a little to the west of Willson's Hotel. It is stated on 
good authority that John Brown, of Harper's Ferry fame, was at one time a 
mail carrier through this township, when he resided in Crawford county. Jere- 
miah Jolls was followed in his federal office by Joshua Van Duzen, whose office 
was in the same building. Since the expiration of his term the following have 
basked in presidential favor for more or less brief periods : W. O. Blodgett, 
Mark Willson, G. W. Buell, James Patterson, Jacob Horton, C. J. Phillips, 
James Stuart. The present incumbent, J. M. Martin, was appointed in May, 
1885. 

Cliandlcr s I'allcy. — This is a small village in the southeastern part of the 
township, containing two general stores, one which is kept by H. Wilson, and 
the other by F. A. Sagerdahl ; besides the drug store of F. N. Chapin. At 
this place Baker & Anderson operate a successful planing, matching, and 
shingle-mill ; N. W. Dupree manufactures lumber, lath, and shingles ; C. P. 
Quilliam carries on a cheese-factory ; C. J. Sagerdahl and Charles Sundell are 
severally engaged in selling and manufacturing wagons and carriages. There 
is one hotel, the Ellis House, kept by Benjamin Ellis. H. Wilson is post- 
master, and until recently the only physician here was F. W. Whitcomb. Dr. 
Whitcornb was born in Sugar Grove, and remained in his native township until 
July I, 1886, when he removed to Warren. He was graduated from the med- 
ical department of the University of Buffalo on the 2 1st of February, 1882, 
and at once began to practice in Chandler's Valley. He was the first resident 
physician of this village. 

Chandler's Valley received its name before 1820 from John Chandler, who 
came hither from Connecticut about the year 18 15, and settled on the flats in 
the valley, his house standing on a little rise of ground immediately west of 
the flats. The country was then noted for its maple sugar, great numbers of 
maple trees covering the surface of this part of the town. Josiah Chandler, 
the father of John, came with him, an old man, but died in a few years. John 



438 History of Warren County. 

Chandler had twelve children, four of whom were sons, and of the latter only 
one now lives, while but four of the daughters are living. John Chandler was 
a hard-working man, was conscientious in the performance of his duty, and 
just toward others. He died in the early part of July, 1867. The other early 
settlers, most of them, have been mentioned in former pages. About 1859 
this portion of the town received a considerable influx of Swedish immigrants, 
who now form an important and law-abiding element of its society. 

Schools. — The first school kept in Sugar Grove was in 181 5, in what was 
then known as the Utica school district, embracing the present village of 
Sugar Grove. The first schools were supported by individual subscription, 
the tuition being valued at from two to five dollars per pupil. The first school 
was taught by Betsy Wetmore, who was succeeded by James Brown. Other 
early teachers were J. O. Wilson and Corbin Kidder. As before stated, John 
Barr donated an acre of ground to the district for school purposes, which is 
still used as a site for the union school. About 1869 Frederick Miles be- 
queathed $3,000 to his wife in trust, to be used as a school fund. The present 
union school building was erected about this time at a cost of nearly $7,000, 
F. R. Miller, James Catlin, and James Younie being the commissioners who 
worked in conjunction with the school directors. 

Besides this union school and the district schools of the township, there is 
an educational institution in the village of Sugar Grove which reflects honor 
upon the place, and will, undoubtedly, redound to the elevation of public 
morals and opinions. The Sugar Grove Seminary was erected through the 
efforts of the Erie Conference of the United Brethren of Christ. The confer- 
ence resolved to establish the school (the only one in the conference) at that 
point from which the best inducement was offered. The citizens of Sugar 
Grove with characteristic liberality subscribed the sum of $8,000 for the pur- 
pose, which, being the largest offer, was accepted, and the building erected in 
1883. The first board of trustees was elected two years previously, and was 
composed of Rev. J. Hill, who was foremost in his zealous efforts to secure the 
establishment of the school, Rev. A. Holeman, Rev. N. R. Luce, Rev. R. J. 
White, H. Prick, C. H. Partridge, and Joel Carr. The cost of the building, 
an elegant and modern structure, was $20,000, and of the furniture $3,000 
more. The school was opened in September, 1884, with an attendance of about 
130. The institution, though under the management of the United Brethren, 
is entirely non-sectarian, and makes a specialty of music, having a corps of 
excellent teachers. The other branches are not, however, neglected. The 
first and present principal is Rev. R. J. White. The attendance in the 1885 
was 215. 

The religious organization of the United Brethren connected with the school 
was effected in 1884, the membership of which now numbers about seventy. 
The pastor from the beginning has been and now is Rev. J. Hill. The Sab- 



Sugar Grove Township. 439 

bath-school superintendent is Professor E. H. Hill ; class leader, P. Smith ; 
steward, J. P. Atkins. The average attendance at the Sabbath-school is about 
sixty. The congregations at the church meetings are much larger than is in- 
dicated by the statement of membership, there being usually in attendance 
upon divine service at the chapel no fewer than 125 persons. The present 
board of trustees of the institution is composed as follows : Rev. J. Hill, Rev. 
R. J. White, Rev. I. Bennehofif, Rev. N. R. Luce, Rev. A. Holeman, H. Frick, 
J. D. Christ. The members of the prudential committee are Rev. J. Hill, J. P. 
Miller, T. Fulkerson. Rev. J. Hill is the general agent. 

Ecclesiastical. — The first regularly organized church in Sugar Grove town- 
ship was the Presbyterian, which was formed in the parlor of David Brown's 
dwelling house in 1821 by Rev. Amos Chase. Previous to that, however, 
meetings were irregularly held three or four times a year, without regard to 
denomination, in the school-house usually. The original members of this 
church were David Fox, I. Fitch, Nathan Abbott, W. C. White, Samuel White, 
David Stilson, Hannah Tuttle, Matilda Fox, Anna Abbott, Aurelia Wetmore, 
Cynthia Fitch, Betsey White, Catharine Stuart, William Stuart, Betsey Stuart, 
Robert Stuart, Polly Stuart, James Lowther, Barbara Lowther, Jennet Brown, 
Joseph Langdon, Frederick Miles, Catherine Miles, Sally Smith, and Francis 
Smith. The first meetings were held in the dwellings of members and in 
school-houses. During the year 1834, however, a house of worship was com- 
pleted at a cost of about $1,000. This building was of wood and stood out- 
side of the village proper. Sometime between 1865 and 1870 it was mo\ed 
within the village limits and repaired at an additional cost of $1,200. 

Pastors and stated supplies, in the order of their coming by years, have 
been as follows : Amos Chase, 1821 ; Nathan Harnod, 1825; W. F. Huston, 
1831 ; John McNair, 1832; A. McCready, 1836; Daniel Washburn, 1838; 
M. T. Merwin, 1846; N. M. Crane, 1849 to 1854; J. H. Gray, 1862; Samuel 
Graham, 1865 ; William Elliott, 1875 to 1884. The number of present mem- 
bers is twenty-si.x, and the present value of church property is $1,500. 

In 1838, through the influence, it is said, of a division of the Presbyterian 
Church of Jamestown into two organizations, one retaining the Presbyterian 
form of government and the other assuming that of the Congregational Church, 
a like division was effected in the Presbyterian Church of Sugar Grove. Dea- 
con Joseph Langdon had originally united with this church with the express 
understanding that whenever the vicinity should have Congregationalists suf- 
ficient for the formation of a separate organization, he should be at liberty to 
withdraw from the Presbyterian Church, and organize a separate body. In 
the above-mentioned year. Deacon Langdon, deeming the time ripe for the 
performance of his condition, moved in the church that the organization with- 
draw from the Presbyterian and assume the Congregational form of govern- 
ment. Among the Congregationalists were, besides Deacon Langdon, Henry 



440 History of Warren County. 

Catlin, Amos Wright, L. H. Pratt, Clark Dalrymple, Stephen Jagger, Mrs. 
Stephen Jagger, Miss Julia A. Catlin (now Mrs. L. H. Pratt), David and Mrs. 
Stilson, David and Mrs. Fox, Betsey Stilson, Polly Stilson (afterward Mrs. 
Hardin Hazeltine), James Gray, Lydia King (afterward Mrs. Amos Wright), 
and Europa Fay. Miss Catherine Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Hazeltine Spencer, and 
James Jagger were left almost alone in the Presbyterian Church for a time. This 
division subsequently led to a protracted litigation for the possession and own- 
ership of the church property, which resulted in favor of the Presbyterians. 
After the division the Congregationalists held meetings usually in the ball- 
room of Samuel Hall's tavern, and also in the ball-room of a small tavern built 
by Samuel Foster, but then owned by Samuel Brown. No church edifice was 
erected until January, 1849, when the present one was reared. The pastor of 
the Congregational Church at the time of the division was Rev. Emery, who 
was soon followed by Rev. Hiram Kellogg. The pastors since his departure 
have been many, among the last few being D. L. Gear, O. A. Thomas, J. B. 
Davison, and W. W. Pringle, the last pastor. The church has at present no 
pastor. 

The present officers of the Congregational Church are as follows : Edwin 
Hazeltine, S. O. Smith, Noah H. Dalrymple, deacons ; Miss Sarah Stoolfire, 
treasurer ; Noah H. Dalrymple clerk ; De Forrest Temple, Sabbath-school 
superintendent. A Sabbath-school was organized before the separation from 
the Presbyterian Church, under Rev. Harnod, and has since been continued in 
both organizations. The property of the Congregational Church is now valued 
at about $2,000, including the parsonage. 

The first knowledge we have of Methodism in Sugar Grove places the date 
of its origin here at about the period between 1825 and 1830. Previous to 
that time Sugar Grove had had the misfortune to be counted, as one of the 
leading members of that church has said, merely one of the picket posts of 
some circuit, and, indeed, practically continued to be so counted until 1855. 
Until the last-mentioned date the members were few and scattering, and held 
at irregular periods such services as they could in the log house of some set- 
tler. Occasionally also prayer meetings and class meetings were called to keep 
up the interest of those who adhered to that faith. Among these pioneers of 
Methodism in Sugar Grove are found the names of Gregg, Warner, Carter, 
Thorp, Crouch, Andrews, Mahan, Pero, and others. Among the preachers 
who conducted meetings previous to 1855, are found the following: Revs. 
Todd, Flowers, Demming, Norton, Forrest, Chapman, Graham, Edwards, Lloyd, 
Forrest, Blin, Peate, More, Hineball, Holland, and Jones. 

In 1840 the first Methodist class was formed in Sugar Grove by Rev. T. J. 
McClellan and Rev. E. J. S. Baker, preacher in charge. J. Andrews was class 
leader. The circuit at that time was called Harmony circuit. During these 
years revivals were not uncommon, and were undoubtedly productive of much 



Sugar Grove Township. 441 

good. On the 5th of October, 1846, a meeting was held at the house of An- 
drew Gregg to consider the desirabihty and feasibihty of building a house of 
worship. Rev. E. J. S. Baker was in the chair and Dr. J. Andrews acted as 
secretary. Resohitions were adopted to the effect that the demands of the 
denomination in this vicinity required the erection of a church edifice, and Dr. 
J. Andrews, A. D. Jackson, and Stephen Crouch were appointed a committee, 
which in accordance of their duty reported at the next meeting, December 28, 
1 846, in favor of the immediate erection of a house of worship. At this meeting 
trustees and also a building committee were elected. The people, however, were 
very poor, and considering their circumstances and small number the undertaking 
was serious, and reflects credit upon their zeal. Farms were not cleared, and 
many were not paid for; money was scarce and the prices of products were ex- 
tremely low. Notwithstanding these untoward conditions the contract was let 
on the 28th of March, 1848, to Stephen Crouch. After slow and toilsome prog- 
ress the edifice was completed, and on the 31st of August, 1852, was dedicated 
to the worship of the Most High by Rev. H. Whallon, assisted by Revs. T. D. 
Blin, J. Chesbrough, and others. It is truthfully related that when the people 
met to cut down and prepare the timber for the building, two women of the 
society, Mrs. Dunbar and Mrs. Abigail Fox, sawed off the first log amidst 
great shouting and applause. They both died long ago. It is also due to the 
memory of Stephen Crouch, who was soundly converted at one of the log cab- 
in meetings, as he said from a very sinful life, that he rendered indispensable 
aid in the building of this church. Until this edifice was completed services were 
held in the school-house on the village green. A Sunday-school was at this 
time also organized, and has continued in active and successful operation to 
the present day. 

In 1855 the conference set Sugar Grove off from what was called the Ash- 
ville Circuit, and the new circuit was called Sugar Grove. Rev. E. M. Nowland 
was pastor. The following official members were found on the bounds of the 
new circuit at the time of its erection: Local preachers. Comfort Hamline, Chris- 
topher McManus ; exhorters, David Blodgett, Artemas Woodard, Griffin 
Sweet ; stewards, John Mahan, Sylvester Howd, Peter Fretts ; class leaders, 
H. Cooper, S. Howd, J. Andrews, A. Gregg, J. Whitely, A. Woodard, and J. 
Walker. 

Since the year 1855 the influence of the church upon the people has not 
been without its good effect. Many of the ministers have been men of force 
and usefulness. Revivals of religion have been of frequent occurrence, and 
the community have thus been benefited by the elevating influences shed upon 
them. Few of the official members of 1855 remain at the present day, most 
of them having gone to the other world. In conclusion it may be truthfully 
said that the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sugar Grove has been aggressive 
in its warfare against sin, and its altar fires have never been permitted to be 



442 History of Warren County. 

for a moment extinguished. Through the years of the Rebellion it occupied 
no doubtful position, but was loyal to the Union, and patriotic to the cause. 
It has ever been found on the side of right and sobriety. Its ministers have 
ever been ready and present to administer the consolations of the gospel to all 
classes and conditions of men, to visit and comfort the sorrowing, and dispense 
the last rites to the dying and the dead. 

The pastors since 1855 have been as follows: 1855-56, E. M. Nowland ; 
1856-57, M. Colgrove; 1857-58, A. Barras; 1858-59, S. S. Burton ; 1859-61, 
E.A.Anderson; 1861-63, J. Marsh ; 1863-65, D. Mizner; 1865-67, Stocker 
and Bush; 1867-69, L. J. Merrill; 1869-72, A. A. Horton; 1872-73, J. P. 
Storey; 1873-74, J. P. Hicks; 1874-75, D. H. Snowden ; 1875-77, E. K. 
Creed; 1877-78, S. S. Bennett; 1878-81, W. O. Allen; 1881-83, C. O. Mead ; 
1883-85, D. R. Palmer; 1885-86, V. Corneule ; 1886-87, Rev. Lindsey. 

The value of the church property is at present estimated at $3,700. The 
Sabbath-school superintendent is G. Horton. The other officers are as follows : 
stewards, VV. W. Jones, S. Jones, Mrs. F. Bixford, Mrs. G. Horton ; trustees, 
Thomas Stuart, A. Shaw, C. Dole, G. Horton, B. H. Wiggins ; number of 
Sabbath-school teachers and officers, 15 ; number of scholars of all ages, ill. 

Tlie Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Hcssel Valley Church of Chandler's 
Valley. — This church was organized in 1856 by Rev. Jonas Swenson. The 
first meetings were held in private houses in different parts of the town, and 
were conducted by missionary ministers. Among the original members were 
prominent Magnus Hultberg, Lars Samuelson, S. F. Anderson, A. J. Hult- 
berg, J. P. Swanson, A. P. Morris, and others. The first house of worship was 
built even before the permanent organization of the society was effected, 
namely, in 1854. It was a framed building, erected at an expenditure of about 
$2,000, and stood one mile north from Chandler's Valley village. It was 
superseded in 1884 by the present edifice, of brick, which is situated in the 
village of Chandler's Valley, and which cost about $6,000. The pastors of this 
church in order are as follows: Rev. Jonas Swenson, 1856-58 ; John Person, 
1859-62; C. O. Hultgruen, 1864-70; Henry O. Lindeblad, 1871-79; C. A. 
Johnson, 1880-85 ; and the present pastor, A. P. Lindstrom, who came in 
1886. At present there are 250 communicants of this church, and a total 
membership of 433. The church property is valued at $10,000. A division 
of the old church took place upon the erection of the new church edifice at the 
Valley, which resulted in a total separation of a part of the congregation and 
the formation of a new independent church, which built a new edifice near the 
site of the old church. 



Pine Grove Township. 443 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

HISTORY OF PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP. 

PINE GROVE township is a tract of land nearly six miles square, lying 
somewhat in the northeasterly part of Warren county, and is bounded 
north by Cattaraugus county in the State of New York, east by Elk township, 
Warren county, south by Glade and Conewango, and west by Farmington. 
Its surface is diversified by hill and valley, though this feature is not so prom- 
inent a characteristic of Pine Grove as of those towns lying farther south. 
Neither does it contain so much wild land as most of the other towns in the 
county, the soil of which it is composed being admirably adapted for agricult- 
ural uses. Natural irrigation is afforded by the Conewango Creek and its trib- 
utaries. This stream takes its rise in Chautauqua county, N. Y., flows south- 
erly through Pine Grove township — a little west of the center — forms the 
boundary line between Conewango and Glade townships, and unites with Alle- 
gheny River just east of Warren borough. The Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley 
and Pittsburgh Railroad intersects the town along the east bank of this creek, 
making access easy to the bounteous resources of nature here provided. The 
township was formed on the 8th of March, 1821, and its area diminished by 
the formation of Farmington, 7th of October, 1853. It was first called " Num- 
ber Six." 

Early Settlements. — As has been written by one of Pine Grove's best 
informed local historians, " The history of Pine Grove township from its first 
settlement would necessarily include a recital of the sufferings, hardships, and 
privations of the early settlers, of which the present generation can form no 
adequate idea. A densely wooded country, inhabited by wild beasts, and wild 
men who had recently surrendered the title to their lands under compulsion," 
were the conditions which confronted the unfaltering and fearless pioneers of 
this neighborhood, which they accepted with a readiness born of intrepidity. 
It was in circumstances thus inauspicious that, as early as 179S, and while the 
reports of savage atrocity were yet distinct and vivid, John Frew, John Rus- 
sell, Robert Miles, and soon after Isaiah Jones, starting from Philadelphia, 
ascending the Susquehanna and Sinnemahoning, and penetrating the wilder- 
ness in what is now McKean county, found the Allegheny at " Canoe Place," 
where they provided themselves with means of transportation, floated down 
the river to the mouth of the Conewango, and made the first permanent settle- 
ment of Warren county in the beech woods of Pine Grove and Farmington. 
It has been claimed that this event occurred previous to Wayne's treaty of 
1795, but we have been unable to discover any evidence sufficiently strong to 
confute the presumption, which " will not down," that it was impossible for 



444 History of Warren County. 

white men to make a settlement in the heart of the hostile Indian's battle- 
ground, so far away from the protection of the government. They would not 
have lived to see the last faint glimmer of their first camp-fire, or to have 
cleared a space sufficient for their final resting-place. As soon, however, as 
Wayne's treaty had laid open these rich lands to the settler, came the settler. 

The smoothest and most available lands for agricultural purposes are found 
upon the wide flats and low, broad hills of the central and northwestern por- 
tion of the township. In the eastern and southern parts high elevations and a 
surface roughly corrugated by fierce water courses have rendered large areas 
unfit for cultivation. Originally these hills were covered with pine of a supe- 
rior quality, as well as other valuable timber. It was this more than anything 
else that invited the early settlers to make this region their home. " We find," 
says our author, "that as early as 1801 there was at least one saw-mill; and 
in 1803 Mulford Marsh built a mill near the Irvine mill site, Daniel McGinty 
and Ethan Jackson built another at Russellburg, near where now is the bridge. 
Water power was eagerly sought after, to drive the machinery for sawing lum- 
ber. But little attention was given to improving the land for agricultural pur- 
poses. There were a few attempts made here and there at actual settlement. 
Z. H. Eddy commenced in 1801 on what is now the Phillips farm, but soon 
after moved to Warren, where he lived until his death, at an advanced age. 
One Charles Biles settled on the farm now owned by S. P. Allen. A man by 
the name of Davis settled on the Sloan farm, but transferred his claim to Gar- 
field, Garfield to S. W. Green, and he to Sloan, who retained it for many 
years. John McClain settled on the John Daley farm, and Neal McClain es- 
tablished himself on the Cook or Wittsie farm. Samuel Anderson was the 
first settler on the John Arnold farm. These attempts were made under the 
settlement act of 1792, which required five years to give title. But few of the 
first arrivals perfected the title in their own names, as a subsequent assessment 
mentioned only Samuel Anderson and Isaiah Jones as owning land, of those 
before named. 

The population increased slowly until after the War of 18 12, when there 
seemed to be a more rapid increase, principally from the Eastern States. 
Many located in New York, while others wound their devious way into Penn- 
sylvania. Pine Grove obtained a portion of this influx. Thomas Martin came 
from Venango county in 18 13, Joseph Akely in 1815, while K. L. Derby, 
Robert Russell, Robert Miles, Adam Aker, David C. Bowman, John Rogers, 
John Russell, Caleb Thompson, Joseph and Orrin Hook, Major James Hcrriot, 
Robert Valentine, Thomas Slone, John and Marshall Jones, and many others 
were named in the assessment roll of 1822. 

Up to this time, and long after, there were no roads on the east side of the 
creek, and but two houses, one built and occupied by Major Herriot, near 
Akely Station, the other on the estate of William and Danford Hale, near the 



Pine Grove Township. 445 

mouth of Store House Run, where there was also a saw-mill. There had 
been several cabins built a little above the present site of the water tank of 
the D., A. V. & P. Railroad, by a number of men, who obtained the timber 
for the first bridge across the Allegheny River, at Pittsburgh, where now 
stretches the iron bridge at the foot of St. Clair street. This was in 1817, and 
the place was long known hereabouts as " Shanty Hill Landing." 

There were but thirteen persons assessed in Pine Grove, as now constituted, 
in 1806. Isaiah Jones, who has been before mentioned as one of the first of 
the pioneers, lived on the land he selected when he first visited this township 
until the time of his death. The farm is now occupied by Messrs. Pitts and 
Way. He was appointed a justice of the peace, and acted as such until the 
adoption of the Constitution that made the office elective. Edward Jones, his 
brother, will be remembered by the older inhabitants as court crier for many 
years. George Slone, father of Thomas Slone, came to this township in 1799 
from Cumberland county, Pa. He was by trade a blacksmith. In 18 17 he 
emigrated to Ohio. Robert Russell, who appears in this early list, afterward 
became an extensive lumberman, and will again be referred to in speaking of 
the village. Thomas Martin and Garrett Woodworth owned and operated the 
mills at Russellburg, but low prices for lumber and other adverse circumstances 
induced them, after a brief period, to sell. Lumber, such as was manufactured 
here, was sold for $2.50 per thousand in Pittsburgh in the fall of 1820. Mar- 
tin afterward moved to the mill on Store House Run, which he operated until 
it burned, about 1825 or 1826. He at the same time took up the farm now 
owned by Daniel Harrington, and owned it at his death. The Warren Ledger 
said this of him : "Thomas Martin, of this county, died the 15th of February, 
1869, aged eighty- three. Mr. Martin was one of the oldest settlers of Warren 
county, having emigrated to this county more than fifty years ago from Kent 
county, in Delaware, where he was born in 1786. He was once sheriff of 
Warren county for three years, and county commissioner for the same length 
of time, and his faithful discharge of his public duties received universal com- 
mendation. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, his advice was 
often sought, and his counsels accepted. A good man has left us." 

The D., A. V. & P. Railroad was completed in 1871, which made an out- 
let for certain kinds of lumber and bark that had hitherto been unmarketable 
and comparatively valueless, besides cheapening the expense of freight for 
supplies. 

The village of Pine Grove, now called Russellburg, was named after Rob- 
ert Russell, son of that John Russell who emigrated into this township as be- 
fore related, and lies buried in Pine Grove cemetery, having died 23d of 
March, 18 19, aged seventy-eight years. Robert Russell died August 17, 1847, 
aged sixty-five years. The village was not regularly laid out until 1843, but 
had been inhabited by different families from the earliest occupation of the 



446 History of Warren County. 

township. That the ground upon which the village stands had been used by 
the Indians and French from time immemorial, there are many evidences. 
Being at the head of the Seven-mile Rapids, at the foot of the deep and slack 
water extending into New York, it seemed to be a natural stopping place on 
the route from the lakes to the Ohio River, before it was abandoned for the 
Presque Isle portage. The first white inhabitant must have been one John 
Houghy, who, with his wife Betsey, lived in a cabin near those large apple 
trees in the field of R. Chapman, and doubtless planted them. But soon after 
other people came, and Mr. and Mrs. Houghy, fearing that they were liable to 
be too crowded, left here and commenced again near the Irvine brick house, 
where they lived for a time. The island opposite their last place of residence 
has ever since been known as Houghy's Island. But people again becoming 
too thickly settled, they went down the river, and probably settled where they 
would not be molested by impertinent or inquisitive neighbors. 

The first house erected in the village stood near the present residence of 
R. Chapman. Soon after, another one was built of planks, where now is the 
store of A. A. Clark, and in this tenement D. M. Martin was born 15th 
of January, 1821. The first public house was built by Lansing Wetmore, 
father of Judge L. D. Wetmore, now of Warren, who afterward sold to Rob- 
ert Miles. After passing through various hands, it came into the possession 
of A. G. Lane. This was on the same ground now occupied by the hotel. 
Thomas Slone commenced on the opposite corner to build a public house, but 
sold to Marshall Jones before completion, who, after finishing it, kept tavern 
in it until 1824. It then burned, and was at once rebuilt by Jones. This 
property also went through various permutations until the winter of 1 841, when 
both hotels were burned at once. 

During the time that Jones was keeping public house he and his brother 
John commenced building a saw-mill across the creek on Akely Run, but soon 
sold to Joseph Akely, who came from Brattleboro, Vt., in 18 15, and took up 
600 acres of land, embracing the site of this mill. Here he manufactured lumber, 
cleared and cultivated land until his death, 14th of October, 1875, at the age of 
eighty-six years, leaving an untarnished name as an example and a heritage to his 
many children. As the country filled up, and saw-mills increased in number far 
up the Conewango in the State of New York; Pine Grove, or Russellburg, in the 
rafting season became a busy place, located, as it is, at the head of the rapids, 
where pilots were procured to pilot the rafts into the Allegheny. The Cone- 
wango seemed to afford more water than now, or at least a rafting stage of 
water lasted much longer. Sometimes for nearly a month the village would 
be thronged with raftmen engaged in transporting their lumber to a lower mar- 
ket. All this has passed away forever. The timber has nearly all been taken 
away, and probably the last raft of sawn lumber has passed out of the Cone- 
wango. With the extinguishment of this business the occupation of many of 



Pine Grove Township. 447 



the citizens of Pine Grove has gone likewise. The whole male population 
seemed to depend upon going down the river as often as possible — and many 
thereby became intimately acquainted with the rivers, their windings and in- 
tricate channels, from here to the falls of the Ohio. That knowledge, so highly 
prized at one time, is useless now, except as affording an interesting and never- 
failing subject of conversation between old river men when they meet and tell 
minutely every circumstance connected with a trip made fifty or sixty years 
ago. Thomas Slone, who has previously been mentioned, and who died in 
this village 3d of October, 1886, at the age of ninety-nine years, was never so 
happy as when relating the rafting experiences which occurred in his boyhood. 
In relation to him the following is copied from the " Historical Atlas of Warren 
County": "Thomas Slone was born in Cumberland county, Pa., in 1796. He 
came with his father to Pine Grove in 1 799, and has been a resident of this 
township ever since. He has been one of the most active and energetic busi- 
ness men in Pine Grove, and always took an active interest in everything per- 
taining to the welfare of the township or county. He was county commis- 
sioner from 1837 to 1840. He is now in his eighty-third year, living in Rus- 
sellburg, surrounded by his friends and relations, enjoying the calm reflections 
incident to a busy life. His wife, a few years younger, is also Hving " (1878 — 
died 1 883). The following in reference to her is copied from the " Warren Cen- 
tennial Business Directory": "Jane Slone, born in 1800 in Pine Grove, is be- 
lieved to be the first white child born in the county now living. " 

Richard Alden came to the county in 1827 from Oneida, and built a card- 
ing-mill and cloth-dressing establishment at the head of the island at Russell- 
burg soon after he came. This business was carried on by him until about 
1835 or 1836, when he emigrated to Louisiana on the Red River. Henry 
Gray took his place in the mill until it was washed away, not long after, by a 
flood and a break in the dam. The business was again undertaken by T. 
Drummond, of Denver, Col., who later removed his machinery to Brookville, 
Pa. Woolen-factories having been established at Jamestown and eleswhere in 
the vicinity, the business was abandoned as unremunerative, and such machin- 
ery became useless for the reason that the women had forgotton how to spin 
and weave as their ancestors had been forced to do. 

Dr. Newman was the first physician that resided in the village, and it has 
been said of him that none who have since practiced here have filled his place. 
He went away with Richard Alden and died in Louisiana. He was succeeded 
by Dr. Wheeler, a young man who read medicine with Newman, and died 
young of consumption. Since then the village has been blessed with many 
practitioners,^ who have made, this the halting-place, until they had learned 
enough to go elsewhere. Pine Grove, like most villages of its size and age, has 
been imposed upon by quacks. 

1 Savs our author. 



448 History of Warren County. 

Luke Turner came to Russellburg in 1827, kept a public house here for 
many years, and in 1839 moved to Limestone. His widow, now nearly eighty- 
eight years old, resides with R. Chapman, who married one of her daughters. 
She has been blind for many years, but her mind is as clear and her memory as 
correct as most of those who are younger. 

The first bridge across the Conewango at Russellburg was built in 1827 or 
1828, and was again built in 1840, and replaced by the present structure in 
1853 by F. E. Perkins. The main building now occupied as a grist-mill was 
built for a pail-factory in 1834, and was before long abandoned. The old 
grist-mill was then removed, in 1838, from the present site of Thompson's 
mill to this new building. In 1868 it was furnished with new machinery, and 
the additional portions of the building by D. M. Martin and J. S. Briggs, 
from whom it was purchased by A. G. Lane. The first planing-mill was 
started by L W. Briggs, who has continued the business unto the present time, 
and now has a steam mill at the foot of East street. E. W. Thompson also 
carries on that kind of business in connection with his saw-mill. 

The first elementary school in the township was kept in a private house in 
the village by a man named Stephen Rodger, who was drowned in 181 5 or 
1 8 16. About the same time a school was kept in Marshtown by Hugh Marsh. 
(See Farmington.) The first school-house erected in Pine Grove was also in 
the village in the year 18 18, and the first teacher in the same was named' Mur- 
dick ; he emigrated hither from some of the Eastern States. These schools 
were supported by their patrons alone, per capita. Indeed, all the schools 
in the township were kept up in this manner until after 1834. There are 
eleven school-houses in the township with 331 pupils. There are three schools 
in the village with an attendance of about lOO pupils. 

The foregoing mosaic of interesting facts concerning the early history of 
Pine Grove is the work of one the best-informed oflier citizens. So much has 
been said already that little is left for the writer but to fill up with the results 
of his own research a few of the fissures left by our generous contributor. The 
remarks made by him in respect to the busy appearance of the village dur- 
ing the height of lumber traflic in the spring, will apply to nearly every town 
in the county which is bordered or penetrated by a stream of any size. Forty 
or fifty years ago, in Russellburg, from nine o'clock in the morning, during the 
rafting seasons, the creek would be filled with rafts, and the roads would be 
crowded with men going and coming in every direction. This condition of 
things lasted until about the time of the last war, though a decline had then 
already begun. Men still living remember having seen the ball-room, dining- 
room, bar-room, halls, and even barn floors belonging to the tavern of Thomas 
Slone, completely covered with lumbermen who were glad to get any place 
of shelter for the night. The eccentric Guy C. Irvine used to cut, it is stated, 
about 3,000,000 feet of pine lumber a year, and Robert Russell turned out 
about the same amount. 



Pine Grove Township. 449 



Such additional information concerning the early settlers as has come to 
the writer he here gives as a supplement to the first part of this chapter. The 
farm of Isaiah Jones was in the north part of the town, adjoining the State 
line. Jones was found dead by the roadside not far from the brewery in War- 
ren, and it was supposed that he had been thrown from his wagon and killed. 
His brother Edward was here as early as Isaiah himself, and was a near neigh- 
bor. Job Damon, who is mentioned in the list of 1822, was an eccentric sort 
of man, who had fifty acres of land near the New York State line, and is said 
to have carried his eccentricity to insanity. He was found dead near his house 
about twenty years ago. His life was very secluded. About 1 830 Robert 
Russell built the brick building now occupied by Patrick Wetherby, and re- 
sided therein until his death. Previous to that time he dwelt in a framed house 
opposite his mills on the creek. His descendants are numerous in town, the 
postmaster, Harvey Russell, being one of his grandsons. 

Following is the list of taxables of Pine Grove the first year after its forma- 
tion (1822). It will be borne in mind that it frequently happens that many 
were ta.xed who were not residents, but merely property owners in the town : 

Samuel Anderson, 200 acres; Robert Anderson; Enoch Alden, 75 acres; 
Hiram Alden, 75 acres; John M. Berry; Adam Acker, 100 acres; Garrett 
Burget, 297 acres; Peter Burget, 100 acres; David C. Bowman; Daniel 
Chapin ; Levi Chappie, 70 acres ; Andrew Chappie, 70 acres ; Alanson Chap- 
pie, 70 acres ; Eademus Comstock, 200 acres ; Eleazer Chase ; Ale.xander 
Chesney ; Samuel Cowen, 200 acres ; Edward Derby, carpenter ; Nathan 
Davis; Samuel Daley; Job Damon, carpenter; Joseph Fitch, 150 acres; 
Josiah Gibbs ; Seth W. Creen, 300 acres ; Joseph Hook ; Orrin Hook ; Major 
James Herriot, 1,965 acres and a double saw- mill ; William Hearns; William 
Heaton, 102 acres; Joseph G. Heaton, carpenter, 80 acres; Stephen Hadley, 
200 acres; Isaiah Jones, "Esq.," 329 acres; Silas Rowland, 50 acres; Benja- 
min L. Raymond, 50 acres; David Root; Stephen Rowland, 188 acres; John 
Roger, 376 acres; Joel Rathbun (heirs), 650 acres; John Russell, 300 acres; 
Mary Russell, widow, 78 acres ; Thomas Russell, lOO acres ; William C. Shel- 
don, 130 acres; William Sheldon, 180 acres ; Arthur N. Smith ; William Tan- 
ner; Edward Treadway ; Caleb Thompson, 300 acres; Jonathan Thompson, 
150 acres; Spencer Johnston, 200 acres; Jehu Jones, 150 acres; Marshall 
Jones ; Edward Jones, 450 acres ; Joseph Jenkin, blacksmith ; Ozam Kibbey, 
50 acres ; McConnell & Hubbell ; Thomas Martin, 98 acres and two saw-mills ; 
James Martin ; John Marsh ; Hugh Marsh, 300 acres ; Thomas Marsh ; Ross 
Marsh, 100 acres ; Joseph Hugh Marsh, 100 acres ; John Marsh, sr., 366 acres ; 
Joseph Marsh, 50 acres; Joshua Marsh; Robert Miles, lOO acres, a tavern 
and one-half of an acre; John Mahon ; Medad Northrop, 35 acres; Gideon 
M. Northrop, 100 acres; Jesse Northrop, 93 acres; Merritt Nortlirop, 93 
acres; Joseph Northrop, 100 acres; Jeremiah C. Newman, 147 acres; Enos 



450 History of Warren County. 

Northrop, 30 acres; Joseph B. Overton, 150 acres; Lewis Osborn, 100 acres; 
Zebulon Peterson, 50 acres; Robert Russell, 623 acres and two saw-mills ; 
Anthony Thamer, 50 acres ; Samuel Treadway ; Robert Valentine, 200 acres 
and a saw-mill ; Joseph Akely, 550 acres; Thomas Slone, one-half acre and 
a tavern ; James G. Staunton, 200 acres ; Jeremiah Sanford, 24 acres ; 
Esquire Phillips, 85 acres ; Levi Phillips, 100 acres. 

Present Business. — The hotel now kept by E. Dean was built in 1 870 by 
A. G. Lane, who had burned out on the opposite side of the street. Mr. Lane 
will long be remembered by the people of Russellburg as a man who has done 
as much to build up the village as any one who has ever lived in the town. 
He died suddenly in August, 1 876. He was born on the 20th of February, 1 8 1 2, 
and came to Warren from Camden, Oneida county, N. Y., when he was about 
four years of age. He removed to Russellburg in 1832, and made that place 
his home until the time of his death. He was elected treasurer of Warren county 
in 1865, and served the term with satisfaction to the people. He afterward 
filled the same office another term, in place of Chase Osgood, who failed to 
qualify. Mr. Lane always held a good character among his fellowmen, and 
has bequeathed his good qualities to his son, Hiram W. Lane. The hotel was 
first kept, after Mr. Lane had opened it to the public, by Dwight Hayward for 
four years. J. M. Martin was then proprietor for four years. His successors 
are Theodore Chase, L. Harrison, Mrs. Mary Miller, E. Dean, A. J. Marsh, 
and in May, 1886, the present proprietor, E. Dean, took possession. The 
house is well kept and will accommodate about twenty-five or thirty guests. 
Mr. Dean has been a resident of Pine Grove for forty years. He came here 
from Chautauqua county, N. Y. 

Among the merchants now in Russellburg, H. T. Russell is of the longest 
standing, having engaged in mercantile business in this village for fourteen 
years. He has occupied the building, in which he now transacts his business, 
about six years. He carries a general stock valued at about $4,000. He is 
also postmaster, having retained the office about thirteen years. The store 
which he occupies was built by A. G. Lane in the summer of 1867. 

A. A. Clark, who began his mercantile career in this village in 1876, now 
carries stock worth about $5,000. A. V. Mott, who deals in general merchan- 
dise in a building which has been used for mercantile purposes for nearly fifty 
years, began here in May, 1880, though he did not occupy the present building 
until 1883, when it was vacated by A. A. Clark. He estimates the value of his 
stock at about $4,000. E. H. French, a resident of this township since 1832. 
has been proprietor of a feed store in Russellburg since 1883. He was in the 
mercantile business here during the war, but sold out in 1868, and from that 
time to 1883 was engaged in lumbering. Before the war he was for years a 
practical shoemaker in Russellburg. He came in 1832 from Massachusetts 
with his father, Harrison French. He was born in Lowell, on the 8th of July, 



Pine Grove Township. 451 



1829. P. F. Lewis, the only hardware merchant in town, came from Frews- 
burg, N. Y., in the winter of 1885-6 and estabhshed the business which he is 
now successfully conducting. The harness store of M. A. Lockwood was 
established here in September, 1886, by the present proprietor. After serving 
a sort of apprenticeship with R. Chapman, John Moll started making boots 
and shoes in town in 1852. C. Moll also worked with Mr. Chapman as jour- 
neyman from 1850 to 1853, when he started for himself Excepting two 
terms, when he lived in Corydon (1857 to 1862 and 1867 to 1871), he has 
passed his business life in Russellburg. 

The principal blacksmithing shop now in town is that of E. D. and W. R. 
Johnson, who, under the style of Johnson Brothers, have done blacksmithing 
here for six years. In the same building J. C. Hatton carries on the business 
of wagon-making, and has done so for twelve or fifteen years. 

The grist-mill has been mentioned in an earlier page of this chapter. The 
present owner and proprietor, Hiram W. Lane, bought the property of D. M. 
Martin in March, 1872, and has operated it with good success to the present, 
having considerably enlarged it and increased its facilities. Besides his cus- 
tom work, he keeps well-stocked with feed and meal. The capacity of his 
mill is stated to be about 500 bushels of grain in twenty-four hours. The 
other manufacturing interests in the township are represented by a number of 
saw, planing-mills, etc. E. W. Thompson, who operates perhaps the most ex- 
tensive mill in this part of the county, is on the site originally occupied by Rob- 
ert Russell. He built his saw-mill in 1874, and first set it in operation in May, 
1875. In January, 1886, he added the planing, matching, and house furnish- 
ing department, and now has practically all the facilities for providing from 
his own mill a complete outfit for buildings and furniture. He has the largest 
wheel and power in the county, operating his mill entirely by water. He now 
cuts about 500,000 feet of lumber annually, but expects soon to run the amount 
up to about 12,000,000. Mr. Thompson deserves well at the hands of his 
townsmen, not only by his honesty and diligence, but because he is a native 
of the adjoining town of Farmington, where he was born in 1835. His father, 
William Thompson, came from Long Island to Farmington in 1829. Since he 
was old enough to engage in business on his own account Mr. Thompson has 
transacted successful business in this town and vicinity. He bought his pres- 
ent mill property of D. M. Martin and Joseph Briggs. 

J. H. Dickinson has a steam saw-mill in the northeast part of the town, 
which he built some fifteen years ago. Near him is the mill of Lacox & Son, 
of Buffalo, which was erected in 1884. More than thirty years ago Chapin 
Hall built the mill now operated and owned by Gilbert Turner & Son. A. G. 
Lane acquired the property from Hall, and sold to John Schnor, the grantor 
to the present proprietors. It is a well appointed steam saw and lath-mill. 
Near the railroad station is the stave-factory, operated by steam, owned by J. 



452 History of Warren County. 

H. Fry, and built some ten or twelve years ago by E. VV. Thompson. Mr. 
Fry purchased the property of G. W. Slone. In the east part of the township 
is the steam saw-mill of Robert Parish & Co., which has also a shingle and 
planing department. This mill was erected in March, 1886. J. H. Martindale 
is manufacturer of grape baskets, shingles, etc., and transacts a good business 
in a steam mill which he erected in June, 1886. 

The stone grist-mill in the south part of the township, by the railroad, was 
erected by Guy C. Irvine in 1836, and is now in the hands of his executors. 

Near the railroad station at Russellburg is the steam cider-mill and jelly- 
factory of John Allen, which he built some four or five years ago, and which 
does a large business every season. At Ackley Station is a thrifty creamery 
owned and operated by Young & Clark, which has been in operation about 
three years. 

The old mill site occupied by Thomas Slone years ago is now occupied by 
the saw-mill of Charles Van Arsdale. It is a good mill and manufactures a 
goodly amount of lumber. 

About a mile east of the railroad station at Russellburg is the chemical 
laboratory of R. B. Day, of Dunkirk. Including his wood-choppers, Mr. Day 
employs some thirty men. He manufactures a wood alcohol and an acetate 
of lime. The works have been in operation there about si.x or seven years. 

At Ackley Station there are two general stores, kept by VV. C. Hale & Co., 
and Bennett & Co., respectively. 

There are only two physicians at present practicing in Pine Grove town- 
ship. Dr. William A. Clark is a physician of signal ability, who has been in 
practice here for many years. Dr. Otis G. Brown, a more recent arrival, was 
born at Farmington on the 3d of August, 1863, received his medical educa- 
tion at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Md., from which 
he was graduated in March, 1886. After practicing five months in East War- 
ren, he opened an office at Russellburg. 

Ecclesiastical. — The oldest ecclesiastical organization in the township is the 
Methodist Episcopal, which was formed, it is said, about 1 830. Among the 
first members were E. W. Chase, Almira Chase, Joseph Lindsey and Cath- 
arine Lindsey, and Richard Alden. James Gilmore seems to have been the 
first pastor, and was followed successively by Revs. Todd and Luce, Tacket 
and Stowe, Preston and Stearns, Flower and Demmon, Best and Pritchard, 
Bryan S. Hill, Alexander Barris and Samuel Henderson, E. I. L. Baker, 
John Hill, Butts, Norton, Peate and Ware, Burgess, Bush and Stocker. This 
brings the record down to December, 1852, at which time the following were 
members of this organization : Joseph Lindsey and wife, Joseph Jones and 
wife, H. B. Herrick and wife, F. H. Herrick and wife, John Allen and wife, 
J. W. Akely and wife, H. Demmon, J. W. Demmon, Ira Badger, Harriet 
Badger, Nancy Vansile, Mary Moll, Mary Hodges, and L. Akely. 



Deerfield Township. 453 



The pastors, since 1852 and including that year, have been as follows: 
1852-53, C. Irons; 1854-55, S. S. Burton; 1856, James Gilfillan ; 1857-58, 
E. A. Anderson; 1859-60, J. C. Scofield ; 1861, S. N. Warner; 1862-63, P. 
Burroughs; 1864-65, Z. W. Shadduck; 1866, W. Bush; 1867, S. Hollen ; 
1868, C. W. Reeves; 1869-70, H. W. Leslie; 1871, J. F. Hill; 1872-73, F. 
A. Archibald; 1874-75, E. Brown; 1876-77, A. H. Bowers; 1878-79, L. J. 
Bennett; 1880-81, L. F. Merritt; 1882-83, C. W. Miner; 1884-85, C. C. 
Hunt ; Mr. Hunt is the present pastor. 

From the beginning until the summer of 1854, meetings were held in 
private houses and in the school-house on the east side of Conewango Creek. 
But at that time the present house of worship was erected at a cost of about 
two thousand dollars, and was dedicated by J. H. Whalen, S. S. Burton, and 
others. The church has a membership at the present writing of about forty- 
eight, and the church property is valued at about $1,700. 



CHAPTER XXXVn. 

HISTORY OF DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP.i 

DEERFIELD township was organized by the Court of Warren county on 
the 8th day of March, 1821, and first called " Number Eleven." The 
whole township was then a vast wilderness, very little land having been cleared. 
A few venturous pioneers had wandered this far into the wilderness and taken 
up claims along the river years before. The Allegheny River, winding in and 
out among the hills, divided the township as it was then into about equal 
parts. The Allegheny has always been noted for its beauty, but it was far 
more beautiful at that early day, with the great forests still growing in their 
natural state from the hilltops down to the river's brink, than it is now, with 
most of the forests cut away, and many refineries scattered along its banks, 
giving it a continuous coating of filth. The river was narrower and deeper 
than it is now, and full of fish. It never became so high in the spring and fall, 
nor did it become so low in the summer, as it does now. The vast forests 
along the river and its tributaries protected it from sudden rise, and prolonged 
the flow of the springs in the dry seasons. The river banks were also kept 
from washing away by the growing timber. The river was the main thorough- 
fare for travel and the transportation of burdens — in the summer by means of 
the canoe, and in the winter by means of the ice. Driving on the ice at this 

1 The beginning of this chapter, to the asterisk, a few pages farther on, was compiled and written 
by James Kinnear. 



454 History of Warren County. 

early period was much more common than it is now. Nearly every winter the 
river afforded a splendid road-bed from Franklin to Deerfield and Warren, and 
it was utilized by the few travelers of that day; for there was no other road that 
would compare with it. There was a rough road cut through from Deerfield 
northward to Brokenstraw, and from Deerfield southward to Franklin, but it 
was hardly more than a trail. Along this road or trail, which left the river 
valley at Deerfield and went over the hills, a distance of thirty-three miles, to 
Franklin, there were only four or five families scattered along the whole dis- 
tance. The following are about all the families that lived at that time along 
this road from Deerfield to Franklin : William Neal, Henry McCalmont, and 
Mr. Renn. Could we look back at Deerfield township as it was then, we 
would certainly consider it well named ; for deer were in abundance here, and 
all kinds of game peculiar to this climate and region held undisputed sway 
over about the whole township. 

In 1 82 1, when the township was organized, those settled here were a sturdy 
class of men and women, honest, and, of necessity, hard working. They came 
in here with their families and came to stay; for it was too difficult a matter to 
move, to get away easily. But their wants were simple, and, with an inex- 
haustible fund of contentedness, that stands in contrast to the nervous and 
restless spirit of the present day, they were happy. Their log cabins were 
scattered along the river valley, a mile or so apart; they were all on an equal- 
ity, and so there was a oneness in life's burdens and pleasures. There were 
living in Deerfield, when the township was organized, Thomas Arters, Sam- 
uel McGuire, Michael Gorman, sr., Charles Smith, John Thompson, Caleb 
Richardson, Arthur Magill, sr., Robert Hunter, sr., and some others. Brief 
sketches of the early history of these old pioneers will be found below. They, 
and those who came during the next ten years, deserve the honor and credit 
of first opening and settling this part of the Allegheny valley, which years 
later was the scene of the greatest activity. They felled the trees, built their 
log cabins, tilled their little clearings in summer, and in winter put in a few 
logs, which in early spring were run to Pittsburgh, and with the proceeds 
thereof they purchased the necessary articles of food and clothing which they 
could not raise or make. This merchandise was not shipped home by means 
of the express train which now rolls every few hours from Pittsburgh up the 
valley, but was placed in a canoe and towed or poled the whole distance, one 
hundred and fifty miles. The canoe soon gave way to the keel-boat, and 
years later the steamboat took up the task and conveyed the merchandise part 
way up the river, and often all the way. 

Deerfield township was well timbered. Pine and hemlock in enormous 
quantities covered nearly every valley and ridge. At first the lumbering con- 
sisted in felling trees and cutting them into logs, and in splitting lath. The 
choice pine tree was selected for lath, cut by hand four feet long, and packed 



Deerfield Township. 455 



in bunches of one hundred each. This lumber was placed on the river to 
await the spring freshet. 

In 1826 William Kinnear, sr., built the first saw-mill in Deerfield town- 
ship. It was run by water power. Later other mills were erected, and soon 
the class of lumber changed to boards and shingles. 

In 1829 all that part of Deerfield township lying on the east side of the 
Allegheny River was organized into a separate township called Limestone. 
This took away fully half of Deerfield's fine forests, but still there were remain- 
ing broad tracts of fine timber, far more than the inhabitants of that day could 
handle with their upright saws and water-power saw-mills. There is, in fact, 
at the present day, some pine and a large quantity of hemlock remaining in 
Deerfield, and lumbering is still an important factor in the business of our 
township. 

In early years piloting rafts down the river to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati 
became quite a trade, and many of the early settlers of Deerfield became 
expert pilots. 

About the year 18 18 the first school in the township was held in a log 
house belonging to John Thompson, situated about two miles above the mouth 
of Tidioute Creek. John Elder and a Mr. Smith taught here at different times. 
In 1824 John Elder kept school in a log house near McGuire Run, and from 
that time there was school nearly every winter in some place in the township. 
In 1832 a building, standing in upper Tidioute, used for holding elections, was 
used for school purposes. In 1849 the first school-house in Deerfield was 
built. This was a framed building, and was supported by subscriptions. This 
school was located on the east side of McGuire Run. Another framed school- 
house was erected in 185 i near Tidioute Creek. In 1867 a two-story build- 
ing containing four rooms was erected near the central part of the borough, 
and the school thoroughly graded. In 1877 two large rooms were added to 
the building, and since that time an addition of five or six rooms has been made, 
several new lots added to the grounds, and a complete steam heating system 
placed in the building, making the school building second to none in this part 
of the State as regards convenience. These additions were made under the 
direction of H. H. Cumings. A. W. Couse, John Hunter, J. L. Grandin, M. 
Ross, and W. W. Hague, school directors. When the repairs were finished, 
and the school buildings in proper shape, there was a bonded debt upon the 
school of $5,000. This debt was canceled by Mr. Samuel Grandin, who drew 
his check for the whole amount and gave the same to the borough of Tidioute. 
An industrial school building and other property have been added to the school 
possessions through other benefactors residing in the borough of Tidioute. 

The first post-office in Deerfield was opened in 1828 and kept by Samuel 
Parshall at his residence. It was called Deerfield Post-office. G. W. Turner 
was second postmaster. The first store in the township was opened in 1832 



456 History of Warren County. 

by Joshua Turner and son. It was a general store, for furnishing provisions 
an(l dry goods. The first framed house was erected in Deerfield township in 
the year 1824, ; it is the same house, with the exception of frequent repairs, 
that is now the property of L. D. Galligan. The first grist-mill was erected 
by Michael Gorman, sr. 

Religious services were held occasionally at different houses, whenever a 
wandering itinerant chanced along. There were no regular services held here 
until years after the township was organized. The framed house of Thomas 
Arters was used after its erection for nearly all religious meetings. 

The following is a list of the ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
who have labored along this part of the Allegheny valley since the formation 
of Deerfield township, and their respective years of labor : 

Ira Eddy, Charles Elliot, 1820; Z. Paddock, 1821 ; Josiah Keyes, 1822; 
S. Gary, 1823; Robt. C. Hatton, 1825; John W. Hill, 1825 ; I. H. Tackitt, 
1826; John Leach, J. H. Tackitt, 1826; Job Wilson, W. R. Babcock, 1828; 
N. Callender, A. Callander, 1829; A. Callander, A. Plimpton, 1830; A. 
Young, B. Preston, 1831 ; H. Kingsley, J. E. Lee, 1832 ; D. Richey, S. W. 
Ingraham, 1833 ; JacotLj^nJts, 1834; J. Robinson, D. Richey, 1835 ; H.Luce, 
1836; J. O. Rich, W. Todd, 1837 I V. Lake, 1838 ; J. E. Chapin, D. Rolland, 
1839; D. Rolland, 1840; John Scott, C. R. Chapman, 1841 ; E. Bull, 1842; 
A. P. Brown, 1843; D. Pritchard, 1844; J. W. Wilson, 1845 ; J. W. Wilson, 
M. Himeburgh, 1846; M. Himeburgh, A. Barnes, 1847; A. Barnes, J. B. 
Hammond, 1848. 

The first Methodist society was organized in Deerfield about the year 1826. 
Joseph Lindsey, Susan Middleton, and Dorcas Hunter, members of that early 
day, are still members of the church militant, awaiting the time when they shall 
be relieved from their long service, and called to the church triumphant. 

The first church in the township was a Presbyterian Church, built of logs, 
about the year 1828, and situated near the old Tidioute cemetery, one-half 
acre having been donated for a church and one-half for a public cemetery, by 
Alex. McCalmont. The first Presbyterian minister was the Rev. Mr. Chase ; 
Thomas McGee and Joseph McCauley were deacons. Rev. Chase was fol- 
lowed by the Rev. Mr. Hamson. The Presbyterians built a new church on the 
above-mentioned lot about the year 1841, which was afterwards sold and the 
present church built in 1867. 

The following is a list of the Presbyterian ministers who have labored in 
Tidioute since 1867: 

D. M. Rankin, J. J. Marks, D. D., 1867; W. B. Cullis, 1868; A. B. Lomes, 
1869; J. H. Edwards, 1871 ; W. L. Findley, 1873; Theodore Crowl, 1874; 
L. M. Gilliland, 1877; J. C. Olliver, 1885. 

The first M. E. Church was built about the year 1836, where the Grandin 
brick block now stands. This church was sold in 1854 to Samuel Grandin, 



Deerfield Township. 457 



and a new one built in the eastern part of Tidioute. This edifice was sold to 
the Lutherans in 1872, and a new one built where the present church now 
stands; this church was burned in the fall of 1872, before its completion. The 
present brick structure was commenced in the spring of 1873, and dedicated 
in September, 1874. 

The following named M. E. ministers were appointed to labor in Tidioute 
the years opposite their respective names : 

T. G. McCreary, 1849-50; J. T. Boyle, P. Burroughs, 1851 ; J. Wriggles- 
worth, 1852; S. Hollen, 1853; J. Gilfillen, J. B. Hammond, 1854; J. Gilfillen, 
1855 ; James Gillmore, Edwin Hall, 1856; M. Colegrove, 1857 ; G. F. Reeser, 
W. W. Warner, 1858-59; J. K. Mendenhall, i860; W. Hayes, J. F. Stocker, 
1861 ; N. W. Jones, J. F. Stocker, 1862 ; John Crum, Z. W. Shadduck, 1863 ; 
A. H. Domer, 1864; D. Smith, 1865-66; W. Sampson, 1867-68; E. A. 
Squier, 1869-70; W. H. Mossman, 1871-72; Francis Brown, 1873-74; A.J. 
Merchant, 1875-76; J. M. Bray, 1877-79; M. Martin, 1880-82; W. P. Gra- 
ham, 1883; S. H. Prather, 1884-85 ; D. S. Steadman, 1886. 

The Universalist Church was erected in 1868. Rev. S. J. Dickson was the 
first pastor. 

The Episcopal society erected their present structure in 1872, and called 
Rev. G. W. Dunbar to the pulpit. 

The Catholic Church was built in 1866. A school building was erected 
by and under the charge of the Catholic society in the year 1875. 

Biographical. — Arters, Thomas, was born of English parentage in 1787. 
He came with his father, Richard Arters, from Lewistown, Pa., in the year 
1806, and settled at the mouth of Tidioute Creek, on the Allegheny River, on 
a tract of land containing four hundred acres, surveyed by John Spangler. He 
afterwards received one hundred acres of said tract for making a settlement 
thereon, from Alexander McCalmont, who was their agent for eastern parties. 

Thomas Arters also had a claim of four hundred acres of land on the south 
side of the river, on tract number 5278, now in Limestone township. He built 
the first framed house in Deerfield, in 1824. The house, having been often 
repaired, is still standing in the central part of the borough, and is the prop- 
erty of L. D. Galligan. 

Of his family of nine children, one, Jackson Arters, was killed while in the 
army, in the battle before Fredericksburg. All the rest are still living, and 
four of his children — W. M., Mary, Washington, and Thomas — are still living in 
Tidioute and vicinity. 

To Thomas Arters is given the credit of having made the first permanent 
settlement in this part of Warren county. He died at his home in Tidioute 
in 1858, and his wife survived him until 1869. 

McGuire, Samuel, of Irish descent, was born in Huntington county. Pa., in 
1788. In 1808 he came to Deerfield and settled on the John Keller tract, of 



458 History of Warren County. 

which he owned two hundred and fifty acres. His land joined Thomas Arters's 
land on the east. He was married the same year, to Charity Gilson, and made 
his permanent home on this tract. They had a family often children born unto 
them, all of whom grew to be men and women, and were all married. Father 
McGuire died in the year 1865, at the age of seventy-seven years, and Mother 
McGuire survived him until 1869. Of their family five have passed away. 
Those still living are Elsie, born in 1810, and married to John Parshall ; 
Patience; McCray, born in 1820; William, born in 1822, married Mary Stu- 
art, and still lives in the borough of Tidioute ; and Charity, born in 1827, mar- 
ried Henry Lott, and still resides in Tidioute. 

Parshall, Samuel, of English descent, came to Deerfield in the year 1824 
and settled on a claim of three hundred acres, at the mouth of Gordon Run. Mr. 
Parshall was born in 1 781, and came originally from Massachusetts to Trum- 
bull county, Ohio, where he married Elizabeth Goutcher in 1806, and lived 
there for some years before he removed to Deerfield. He kept the first post- 
ofiice in the township, and the first elections were held at his place. They had 
a family of eight children. All grew to maturity, and married. Many of them 
are still living in this vicinity, while their children and grandchildren are many. 
Samuel Parshall died in the year 1839 ; his wife, born in 1783, died in 1865. 
Six of their children still survive. John Parshall, born in 1809, married Elsie 
McGuire, and raised a family of nine children. He now lives in Crawford 
county. Pa. ILliza Parshall, born in 181 2, married Robert Henry. She still 
lives in Tidioute, Pa. Nancy Parshall, born in 1817, married Joseph Richard- 
son. She now resides in McKean county, this State, with her daughter. 
Sarhuel Parshall, born in 1814, married Lucy Henderson They now live in 
Venango county, Pa. Jennette Parshall, born in 1822, married James Kin- 
near, and they still reside in Tidioute. James Parshall, born in 1827, married 
Henrietta Shugert, and now lives in Titusville. 

Gorman, sr., Michael, of Irish descent, was born in 1761, and came from 
Center county, Pa., to Deerfield, in the year 181 8. He settled three miles 
west of Tidioute, where he claimed four hundred acres of land and made a 
permanent settlement. He built the first grist-mill in Deerfield township and 
in this part of Warren county. He married Sarah Gilson, and they had thir- 
teen children. He died in the year 1859, and left three sons living: Michael 
Gorman, jr., lives in' Ohio; J. Benjamin Gorman lives in Tidioute; and Peter 
Gorman lives on the old homestead. 

Smith, sr., Charles, of Irish descent, came to Deerfield in 1807 and settled 
five miles northeast of Tidioute, on the Allegheny River, where he made his 
home. He had five children: James Smith, Peter Smith, Charles Smith, Nancy 
(Smith) Magee, and Luke Smith, all now deceased. 

Smith, James, eldest son of Charles Smith, sr., was born in 1800, and came 
to Deerfield with his father in 1807. He married Margaret Magee, and passed 



Deerfield Township. 459 

most of his life in Deerfield as a farmer. During the first oil excitement he 
sold his possessions here and went West, where he died in 1884. His children 
still live in Deerfield and vicinity. 

Smith, Peter, second son of Charles Smith, sr., was born in 1 802. His 
whole life was passed in Deerfield and vicinity. He became a man of consid- 
erable importance, and had good business ability ; was in early days a suc- 
cessful lumberman. He married Matilda McGuire, and they had three chil- 
dren — Hugh, John, and Nancy — who are all still living. 

Thompson, John, moved to Deerfield about the year 18 1 7 and settled two 
miles east of Tidioute, on the Allegheny River, where he cleared his farm and 
made his permanent home. He kept the first tavern in Deerfield, and became 
quite well off for those days. He had three children. His death took place 
about the year 1830. 

Courson, Anthony, was born in Centercounty, Pa., in 1788, andcameto Deer- 
field with his family of seven children in 1825. He settled upon four hundred 
acres of land fronting upon the Allegheny River. Here he kept a tavern for 
many years, affording the weary raftman returning on foot from Pittsburgh a 
shelter. He was a lumberman and farmer. He married Elizabeth Gates and 
they had a family of nine children, some of them still living in Tidioute and 
vicinity. His children are : Nancy Courson married John Hazeltine and is 
now deceased ; Margaret married D. N. Richardson and now lives in the West ; 
Sarah married Charles Magill and is now living in the West; Jane married 
Arthur Magill and is still living in Tidioute ; Hannah married William Church 
and resides in the West ; Benjamin Courson married Elizabeth Morrison, now 
deceased ; his widow and children still live in Tidioute ; Samuel Courson 
married Rachael Thompson and lives in Wisconsin ; John Courson married 
Martha Brown and is still living in Tidioute. In 1842 Father Courson lost his 
wife, and after disposing of his farm he moved west, where he died in 1883. 
His remains were brought east and interred in the cemetery in Tidioute. A 
portion of the borough of Tidioute is now located on part of Anthony Cour- 
son's farm. 

Kinnear, William, was born in the northern part of Ireland in 1783. He 
came with his father and mother, Alexander Kinnear and Jane (Ganley) 
Kinnear, to Americain 1790. They were descendants of Huguenots. William 
Kinnear married Rebecca McElvain in the year 1806, and moved from Cen- 
ter county, where his father had settled, to Venango county, in 18 19. He 
bought a tract of two hundred acres of land at the mouth of Oil Creek, of 
Cornplanter, chief of the Seneca Indians. Here he cleared about thirty-five 
acres of land, where the business part of Oil City is located, and ten acres on 
Cottage Hill, as it is now called. He also erected a furnace at this place. In 
1826 he sold his property in Venango county and moved to Warren county, 
settling in Deerfield township at the mouth of Tidioute Creek. Here he pur- 
chased two hundred acres of the John Spangler tract of Alex. McCalmont, 



460 History of Warren County. 

agent This purchase included the Tidioute Creek for about one mile from 
its mouth. On this creek he erected a saw-mill in 1827, the first one in Deer- 
field township. He had a family of seven children. Father Kinnear died in 
the year 185 i, and Mother Kinnear survived him two years. 

Roup, Christian, was born in 1809 and came to Deerfield with his father 
in 1829. In 1833 he married Rebecca Richardson, and they have had a family of 
six children born to them ; some of them now live in the Far West. He held 
the position of justice of the peace for many years, and he and his wife still re- 
side in Tidioute. 

James Magill, the eldest son of Arthur Magill, was born in 1804 and came 
to Deerfield with his father in 18 12. He was the first constable in Deerfield 
township, and held the position of justice of the peace for many years. He 
married Rhoda Parshall and had a family of eight children. The mother and 
four of the children are now deceased. James Magill resides with his daugh- 
ter in Tidioute. Of his family now living are Elizabeth (Magill) Walker, 
Irvin Magill, James Magill, and William Magill. 

William Magill, third son of Arthur Magill, was born in 1810, and was 
married to Margaret Hartnes in 1835. They have no children. He was a 
farmer and a lumberman, and still lives in Tidioute, but has long since retired 
from business. 

Magill, Arthur, was born in Deerfield in 18 16; he married Jane Courson 
and had a family of nine children. He settled on a part of the Anthony Cour- 
son tract. He was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church; was 
constable of Deerfield for some years, and was commissioner of W'arren county 
for 1857 and i860. He was a farmer and a man of the strictest integrity. He 
died in 1862. His widow and four of his children reside in Tidioute. 

Magee, Samuel, the oldest son of James Magee, sr., settled four miles up 
the river from Tidioute, at the mouth of Magee Run, about the year 1821. 
He married Anna Allender, and they had a family of eight children born unto 
them. He was the first justice of the peace in Deerfield township. Two of 
his sons, Joseph Magee and Perry Magee, were prominent men in their day, 
but have passed awa>'. 

Morrison, R. H., esq., a son of Thomas Morrison, was born in 1821. He 
was elected justice of the peace in 1858, and has been continued in that position 
ever since. He has resided in the borough of Tidioute since its organization, 
and has been one of its prominent and influential citizens. He has a family of 
four children and still resides in Tidioute. 

The Oil Development. — In the year i860 Deerfield township and the whole 
western part of Warren county underwent a great change. The little village 
of Tidioute, nestling quietly among the hills, was transformed suddenly to a 
booming oil town of thousands of inhabitants. Years before oil had been no- 
ticed in different springs in this locality, and had been gathered by the use of 



Deerfield Township. 461 



blankets. It was used for many purposes and was considered a good remedy 
for many diseases. The success of Mr. Drake on Oil Creek encouraged Henry 
Dennis and J. L. Grandin to commence a well in 1859, on the Gordon Run, 
near a spring where oil had been gathered. This, for some reason, proved a 
failure. The next year King & Ferris started a well below the mouth of Gor- 
don Run, on the bank of the river. This was a success, and oil in abundance 
was found. How to save it was then a great question to be solved ; barrels 
were in demand, but a sufficient number could not be had. Coopers were 
brought in and set to work ; but for immediate use a tank was proposed and 
built in the form of a rectangle, 16 by 24 feet, and eight feet high. The suc- 
cess of this and other wells brought people and prospectors by the score to our 
township. There was no available railroad for shipping the oil at that time, as 
neither the Sunbury and Erie nor the Oil Creek and Allegheny Valley Railroads 
were then completed, and the only outlet was the river. Boats of all kinds were 
immediately pressed into service, and many barges of all descriptions built for the 
purpose. They were towed up stream by horses, and after being loaded with 
oil were floated to Pittsburgh. The river was alive with these craft. About 
this time Captain Amasa Dingley built a steamboat to run on the river between 
Oil City and Warren, and applied to the Legislature of Pennsylvania for the 
exclusive right to navigate the Allegheny River between these two points. 
This was defeated, much to the relief of the inhabitants of this section of the 
country. 

Organization of the Borough. — In 1862 the borough of Tidioute was or- 
ganized, and on the 27th day of June of that year the first election under the 
new charter was held. The following were the officers elected : Burgess, 
Luther Green ; council, Samuel Culbertson, W. S. Cohill, Thomas Goodwin 
R. Christy, and J. Hunter. Isaac Scott was appointed clerk ; constable, R. 
Magill. 

At this time the inhabitants of the town were doubling and trebling in 
number every year, houses and shanties sprang up as if by magic, and still 
there were not accommodations for the incoming throng. All classes of men, 
from the speculator and honest workman to the blackleg and knave, came 
with this great rush. The prices of lands in various parts of the township be- 
came fabulous. Speculation in real estate became at once a great business. 
Lands were bought or contracted for, stock companies formed for operating 
and controlling the same, and the stock sold in many of the eastern cities, 
chiefly New York. The throng of all classes became so great that it soon be- 
came necessary to have a change in the municipal control. The government 
necessary for the quiet village of Tidioute would not answer for the booming 
oil town. In response to a call of the citizens, a small hall was crowded; many 
men of rank and ability were present, and after the object of the meeting was 
stated by one of the old citizens, a judge from Buftalo was elected chairman. A 



462 History of Warren County. 

police force was appointed at this meeting and two hundred dollars raised for 
the purpose of erecting a lock-up. Within three days the lock-up was built, 
and in less time it was filled with the worst kind of roughs. Some of the pris- 
oners, being assisted by parties' without, escaped, and it was found necessary 
to guard the lock-up day and night. Different citizens were detailed for this 
duty, and they paced their beats as regularly and faithfully as a sentinel upon 
an advanced picket line. The parties arrested were tried and fined according 
as they deserved. By this means good order was soon restored in Tidioute, 
and has been maintained ever since. 

At this time Babylon and Triumph, oil towns adjacent to Tidioute in Deer- 
field, appeared and flourished as business centers for a while; but as the oil was 
exhausted in their vicinity their prosperity faded out. Babylon, at one time 
mighty in sin and debauchery, has long since fallen. Triumph clung to life 
longer than the average oil town on account of the quality of the oil-bearing 
rock of this section, which has not been excelled in any part of the oil regions. 
The rock here was often found seventy-five and one hundred feet thick, and it 
has proved the longest-lived oil territory yet discovered. Many wells in this 
locality are still yielding a small production. 

A little later Fagundus loomed up in the extreme southern part of Deer- 
field township. A small but rich yielding territory was found here, and 
Fagundus became for a while a flourishing banking town ; but it has met the 
sad fate of other similar oil towns, and there remains now only a relic of what 
there once was. 

All these towns were tributary to Tidioute, and their prosperity only added 
vigor to its flourishing business of that day. 

Several daily and weekly papers sprang into existence at this time in 
Tidioute. The Morning Journal and the Evening Commercial both had their 
day and death. The Weekly News, ably edited by Charles I'3. White, is the 
only publication now issued in the borough. Mr. White is not surpassed in 
this part of the State in neatness and dispatch of job work. 

The Oil Creek and Allegheny River Railroad was laid through Tidioute in 
1866, and was completed in 1867. The first bank in our borough was under 
the title or Wadsworth, Baum & Co., afterwards changed to Grandin & Baum, 
and at present Grandin Bros. The Tidioute Savings Bank and the People's 
Savings Bank were started in 1872 ; the latter was closed some years ago. 

The present water system was commenced by Luther Green in 1872. In 
December of the same year a stock company was formed, which purchased 
the works and completed them. Since that time a supply pipe has been laid 
four miles up Tidioute Creek, which secures pure spring water and a natural 
flow into the reservoir. 

The Tidioute and Economy bridge across the Allegheny River was built 
in 1873, and the same year the gas works were completed.* 



Deerfield Township. 463 



The early history of Deerfield having been so fully and thoroughly written by 
Mr. Kinnear, little is left to write but such mention of the present business and 
professional interests as is customary in works of this nature. Deerfield town- 
ship, as now constituted, is of irregular formation, having no fewer than eight 
or ten sides, and is bounded north by the townships of Pittsfield and Broken- 
straw, east by Allegheny River, separating it from Pleasant, Watson, and Lime- 
stone, south by Allegheny River and Triumph, and west by Triumph, Eldred, 
and Pittsfield. The beginnings of settlement within the limits of the present 
borough of Tidioute date very early in the century, as has well been shown. 
About the year 1825 the settlers within these limits, on the north side of the 
river, were about as follows : Beginning in the extreme western part of the 
borough, and partly outside of the line, was the place owned and occupied by 
Samuel Parshall. Next east of him was William Kinnear (1826); Thomas 
Arters was his adjoining neighbor on the east, the territorial succession east- 
ward being Samuel Hunter, Anthony Courson, and no others that have not 
received mention. 

The history of this township would be indeed incomplete without some 
mention of one who has done more, probably, than any other one person for 
the upbuilding and prosperity of Tidioute, viz., Samuel Grandin. A more 
detailed sketch of Mr. Grandin appears in later pages. As will be seen by 
reference to that sketch, he came to Tidioute from Pleasantville, Venango' 
county, in 1840, and began dealing in general merchandise and trading exten- 
sively in lumber. This business he continued on an ever-increasing scale until 
his practical retirement from business, about i860. His present residence he 
built in 1867. He has ever had the welfare of Tidioute at heart, and has 
never been tardy in extending his aid and influence for the furthering and suc- 
cess of any project looking to its material or moral advancement. He is de- 
servedly an honored man. His sons have displayed the sagacity and public 
spirit which might, in the circumstances, have been expected, and have wielded, 
and do still wield, an influence in affairs which extends far beyond the borders 
of this township, or county, or State. The banking firm of which they are 
the members was formed in 1 870, and the large brick block which they now 
occupy was built in 1872. As to their other interests, and their general repu- 
tation, no better idea can be gained than by a perusal of the following extract 
from one of the leading newspapers of the day : 

" The proneness, as it were, of the oil people as a rule for the concentration 
of capital in single industrial lines is proverbial. This mode of procedure is, 
in some instances, attended with the most gratifying results ; and again it is 
followed by consequences most disastrous to the investor. There are excep- 
tions, however, to every rule ; among this class may be cited the firm of 
Grandin Brothers. Everything undertaken by the Grandins is gone about in 
the most practical and matter-of-fact way, and about everything they take a 



464 History of Warren County. 

hand in turns into money. Their one thousand and one successful oil ventures 
is a matter of public information in this region, where the gentlemen are widely- 
known and uniformly respected, and a reiteration of the same here and now 
would only be to dispense stale news. The Grandin boys have been called 
lucky, and their luck has been extolled far and wide, while the truth of the mat- 
ter is, there never has, perhaps, been a business firm in this or any country 
that depended so little on the deceptive tyrant luck. They have made what 
the world would call unlucky investments, but by the exercise of good horse 
sense or shrewd business judgment, as you will, they seldom make large losings. 
In 1873 the Jay Cook failure cost the firm $93,000; in the final settlement 
with Cook they accepted Northern Pacific Land scrip for their claim, in lieu 
of Cook's personal acceptances. This gave them 38,000 acres of land. Being 
practical men, they set about it at once to develop the soil. In due course 
they had a wheat production and the annual clean up, showing a handsome 
profit ; other land purchases followed, and now the boys find themselves in 
possession of a little garden patch of 86,000 acres of the best wheat lands on the 
American continent. This small farm has been split up in two smaller farms 
of unequal proportions. In the Grandin farm there are 38,000 acres, and 
26,000 in the Mayville farm. The wheat production of this year for both 
farms was 315,000 bushels. The Grandin farm produced 215,000 bushels, the 
balance belongs to the Mayville farm. There is about 18,000 acres under 
cultivation, leaving 68,000 acres of virgin territory in which the plowshare 
has never trespassed. The Grandins have their own line of elevators, and a 
steamer on the Red River, and by means of their own traffic-arrangements 
deliver their wheat in Duluth. This comes pretty nearly managing one's own 
business. Each farm is managed by a superintendent and financial agent. 
During the harvest season they find employment for 400 men and 350 mules. 
Their Mayville farm is operated more for stock-breeding purposes than agri- 
culture. For several years past the profits in wheat production has been 
greater than oil ; when oil is depressed the Grandins turn their attention to 
wheat, and 7nce versa. There has not been a year in the past ten when their 
Dakota farms' products did not pay a sum equivalent to the $93,000 supposed 
to have sunk in the Jay Cook collapse. All this shows what pluck and enter- 
prise will do for those who are wise enough not to carry their eggs in one 
basket." 

Present Mercantile Interests. — Of the merchants now in trade in Tidioute, 
W. D. Bucklin is of the longest standing, as he dates his arrival here in the 
year 1861. James L. Acomb started his drug store here in 1866, at which 
time he came from Pithole. His stock is valued at about $2,500. A. Dunn 
opened a grocery store in Tidioute in 1866, and in the fall of 1886 he put in 
an additional stock of clothing, and boots and shoes. He carries about $10,000 
in stock at his store, besides stock in flour and feed at his grist-mill, worth on 



Deerfield Township. 465 



an average about $2,000. W. R. Dawson has kept a variety store in this 
place something more than twenty years. He has been postmaster since Jan- 
uary 5, 1886. The jewelry store of Henry Ewald was opened here by the 
present proprietor in 1867. The store of C. Kemble & Son (William VV. 
Kemble), containing a full stock of drugs, artists' materials, paints, oils, wall 
paper, etc., and a general line of holiday goods in season, was first opened by 
the senior member of the present firm in 1871. The firm was formed in 1878. 
J. O. Strong has carried a good stock of stoves arid hardware in Tidioute for 
more than fourteen years. The dry goods and general store of John Siggins 
was started here by the present owner about fourteen years ago. At that 
time Mr. Siggins came from East Hickory, where he had been in business since 
1864. He now carries stock valued at about $15,000. D. M. McCall, dealer 
in all kinds of furniture, picture frames, pianos, organs, etc., and undertaker, 
has been in business in this place since February, 1876. He then came from 
Crawford county, where he had been engaged in the furniture trade since 
1857. R. Chaffey, the grocer, who carries stock worth some $2,500, started 
in Tidioute in 1877, and first occupied his present corner in 1881. H. F. 
Head, merchant tailor, has been here more than five years. E. A. Culver, 
dealer in groceries, provisions, etc., established his present trade about three 
years ago. The store of C. P. Bucklin, dealer in dry goods, boots and shoes, 
etc., was opened many years ago by Maybie & Hunter, who were succeeded 
by the present owner in 1883. His stock is valued at about $10,000. J. A. 
Ulf, merchant tailor, began here on the 1st of January, 1884. The dry goods 
and clothing dealers, Hopkins & Co., conduct a business established in April, 
1885, by H. J. Hopkins and J. H. Lockwood. Their stock is now valued at 
about $12,000. The harness shop of A. Allen was started by the present pro- 
prietor in the fall of 1885, he then succeeding Scott Allen, who had been here 
several years previously. C. A. Allen, dealer in general furnishing goods, has 
been in Tidioute in business since January, 1886. H. W. Kunn established 
his boot and shoe trade here in April, 1886. 

Other Interests. — The steam grist-mill, now owned and operated by A. 
Dunn, was built by Kemble & Coleman about 1877. In 1880 Mr. Dunn 
rented it from the estate of Peter Evans, and in the fall of 1886 purchased it. 
Others mills are the planing-mill belonging to the estate of Z. M. Jones, who 
started the mill some fifteen or sixteen years ago ; the machine shop of R. J. 
Carson, which has been in operation in Tidioute about fifteen years ; the chair 
factory, operated by the Chair Company (limited), whose general manager is 
M. Clark. This business was established in September, 1881. The capital is 
about $50,000. About 500 chairs are manufactured here daily. The hub 
factory of Martin (Joseph) & Homer (C. S.) was established also in the fall 
of 1881. 

Hotels. — The oldest hotel in Tidioute at present is the Shaw House, which 



466 History of Warren County. 

was built by the present proprietor, W. P. Shaw, more than twenty years ago. 
The National Hotel was built for mercantile purposes by H. Greiner, a num- 
ber of years ago, and converted by W. D. Bucklin, the present owner, into a 
hotel some fifteen years ago. The Hanchett House, so named from the pro- 
prietor, N. N. Hanchett, was built, and for some time kept, by Mr. Wheelock. 
Mr. Hanchett has owned and kept it now for about twelve years. 

Physicians, Past and Present. — The first physician to practice in Deerfield 
township was Dr. Kellogg, of Titusville, who used to come out this way with 
his horse and saddle-bags about once in three months. This he began as early 
as 1826, and continued for a number of years. The physician now in prac- 
tice here who deserves the distinction of belonging to the longest residence is 
Dr. F. A. Shugart, who was admitted to practice in 1838, and after practicing 
in Philadelphia and other places came to Deerfield township in 1849, and has 
continued here ever since. Dr. Charles Kemble came here about ten years 
later, and also remains here yet. Dr. Freeman, who died a few years ago, 
had also been here for many years. Dr. J. L. Acomb came here from Pithole 
about 1866. Dr. A. C. Magill came in March, 1885, immediately after grad- 
uating from the Detroit Medical College. Dr. N. W. Shugart was admitted 
to practice from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore on the 
13th of March, 1885, and after an experience of a few months in the Bay View 
Hospital came here and went into practice with his father. 

Post-office. — We have already seen who was the first postmaster in town, 
and the date of his service. The present incumbent, W. R. Dawson, owes his 
appointment to the present administration. He was preceded by James C. 
Long, who served more than eight years ; Thomas B. Monks, his predecessor, 
held the position about two years, having succeeded Levi L. McCall. S. H. 
Evans was postmaster from December i, 1866, to June 30, 1874. He was 
preceded by Mr. Hanna, and he by S. H. Evans again. H. H. Evans was 
postmaster next previous to S. H. Evans. In Deerfield township also is a 
post-office called Parthenia, which was established through the efforts of the 
Grandin brothers, in the summer of 1886. Here these gentlemen have a saw 
and planing-miil, which they have been successfully operating twelve or fifteen 
years. 

The members of the Colonel George A. Cobham Post 311, G. A. R., and 
the citizens of Tidioute and vicinity are justly proud of one of the finest soldiers' 
monuments in this part of the State. It was erected mainly through the efforts 
of Major Curtis and others in this neighborhood, in the spring of 1885, and 
dedicated on Memorial Day of that year. It stands in the center of a plot 
of ground set apart for the purpose years ago by the projectors, in the ceme- 
tery. The circle is about sixty feet in diameter, and is finely graded from the 
circumference up to the monument. The structure itself is imposing and 
beautiful. It is from the Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport, Conn., 



Spring Creek Township. 467 

and is built of white bronze, one of the most durable substances known. Its 
height from base to top is sixteen feet and eight inches, while the base stands 
about four feet above the surrounding ground. The base is fifty-two inches 
square. On the several tablets are appropriate inscriptions, among them being the 
names of the following members of Company F, One Hundred and Forty-fifth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, killed in action, or from the effects of wounds received: 
O. S. Brown, JohnT. Roberts, Darius W. Hunter, George W. Alcorn, R. J. Ar- 
ters, Thomas Acocks, Sullivan Baker, J. C. Brennesholz, Shambert Chambers, 
Stephen Chambers, Philemon Clark, J. Clonay, Thomas Clark, Daniel Cochran, 
John J. Gorman, Charles W. Grove, Leonard Horn, David E. Jones, Ransom 
Kendall, Jesse Kightlinger, Samuel C. King, Virgil Libby, Joshua Lloyd, Samuel 
May, Thomas J. Magee, William Magee, George B. Miller, John M. Pearce, Sim- 
eon J. Roosa, Jacob Rutledge, George W. Shay, William Shreve, Reuben Swag- 
gart, Charles Thompson, John Thompson, John Tuttle, Hiram K. Young. On 
the west base are the following names of soldiers in varrious regiments killed 
in action : One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers — J. R. Brough- 
ton, jr.. Walker H. Hogue, William M. Jones, Charles Miller, John M. Rich- 
ardson, Samuel Sturgis ; Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers — Samuel Rich- 
ardson ; Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers — Theodore Barber ; Seventy- 
fourth New York Volunteers — Zachariah Barber, W. H. Brown, Washington 
Magee, Grandin Magee, James Magee, Amos Magee, Joshua Richardson ; 
Regiments Unknown — Solomon Cias, Daniel Henderson, John Russell, Frank 
West. 



CHAPTER XXXVHI. 

HISTORY OF SPRING CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

SPRING CREEK township was formed from the original town of Broken- 
straw on the 8th day of March, 1821, and was called "Number Two" until 
the inhabitants named it as it is now known, from the stream which drains its 
soil. It is in the western tier of townships in the county, and is bounded north 
by Columbus, east by Pittsfield, south by Eldred, and west by parts of Craw- 
ford and Erie counties. Brokenstraw and Spring Creeks are the principal 
streams in the town. The surface is pleasantly diversified by hill and dale, and 
the soil is fertile and excellently adapted to agriculture, being especially favor- 
able to dairying and stock raising. 

Early Settlements. — The first settlement made within the present boundary 
Hnes of Spring Creek was on the Brokenstraw Creek, south of the State road. 



468 History of Warren County. 

by Andrew Evers and Elijah Jackson. These two men came to this then wil- 
derness together on the lOth day of November, 1797, and built the first cabin 
in the vicinity, a few rods nearly north of the present dwelling house of Will- 
iam M. Jackson. They came from what was then called Union Mills, now 
Union City, Pa. Elijah Jackson settled on the farm now owned and occupied 
by his son, William M., a sketch of whose life appears in later pages of this 
book. He (Elijah) was born in Litchfield, Conn., on the 27th of October, 1772. 
When he was a youth his father removed to Ontario county, N. Y., whence, 
upon attaining his majority, he went to Marietta, Ohio. There he and his 
companions were in constant apprehension of attacks from hostile Indians, hav- 
ing to remain in barracks when their business did not demand their presence 
elsewhere, and at such times being under the protection of an armed guard. 
Not liking this kind of life, Mr. Jackson came to this part of the country. In 
this town he remained — on the farm which he was the first to clear and culti- 
vate — until his death on the 1st of September, 1845. He was worthy of the 
esteem in which he was universally held. He was a farmer and lumberman 
of enterprise and honesty, and a citizen of public spirit and fearless utterances. 

Soon after their arrival, Andrew Evers removed to the farm now owned 
and occupied by Clinton Horn, where he remained until his death, some thirty- 
five or forty years afterward. He was of a quiet disposition, industrious and 
conservative — a good citizen. None of his descendants are now in Spring 
Creek. He used to say of himself that he was a citizen of the world, for he 
was born (of Irish parentage) in mid-ocean, in a vessel bound for America. 

In 1798 George Long, with his wife and three children, came from the 
Susquehanna, and lived until 1801 with Andrew Evers. Then he removed 
farther down the creek, built a dwelling house, and in 1802 erected the first 
saw-mill In town, on the site now occupied by the Horn mill. In that year 
Elijah Jackson made the first clearing on the site of the present village of West 
Spring Creek, where he was succeeded by Joshua Whitney. About the year 
1800 James Watt came from Lancaster county and settled west of the Broken- 
straw, on the line afterward occupied by the State road, and on the farm since 
in the possession of Jamieson & Co. In 1801 Daniel Horn purchased the 
property of George Long, now called Horn's Siding, and resided there until his 
death in 1869, at the ripe old age of ninety years. He was born in New Jer- 
sey, and served as lieutenant in the War of 1812. He was the third sherifi" of 
Warren county, receiving the election in 1825 ; and in 1 830 and again in 1838 
was chosen county commissioner. He was a very active and successful business 
man. He operated a saw-mill on his place as long as he continued in business. 
His sons Clinton and Stephen are on the oldMiomestead. Other children are 
Mrs. D. S. Prentiss, of Garland, and Irwin, Martha and Ellen, in Illinois. O. 
D., E. D., and D. D. Horn, of this county, are sons of Hiram and grandsons 
of Daniel Horn. John Horn, a brother of Daniel, was here at the beginning 



Spring Creek Township. 469 

of the present century and lived with Daniel until the time of his marriage, not 
far from 1S30, when he removed to Missouri and passed the remainder of his 
days. 

Andrew Evers, Elijah Jackson, and James Watt were the first settlers on 
the William Miles, now the Irvine farm. Charles McNair and James Culbert- 
son, bachelors, came in about the same time. Culbertson settled a few rods 
east of the place of Elijah Jackson, and McNair lived with him. There they 
built a saw-mill, which continued in operation until they removed to what was, 
at the time of their going, Deerfield township, in the second quarter of the cent- 
ury. Robert Boner settled previous to 1806 in the northern part of the town 
and built a log grist-mill. His was the first grist-mill in town. He was a good 
business man and public spirited, and it was a loss to Spring Creek that he 
remained here but two or three years. 

The first list of taxables of the town, made out in 1822, reveals the names 
of the settlers who had made this town their home previous to that time, and 
attests that they were men of the right sort to open a new country — men of 
nerve and courage, who were willing to suffer hardships and privations for the 
promised reward of a settled habitation, where a competence might with dili- 
gent application be obtained ; men of enterprise and foresight sufficient to see 
the benefits of living in a country covered with such valuable timber, and to 
take advantage of their sagacity. Such of them as remained in town long 
enough to identify themselves with its history are mentioned in the paragraphs 
immediately following, in alphabetical order : 

Horace B. Abbey was something of a lumberman, who settled about the year 
1 82 1 a little southwest of the site of West Spring Creek. As early as 1840 he 
removed southward. James Benson was a farmer and commenced clearing a 
farm just north of the present place of William M. Jackson. He was there only 
five or six years, however, after which he went to Waterford, Pa., where a num- 
ber of his descendants are now living. Daniel Boardman came to Spring Creek 
in 1 82 1, and lived until about the year 1850 next to the farm settled by Benson. 
He was a farmer, and did not spend much time or money in the lumber busi- 
ness. Luther Chase came about the same time and lived in the same neigh- 
borhood, but went to Columbus soon after this time. He was a farmer and 
lumberman, and a man of unusual enterprise. Daniel Corbet is mentioned in 
this list, though all accounts of his settlement agree that he had gone to Co- 
lumbus before this time. He was the first settler on the farm afterward occu- 
pied by Benson and Chase. It is probable that he is mentioned at this time 
as a property owner, not as a resident. 

Robert Donaldson, also named in this list, did not become a resident until 
about 1830. He was born in Ireland in 1780, and settled not far from 1 820 
near Wrightsville, in this county, and soon after moved to Pittsfield. He was 
largely engaged in the farming and lumbering interests, was a man of great 



470 History of Warren County. 

sagacity and energy, and was furthermore honest and fair in all his dealings. 
He was an unwavering Democrat. He owned about 900 acres of land, embrac- 
ing the entire site of the present village of Spring Creek, having purchased the 
property in about 1 830 from Thomas C. Rockhill, jr., of Philadelphia. He died 
in October, 1868, a short time after he had divided his property among his 
four sons, Daniel, Irvin, David and Wilson — all but the last of whom are yet 
living. Robert Donaldson also had two daughters — Eleanor and Cordelia, 
both of whom are now living ; the former the wife of William H. Deming, 
the latter Mrs. Levi Leonard. Daniel Donaldson, now a resident of Spring 
Creek village, was born on what is known as the James Cotton farm, near 
Wrightsville, on the 2d of October, 1824, and came to Spring Creek with his 
father. 

John Jobes was a resident of Spring Creek at an early day and worked in 
saw-mills. After a number of years he procured a farm about half a mile east 
of Irvine's Four Corners, where he passed the rest of his life, dying at the ad- 
vanced age of about ninety years, in 1885. One son, Samuel, and one daugh- 
ter, Mary, wife of William Patchen, survive him. Harris Lasure was a respect- 
able factotum of his town, and resided for a time on the western part of the 
farm occupied at the same time by James Benson. He left town before 1840, 
and died at Jamestown. His father-in-law, Abner Sherwin, owned a grist- 
mill on the western part of the William Miles farm at a very early date. Will- 
iam Miles was never, properly speaking, a resident of Spring Creek, though he 
was an extensive land owner here. The farms occupied by James Benson, Lu- 
ther Chase, and his nearest neighbors were all leased of William Miles, who 
also operated a large saw-mill in town. Eleazer Ogden resided for a short 
time on the William Miles farm, but left town as early as 1830. James Tubbs 
married the eldest sister of William M. Jackson ; lived here many years, and 
died near the center of the town on the 15th of May, 1859. Thomas W. Tubbs, 
who married another daughter of P^lijah Jackson, was a resident of Spring 
Creek before the formation of the township. After a long residence here he 
removed to Crawford county, where he died on the i6th of December, 1881. 
Marcus Turner was an early settler in the northern part of the town, and was a 
farmer and lumberman. After a residence here of but a few years he removed 
in the direction of Fredonia, N. Y., where he died. Alexander Watt, a brother 
of Mrs. Elijah Jackson, was an early settler on the place next east of Elijah 
Jackson, where he died on the 2d of February, 1866. One daughter, Mrs. 
Hannah Mallery, now lives in town. Converse B. White, an eccentric man, 
engaged in farming and lumbering about one and a half miles east of West 
Spring Creek. His family are all gone. He emigrated south under peculiar 
circumstances and there met his death. Joshua Whitney, already mentioned, 
worked for some time in saw-mills, and left town not far from the year 1835. 
He afterward married and died in Crawford county. This ends the list of sel- 
lers previous to 1822. 



Spring Creek Township. 



471 



One or two of the most worthy of the early settlers of Spring Creek remain 
to be mentioned, however. George Yager was a man so invaluable to his 
town that a chapter would indeed be incomplete that did not give some of the 
incidents of his life and character. In the year 1825, when he was about 
twenty-nine years of age, he, with his wife Clarissa, nee Armitage, and only 
daughter, Sarah, moved from Otsego county in the State of New York to this 
township, and settled on the place now belonging to the estate of Michael C. 
Smith. At that time the country was still an almost unbroken wilderness, and 
luxuries or even conveniences were hardly attainable. His early training had 
made him conversant with the labors of husbandry, and being a man of tireless 
industry and perseverance, these were not to him insurmountable obstacles. 
Both early and late he toiled, his energy seeming to increase by what it fed 
on. His farm is one of the most fertile tracts in this section of the State. He 
was the first postmaster in the town. He was a man of rare virtue and moral 
worth, intelligent, high-minded, patriotic, firm but tolerant in his opinions, 
honest, devoted to his church and party. He died in 1 881, at the age of eighty- 
five years. His wife survives him and is now living with her daughter, Mrs. 
Cummings, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, in the enjoyment of 
good health. 

N. P. Cummings, who married Sarah, daughter of George Yager, in 1837, 
was born in Bristol county, Mass., in 1813. He came to Spring Creek in 1835. 
Four children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Cummings, two of whom, 
George D. and Mary A., are yet living. George D. Cummings was born in 
Spring Creek on the 17th of August, 1842. He married Sue Woodbury, of 
Pittsfield township, in September, 1868, and is now a respected resident of 
West Spring Creek. N. P. Cummings left the old homestead (now belonging 
to the estate of Michael C. Smith, as before stated) and came to West Spring 
Creek in 1869, where he has for a good part of the time since operated the 
grist-mill. 

Another prominent factor in the development of the town was Josiah Uem- 
ing, who was born in Amsterdam, N. Y., on the 17th of November, 1791, and 
died in Spring Creek on the 8th of January, 187 1. He came to Spring Creek 
from Unadilla, N. Y., in February, 1838, and purchased the farm of Aaron 
Rose, embracing the present site of West Spring Creek and the farm now 
owned and occupied by his son, J. O. Deming. This piece of land contained 
149 acres, and at that time there had been but one village lot measured and 
sold off — the one now occupied by Curtis Johnson. Mr. Deming divided his 
land into village lots and deliberately started the construction of a village. 
He was a gunsmith by trade, and he at once opened a gun-shop, a saw-mill, 
and a grist-mill. This is the same grist-mill now owned and operated by Mr. 
Cummings. Mr. Deming "also built the first hotel in town at that place, and 
was a most liberal contributor toward the building of the Union Church edifice, 



4/2 History of Warren County. 

now owned by the Congregationalists. In 1866 he resigned his business into 
the hands of his children. His wife was Asenath Mudge. They had five sons 
and five daughters, of whom four sons and four daughter are now living. E. 
L. Deming, the eldest, was born August i, 1813, and died in February, 1885 ; 
Julia A., now Mrs. Presho, of Yankton, Dak., was born May 10, 1815 ; Will- 
iam H. was born January i, 1817, and now resides at Erie; Salgy Amelia, 
now Mrs. J. P. Mather, of Council Grove, Kan., was born December 24, 1820; 
Sally Mailla, born March 3, 1819, died April i, 1819; Euphemia J., born 
March 20, 1823, married Abijah Morrison, of Warren, and died about fifteen 
years ago; Loton Lament, born April 17, 1825, is in Charleston, Ark.; Josiah 
Ogden, born December 10, 1827, now lives on the old homestead in West 
Spring Creek; Frances Jane, born May 4, 1830, is now Mrs. Harvey Thomp- 
son, of Charleston, Ark.; Mary Amanda, born December 3, 183 1, is now the 
wife of Daniel Donaldson, at Spring Creek village ; and Andrew Jackson, born 
December 25, 1834, now lives at West Spring Creek. The mother of these 
children, whose maiden name was Mudge, was descended from an English 
family who emigrated to this country in Puritan times, the first of the name on 
the American continent being Joseph Mudge, one of the first and most pow- 
erful Methodist preachers in the country. 

At the time that Josiah Deming came to West Spring Creek there was 
practically no village there. The only buildings on the ground now occupied 
by the village were a blacksmith shop and three dwelling houses, occupied re- 
spectively by Charles McGlashen, Eleazer Aken, and Josiah Deming. 'The 
village of Spring Creek was still later in birth, no sign of such a place being 
detectable in 1830, and for years thereafter Robert Donaldson being the only 
inhabitant of its site. The village did not assume the appearance of its pres- 
ent thrift until the railroad was opened. The first family to move in after that 
event was that of Baldwin Willis, who was division boss on this division of the 
road. His house stood on the site of the present residence of A. W. Jackson. 
The first station agent here was David Donaldson. The first store in the vil- 
lage was the grocery of Irvin Donaldson, where the drug store now is. Next 
was the store of Willis & Jackson, then of David Slasher, now of Erie, and 
next the store of William G. Garcelon. The first postmaster in Spring Creek 
village was David Donaldson, who was appointed by President Buchanan. 
Previous to that time William Garcelon had been postmaster at the mouth of 
Spring Creek, and when he came to this village, during Lincoln's administra- 
tion he succeeded Donaldson. At his death in 1876 P. M. Garcelon received 
the appointment. The present incumbent is Dr. W. O. Gilson. 

The first tavern in Spring Creek village was opened by James Johnson 
about 1 860, who after some five or six years sold the property to its present 
owner, Warren P'uller. It is now a private house. 

Present Business Interests. — The oldest saw-mill now in operation in town 



Spring Creek Township. 473 

is that of Curtis Johnson, which is operated by steam. E. B. Hyde also owns 
a water power mill, which has been busy for more than twenty years. Davis, 
Jones & White operate a steam saw-mill, which has been in their possession a 
number of years. It was originally built by William H. Deming on another 
site, and removed to its present site. Wesley Nichols is the proprietcfT^oC^a 
steam shingle-mill, a business with which he has been connected fbp-^on><; fif- 
teen years. Bates & Phillis started a steam saw- mill about fiv^ years ago, 
which is now owned and operated by the junior partner of the former firm, 
James Phillis. 

The tannery, now so successfully operated by Fred Beck, was built by him 
some fifteen years ago. The site of the present tamiery of J. G. Tyler, at 
West Spring Creek, was first occupied by a tanoefy shortly previous to 1870, 
owned by Yennie & Manzer. It burned-in- December, 1871, and about twelve 
years ago the present building was erected by N. P. Cummings and F. A. 
Butterfield, under the firm name of Cummings & Butterfield. They were suc- 
ceeded in the ownership of this property by McConnell & Hermens, by Tyler 
& McConnell, and the last-mentioned firm by the present owner. 

The first store at West Spring Creek was opened by Charles McGlashen 

.in 1836. There is now but one store in this village. It was started by George 

Cummings in January, 1877. In February, 1884, Mr. Cummings sold out to 

Myers & Stanley. M. A. Myers himself now owns the property and conducts 

the business. 

The first postmaster in the township was George Yager, who received the 
appointment in 1828, the office then having the name of Spring Creek. While 
he was postmaster the mail was distributed at his house. At that time the 
mail was carried on horseback, one of the routes being from Titusville, through 
Columbus, and another from Meadville to Jamestown. Previous to the year 
1837 the office was removed to the bridge on the State road (which road was 
opened 1818-19), and it appears that George F. Eldred was appointed post- 
master. From there Mr. Garcelon carried the office to the village of Spring 
Creek, as before stated. The first postmaster at West Spring Creek was 
Nathaniel Wood, a native of Vermont, who was appointed by President Pierce 
about 1854 or 1855. In the mean time the store and mill property which had 
in 1837 belonged to Charles McGlashen had, about 1842, been sold to Abra- 
ham Woodin. The present owner of the property, Curtis Johnson, obtained 
his title about 1862. William H. Deming succeeded Wood as postmaster 
under Buchanan, and during the first term of President Lincoln gave place to 
his father, Josiah Deming. The office was kept in their store while it was in 
their family, the store having been first opened about 1850. This store is 
now occupied as a dwelling house by N. P. Cummings, who bought it in 1869, 
the same year in which he acquired title to the grist-mill. From the date of 
his appointment to that of his death, Josiah Deming remained postmaster at 



474 History of Warren County. 

West Spring Creek, when he was succeeded by the present official, W. H. 
Babcock. 

There is now no hotel at West Spring Creek, and but one at Spring Creek 
village, called the Cottage Hotel. It was opened six or seven years ago by 
Caroline Donaldson, widow of Wilson Donaldson, and was continued by her 
son, Frederick R. Donaldson, the present proprietor, after the spring of 1884. 

Of the stores now open in Spring Creek village, that of P. M. Garcelon & 
Co. (the Co. being J. H. Donaldson) is the oldest. It was started in 1868 by 
W. G. Garcelon, brother of the senior member of the present firm. From 
1 87 1 to 1876 W. G. and P. M. Garcelon were partners in the business. From 
that year until the fall of 1885 P. M. Garcelon was sole proprietor of the 
trade, the growing demands of the trade, however, then compelling him to 
take into his business confidence Mr. Donaldson. They carry a general stock 
valued at about six thousand dollars. 

William Baker began to deal in general merchandise at West Spring Creek 
about fifteen years ago. In 1878 he removed to Spring Creek village, and in 
the fall of 1 88 1 erected his present commodious store building. 

The trade in drugs and medicines now controlled by Dr. W. O. Gilson and 
C. D. Baker, under the firm style of Gilson & Baker, was established by H. P. 
Hamilton. After a brief period of trade, Hamilton sold out to Dr. S. C. 
Diefendorf about 1883. In 1884 J. D. Shannon became proprietor of the 
business, and in the fall of 1885 sold his interests to the present firm. 

Physicians, Past and Present. — The first physician to exercise the myster- 
ies of Esculapius in Spring Creek was Dr. Fitch, of Columbus, who was soon 
assisted without his own consent by Dr. Eaton, of Concord, Pa. One Dr. 
Cornell was the first resident physician in the township, and dwelt at West 
Spring Creek for two or three years previous to 1840. About that time Dr. 
Southard Wood came to West Spring Creek from Crawford county, and after 
a residence and practice there of many years he removed to Spartansburg, Pa., 
where he died. His remains, however, were buried in this township, where 
was, before, the last of earth of his first wife. Dr. Samuel Rogers also re- 
moved at a comparatively early day from Sugar Grove to West Spring Creek 
and remained several years. The first physician to reside at the railroad sta- 
tion was Dr. Elias Baker, who came from Concord, Pa., about 1874, and after 
a stay of two years returned to Concord. Dr. Diefendorf then sojourned 
here for a brief time, and was succeeded by the present physician of the place. 
Dr. W. O. Gilson was born at Titusville, Pa., on the 8th of January, 1858. 
There he received his education, and he studied medicine there under the 
guidance of Dr. W. A. Baker. He then attended lectures at the Western 
Reserve University, of Cleveland, O., and in February, 1883, received his pro- 
fessional diploma from the medical department of that institution. He came 
at once to Spring Creek and began to practice. In the fall of 1885 he was 



KiNZUA Township. 475 



appointed postmaster at Spring Creek, and at that time began his career as a 
druggist. He married in June, 1885, Jessie, daughter of William Baker. The 
only other physician in town is Dr. W. L. Harvey, who practices at East 
Brancli. 

Schools and Churches. — The first school in this township was taught by 
Daniel Jones in 1804 and 1805, in a log house at the mouth of Spring Creek. 
The next was taught by Daniel Horn in 1809 and 18 10. All the schools were 
supported by subscription until 1834. There are now fourteen schools in the 
township, those at the two villages each having two departments. The average 
attendance for the whole township is about 400. 

The first church organized in town was the Congregational, which was 
formed at West Spring Creek in 1847, ^'^d the church edifice, the first in town, 
was then erected. The Methodist Episcopal Church edifice at that place was 
dedicated in 1875. At Spring Creek village a Congregational house of wor- 
ship was erected about five years ago, the services therein now being con- 
ducted by Rev. A. B. Sherk, the pastor at West Spring Creek. The Methodist 
denomination also erected a house of worship at Spring Creek in 1886, the site 
being donated by D. H. Donaldson. The pastor of this church is Rev. A. S. 
M. Hopkins. 



CHAPTER XXXIX 
HISTORY OF KIXZUA TOWNSHIP. 

KINZUA township lies on the eastern border of Warren county, and is 
bounded north by Allegheny River, separating it from the townships of 
Glade and Elk, east by Corydon and McKean county, south by Sheffield, and 
west by Mead. It is a good farming town, the soil being composed of a sandy 
loam along the streams and on Kinzua Flat. The fruits and cereals are raised 
here in goodly quantities, while a prosperous dairying interest has sprung up 
in the last few years, which adds much to the agricultural growth of the town- 
ship. Kinzua was one of the seven towns in Warren county, the organization 
of which was effected on the 8th of March, 1821, and was first called "Num- 
ber Eight." Its name, it is said, is of Indian origin, the word meaning fish. 
This section of the country was in early times one of the favorite resorts of the 
Indians during the fishing seasons, who bestowed upon it the peculiar title 
which has been adopted by their civilized successors. 

Eai-ly Settlements. — The original industry here was identical with that ot 
all the towns in Western Pennsylvania, which could find water channels to the 



476 History of Warren County. 

great lumber markets of early days — viz., lumbering. About the year 1800 a 
number of energetic and enterprising men procured the right to strip these 
lands of their timber for the purpose of rafting it south to Pittsburgh, Cincin- 
nati, and the other markets on the great rivers that pour their waters into the 
Gulf of Mexico. Among these men (who came then or later) were John Dick- 
son, who lived on the west side of Kinzua Creek, a little south of the present 
residence of William English, our informant. Dickson, though mentioned 
first, could not have attained prominence until some years after 1800, as he 
lived in town until within five or six years. He was also a great hunter and 
fisherman, and cultivated a farm. 

The first permanent settler in Kinzua, however, was James Morrison, who 
settled on Morrison's Island in 1801. He was soon followed by Benjamin 
Marsh, Seaman, Fisher, and others. 

Jeremiah Morrison, who is mentioned in the list of taxables of Warren 
county for 1806, lived for a time in Kinzua, removed to Cincinnati, and came 
again to this town. His was a locomotive disposition. He died a number of 
years ago in a canoe, on the way to Tidioute from Kinzua. 

Abijah Maddock came here from Cincinnati at a very early day, and began 
lumbering on the Indian reservation with John English. Although he was 
thus identified, in a manner, with the town, he can hardly be deemed a resident. 
He was always going and coming after and with rafts of lumber for the south. 
One of his sisters was married to James Morrison. Galen Maddock was a 
brother of Abijah, and was connected with this town in the same business. 
He died in McKean about thirty years ago. 

Between the date of the opening of the country during the first ten years 
of the present century, and the setting off and formation of this township in 
1 82 1, a considerable immigration had poured into this part of the country, 
and affairs looked favorable for the establishment of a prosperous community. 
Among those whose names appear in the list of 1822 are the following: 

George Blacksnake owned property here in some manner, though he was 
an Indian chief of the Seneca tribe, and resided on the reservation at Cold 
Spring. 

In 1821 John Campbell lived on the west side of Allegheny River, but 
soon after removed to Kinzua and settled on the west side of Kinzua Creek, in 
the southeast part of the town. He was a farmer, lumberman, etc., and was 
fond of hunting. He died some ten or twelve years ago. His widow, it is 
said, still lives at the ripe old age of one hundred years, with her son, in Lud- 
low, McKean county. 

Jacob Hook was one of the most influential men of his day. He resided 
on the strip of land which was part of Kinzua until Mead was formed, when it 
became a part of that township. Hook was very wealthy, engaging largely in 
the lumber business, and erecting a number of extensive saw-mills. He died 
in Pittsburgh while there on business. 



KiNzuA Township. 477 



Jacob Hamlin, a farmer, occupied at this time the site of the present 
village of Kinzua, his house standing near the center. He was an uncle of 
William English. He removed from here to Chautauqua county, in the State 
of New York, and after several other removals settled in Michigan, the place 
of his death. 

Andrew Marsh, a single man, owned and occupied a good farm in the 
northeast part of the town, on Kinzua Flat. He was not, like so many other 
farmers of this county at that day, interested in the lumbering trade, but 
attended strictly to his agricultural occupation, and was successful. He died 
there. 

Benjamin Marsh, a half-brother of Andrew, lived very early on Kinzua 
Flat, and kept the first store, perhaps, in that part of the country. He after- 
ward became a resident of Elk township. He was drowned between the 
mouth of Kinzua Creek and Warren. He was a farmer and lumberman. 

James Morrison, the first settler on what is still known as Morrison's Island, 
at the mouth of Kinzua Creek, owned the entire island, and on it cultivated 
an extensive farm. He died there as early, probably, as 1840. Among his. 
sons were Abel, Elijah, and William. Jeremiah, who was mentioned in the 
first paragraphs of this chapter, was a nephew of James. Samuel Morrison 
was an early lumberman, and lived in McKean county, at the head of Kinzua 
Flat. At a later time he settled on about the site of the railroad station in 
Kinzua, where he died about thirty years ago. Several of his children are- 
here at the present time. 

James Sherley lived for a number of years with Benjamin Marsh, after 
which he removed to Glade township. There he reared a large family, and 
there he died. 

These are only a few of the names of settlers mentioned in 1822, but they 
are the most prominent of those who owned property here at that time, and 
who remained in town long enough to be remembered by the older inhabitants 
of the present day. There were others who afterward achieved prominence, 
who at this time resided in town, but had not risen to the position of property- 
holders. Of these one of the most prominent was Smith Labree, who was 
born at Brintwood, Exeter county, N. H., on the 24th of June, 1797, came to 
Kinzua when he was eighteen years of age, and began to work for Jacob 
Hook. In one year he returned to New Hampshire, and acted in the service 
of his father one year. Again he came to Kinzua, and engaged in lumbering 
with John English. Soon after this he purchased of Archibald Tanner a large 
tract of land, which embraced nearly the entire site of the present village of 
Kinzua. His first house stood on the lot now occupied by that of Emory 
Lyle. In addition to his own lumber interests he acted as pilot for others and 
made frequent trips down the Allegheny River, once going as far as Natchez, 
Miss. The habit in those days was to take down on the raft a large canoe, 



4/8 History of Warren County. 

and bring it back well filled with provisions. This he did on about every trip. 
On the 31st of October, 1822, he married Susannah, daughter of Comfort 
Hamlin. Following are the names of his children, together with the dates of 
their birth, and of the deaths of those who have died : 

Sally, born December 27, 1824, died July 28, 1825 ; Adaline, born Decem- 
ber 22, 1829, died August 4, 1833 ; Rosina, born March 26, 1832, died July 
7, 1863 ; Rosetta, born June 19, 1834, now the wife of J. O. McManus, of 
Kinzua ; Loren, born April 20, 1837, died July 27, 1839; Loren, born No- 
vember 28, 1840, married Mary H. Nett, of Fayetteville, Fa., December 11, 
1865, and now resides in Kinzua; Archibald, born September 17, 1846, died 
April 9, 1 87 1. Smith Labree died on the 27th of November, i860, and was 
followed by his widow on the 29th of March, 1867. His son Loren, who now 
owns a part of the old estate, has passed his life thus far in his native place, 
excepting a period of two years and nine months, which he passed in the 
service of the Union cause during the Rebellion. He served under Captain 
D. W. C. James, of Warren, in the last company of volunteer infantry raised 
in the State, and was also in the last volunteer battery raised in the State, 
under Captain William Barrows. His civil occupation has always been that 
of a successful farmer. In politics he has been a consistent member of the 
Republican party, until the principles of the Prohibition party absorbed his 
political faith. 

William English, from whom the writer has obtained much of the informa- 
tion concerning the early settlers of this township, was born in Lycoming 
county, Pa., on the 3d day of March, 1818. He was the son of John and 
Mary English, who were reared in the county of his birth. John English 
brought his family to Kinzua in the year 1 82 1, and two years later settled on 
the place still occupied by his son William. John English was an honorable 
and successful farmer, and was also engaged to some extent in the lumber bus- 
iness. He died in 1868, and in five weeks was followed by his widow. In 
1 846 William English married Laura E. Parmenter, of Chautauqua county, N. 
Y., who has passed an harmonious period of forty years with her husband. 
They have seven children living — viz : Mary Ella, wife of Thomas Fullerton ; 
Orren, Solon, George W., Charles Fletcher, Alice L., wife of Hector Strong, 
and John, who is the only one remaining at the home of his parents. Rice 
I'^nglish, now a resident of Kinzua, is a brother of William. 

In 1 83 1 Claudius English, an uncle of William, came to Kinzua and settled 
on the site of the village, and passed the remainder of his days within a mile 
of his first settlement. 

At the time of the formation of the township there were within its limits 
but one or two patches of clearing, besides the already large clearing on Mor- 
rison's Island, which is said by some to have been the work of Indians long 
before the arrival of the white man. William Morrison had a small piece 



KiNzuA Township. 479 



cleared on Kinzua Flat, these two being the only clearings worthy of the name. 
There was not a road in town, the only means of travel or transportation being 
furnished by the streams and canoes. Wild beasts abounded — bears, deer, 
wolves ; while rattlesnakes added the terrors of their presence to diminish the 
comfort of the human intruders. Wolves were so numerous that it was prac- 
tically impossible to keep sheep. There was even danger in the necessary 
custom of letting the cows run in the woods, with no other safeguard against 
loss than the tintinnabulating cow-bells which depended from their throats. 
There was not a sign or suspicion of a village. The inhabitants, few and far 
between, were not accommodated with the convenience of a store and delivery 
wagons, the nearest place in which to purchase goods and the necessary pro- 
visions of life being at what was then called a store, kept by Benjamin Marsh, 
just over the line, in Corydon. Most of the trade of the town, however, was 
given to Warren, whither the people made frequent trips in canoes. During 
the rafting seasons, also, it was the custom to bring large quantities of pro- 
visions from Pittsburgh by canoe. There was no grist-mill here, the grain 
being taken to Warren for grinding. It was not long after this that John 
English, Smith Labree, Comfort Hamlin, and John Hamlin built a grist and 
saw- mill near the site of the present railroad station, and on the ground now 
covered by the mill of H. A. Jamieson. These mills were the first erected 
within the present limits of the town, excepting the five mills of Jacob Hook, 
which stood on the strip afterward set off to Mead township. As early as 
1828 John Campbell, James Stewart, and Robert Arthur, all of whom had 
married daughters of Martin Reese, built a saw-mill in the southwestern part 
of the town, and operated it until it wore out. Samuel Campbell, son of John, 
rebuilt it, and operated it until it went down, some ten or twelve years ago. 
The next mill was built several years later by Andrew Merritt and Robert 
Campbell about a mile above the mill last mentioned, and near the McKcan 
county line. Then a number of years later still John L. English and Sylvester 
Strong erected another mill a considerable distance below the John Campbell 
mill, on Kinzua Creek. About this time Stephen and Jesse Morrison, sons of 
Samuel, built a saw-mill on the Allegheny River, near the head of Morrison's 
Island; but this and all the other mills have long since gone to decay, and with 
the exception of the one first mentioned, which occupied the present site of 
H. A. Jamieson's mill, their places know them no more. The grist-mill was 
operated first by John English, then by Anthony Courson and others, until a 
few years ago Denton & Chattle assumed management and continued their 
joint labors for some time. Their successor, the present occupant, W. H. 
Hoxie, is worthy of his precession. 

The Village. — Until as late as 1850 the town was without the convenience 
of a business center of any sort. The first settlers directly on the site of the 
village of Kinzua were Jacob and Comfort Hamlin, Comfort Knapp, and Smith 



480 History of Warren County. 

Labree. Until that time there was no tavern in town, unless the name be ap- 
plied to the house of Smith Labree, which, during the rafting seasons, was 
thrown open for their entertainment, and afforded all the comforts, but none 
of the extraordinary privileges of a licensed tavern. 

The principal credit of building up the village belongs undoubtedly to 
Sterling Green. He was the eldest of ten children of Seth and Sarah Jane 
(Portman) Green, and was born in Pine Grove, Pa., in the year 1816. His 
father came from Massachusetts and settled in Pine Grove about 18 13, and 
married Miss Portman in 181 5. The family removed to the head of Kinzua 
Flat, in Corydon, where occurred the death of Seth Green in August, 1848. 
Sterling went to Warren, and was for a time actively engaged in the lumber 
business. In 1848-49 he kept the Mansion House. In 1849, when he came 
to Kinzua, he found the site of the village nothing but a farm in the hands of 
Smith Labree. This land he purchased, and immediately laid it out into vil- 
lage lots, kept the first store, and built the first hotel, the Kinzua House, in 
185 1, and in this way became the author of the village. 

The year 1851, the author has been told, is memorable from the laughable 
occurrence of a dispute within the town limits in the fall of that year. The 
menagerie of G. C. Quick & Co., en route from Warren to Smethport, was ad- 
mitted to the privilege (?) of performing and exhibiting to the people of 
Kinzua and vicinity. The proprietor, however, discouraged at the small num- 
ber that gathered to see his " greatest show on earth," concluded to move on 
without giving the exhibition. The boys of the neighborhood insisted upon 
his fulfilling his contract, but nevertheless he began packing his impcdiincnta 
preparatory for departure. He had not proceeded far into the wild road that 
led from the town before he discovered " the boys " who had opposed his go- 
ing felling trees across his path. They declared that unless the procession 
faced about and satisfied the demands of the spectators, they would fill the 
road with trees from Kinzua to Smethport. The proprietor, considering dis- 
cretion the better part of valor, yielded to their somewhat peremptory impor- 
tunities, pitched his tent, performed his agreement, and was permitted to go 
on his way unmolested. There are undoubtedly many of those " boys " now 
living in Kinzua, who recall the affair with a smile of satisfaction. 

Present Business Interests. — Probably no town in the county has received 
more unmitigated benefit from the opening of a railroad through its borders 
than has Kinzua. It has created a market for all the products of the town, 
and has been greatly instrumental in increasing the population of the village. 

The oldest mill and also the oldest mill site, as we have seen, in town is 
now owned by H. A. Jamieson, of Warren. Mr. Jamieson became the owner of 
this property in 1863, and has kept the mill in uninterrupted operation ever 
since. The grist-mill of W. H. Hoxie has been mentioned. The present pro- 
prietor has owned the mill, at the present writing, something over a year. The 



KiNzuA Township. 



handle-factory of Mason Sheldon was started about four years ago, as was also 
the oar-factory of J. W. Neily. 

The oldest hotel in town is the Kinzua House, which was erected in 185 I 
by Sterling Green. Mr. Green kept the house himself for twenty years, and 
has been followed successively by Mclntyre & Langworthy, Eugene Marsh, 
William Fogies, Joseph Clendenning, Joseph Hale, and the present landlord, 
T. W. Dempsey, who came into the house more than two years ago. The 
next hotel was the Maple Shade, which A. T. Banks has kept since June, 1886, 
but which was first opened a number of years ago by J. H. Williams. Follow- 
ing Williams and preceding the present proprietor was L. W. Siggins. 

The merchant who has been longest in continuous trade in town is John 
H. King, who first opened a store here in 1870. The building which he now 
occupies was built by him about four years ago. Mr. King carries stock worth 
about $7,000. 

Sterling Green has dealt in general merchandise in Kinzua village in all 
about ten years, though he has occupied the present building only since the 
opening of the railroad and the oil excitement, at which time he caused its 
construction. 

E. A. Van Scoy and G. W. Morehouse, under the style of E. A. Van Scoy 
& Co., erected the store building they now occupy as dealers in hardware in 
1880, just previous to the opening of the railroad. They have a good trade, 
carrying stock valued at about $6,500. 

J. Tate has dealt in general merchandise about five years. 

D. G. Blackman built the store which he now occupies for mercantile pur- 
poses in 1882, and after renting it for one year to William Wright, came into 
the building himself His stock is estimated to be worth about $3,000. 

In August, 1883, J. W. Green opened a jewelry and drug store here, and 
a year later the business was enlarged by the addition of S. Green. The firm 
name is now S. Green & Co. 

The harness shop of S. Norton & Co. (S. Norton and Norton Cardot) was 
established in the fall of 1885. These gentlemen also have shop in Sinclair- 
ville, N. Y. 

The first resident physician in town was Dr. Nichols, who practiced here a 
number of years following about 1850. Before his settlement in town the inhabi- 
tants were accustomed to call their physicians from Warren, whither they went 
on floats. One of the oldest inhabitants has informed the writer that he once 
went to Warren for a doctor in the night, when the darkness was so intense that 
he could not see the hills on either side of the stream, nor even distinguish the 
sides of his float. After Dr. Nichols came Dr. Hector Galloway, a single man, 
who, in connection with business as an Esculapian minister, taught school. He 
was here four or five years. Dr. Thomas Eddy then came, not far from 1870, 
and has been here ever since. Dr. J. J. Knapp, who was born in Farmington, 



482 History of Warren County. 

this county, on the 15th of June, 1854, and was graduated in the spring of 
1 88 1 from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, came to Kin- 
zua on the last day of March, 1881. 

Postmasters. — The first postmaster in town was probably Benjamin Marsh, 
who had his office at his house on Kinzua Flat. Jonathan Marsh then held 
the office for a time, and was succeeded by Hiram Gillman. Sterling Green 
received the first appointment after the removal of the office to the village, or 
rather, he removed the office to the village. He was postmaster for eighteen 
years. The present incumbent is Mrs. Rose Murray, who owes her position 
to the present national administration. 

Following is a list of the present officers of the township : Commissioners, 
John Smith, L. S. Strong, J. C. Fuller; judge of election, E. A. Weagrafif; 
inspectors of election, Lovel Gibson, G. K. Brown ; school directors, Mason 
Sheldon, J. W. Springer, Stephen Harris, R. P. Vanarsdale, H. W. Neiiy, G. 
W. Moorehouse ; treasurer, James Tate ; justices of the peace, R. H. English, 

D. G. Blackman ; constable, A. J. Williams ; collector, A. J. Williams; assessor, 
Frank L. English ; town clerk, Frank L. English ; auditors, S. O. Campbell, 

E. A. Weagrafif, J. H. King; pathmasters, district No. i, Calvin Stoddard; 
district No. 2, Marcellus English ; district No. 3, George W. English. 

Educational. — The first settlers in this township, from 1822 to 1825, patron- 
ized a school kept within the present limits of Corydon. In 1825 a rude 
structure of logs was the first house used for educational purposes in this town, 
and was the place where all the schools were kept until 1829. They were sup- 
ported by subscription. The teachers in this house were Nelson Seaver, Pre- 
sene Corbin, Sophronia Inglesby, and Hiram Gillmore. In 1829 this house was 
burned, and for five years schools were kept in several houses, according to 
the immediate convenience of the citizens. Rice Hamlin, Edward Evans, and 
Amanda Inglesby were teachers during this period. Since 1834 the town has 
not been without its regular district schools, which, on the whole, have been 
very creditable. The village of Kinzua is now graced with a fine school-house 
which was built in the year 1882, and first opened in the fall of that year. The 
cost of its construction was something more than $5,000. The first principal 
was O. J. Gunning, who has been succeeded by Firth, Daniel Reeves, and the 
present principal, Arthur M. Marsh. The school is conveniently divided into 
four departments. The average attendance is stated to be about 150 pupils. 

Ecclesiastical. — The only church ever within the present limits of Kinzua 
township is the Methodist Episcopal Church, which, previous to about 1830, 
like all the Methodist churches, was accounted as a part of a circuit. Services 
were formerly held in private houses, barns, and wherever convenience, rather 
than comfort, dictated. Among the first members of the class formed here 
were John, Jacob, and Comfort Hamlin, Samuel, James, Elijah, and Levi Mor- 
rison, John Campbell, and John English, with their wives. About 1848 John 



Columbus Township. 483 



English gave the ground on which at tliat time the present house of worship 
and parsonage were erected, at a total cost of about $2,500. The present 
pastor is Rev. Sampson Dimick. The trustees are Loren Labree, Dr. J. J. 
Knapp, William English, and others. 



CHAPTER XL. 
HISTORY OF COLUMBUS TOWNSHIP. 

THE territory now comprising for the most part the township of Columbus 
was formed as early as the 8th of March, 1821, by the name of North- 
west, and attached to Spring Creek. It was organized as a separate township 
on the 25th day of May, 1825, and from that time was called Columbus. The 
first township election was held in the spring of 1826, at the house of Cap- 
tain David Curtis. It is bounded north by Chautauqua county, N. Y., east by 
Freehold township in this county, south by Spring Creek, and west by Erie 
county, Pa. The township is said to have received its name in the following 
manner: David Curtis, from Sherburne, N. Y., and Kimball Webber, from 
Columbus, N. Y., both wanted to name the town from their former places of 
residence, and after much hot debate it was agreed that the person who should 
furnish the most whisky at election day should have the privilege of naming 
the new township. Webber offered five gallons and named the township. It 
cannot be learned at this date what the whole result of the first election was, 
but it is known that Joseph Munroe had already been commissioned justice of 
the peace by the governor, and officiated in the organization of the election 
board ; that Edmund Rowe was the first constable ; and that not all the 
whisky contributed for the first election was then consumed. 

Early Settlers. — The earliest settlement of Columbus is not well ascer- 
tained, and at this period in the history of the township the facts are for the 
most part irretrievably lost. The first instrument procuring the settlement of 
this portion of the State was the Holland Land Company. Their agent for 
this territory was William Miles, and it seems probable that soon after the 
year 1795, though not before, a few settlers succeeded in building their rude 
huts and clearing each a small space for cultivation. But their stay was not 
prolonged. Those settling within the present limits of Columbus, so far as 
known, were Irvine, Call, Miller, two Vails, Daniel Prosser, Maxwell, and 
Davis. All their supplies had to be brought from Pittsburgh. They suffered 
privations which can not be adequately described. They struggled on until 
the cold season in the years 1805 and 1806, when they became discouraged. 



484 History of Warren County. 

abandoned their settlement, and sought a warmer climate and an older com- 
munity. As an example of the effect of those cold seasons, and the conse- 
quent failures in crops, the settlers had to pay three dollars per bushel for 
potatoes and transport them from Union, a distance of fifteen miles. On one 
of these improvements, as late as 1 8 14, were the remains of a school-house, 
with its benches of split logs and desks of slabs, formed with the ax in the 
most primitive style, and fastened to the log walls with large wooden pins. 
In 1800 and 1801 Nathaniel Frampton, Daniel Horn, Joseph Phillis, and per- 
haps one or two others, made settlements here and remained a number of 
years, some of them until their death. In the spring of 1804 Daniel Corbett 
came from Lancaster county, Pa., and settled on the farm next east of 
Sample Flats. He weathered through the cold season, and in 1807 built a 
saw- mill on his farm, which enabled him to construct warmer houses for him- 
self and others, and to make a little money by rafting lumber down the river to 
market. His wife was a daughter of Nathaniel Frampton. Corbett remained 
on his farm until about 1 830, or a little later, when he died. John Sample, 
another early settler, was a son-in-law of Nathaniel Frampton, and settled as 
early, probably, as 1800, on the tract in the southwestern part of the town, 
known at the present day as Sample Flats. Mr. Sample was a good farmer, 
increased his landed property here, and performed his duties as a citizen and 
a Democrat until his death, not far from twenty years ago. His grandson, 
John, lives now in the same neighborhood, and other grandchildren are resi- 
dents of this township. John Sample, jr., was a bachelor son of John, sr., and 
owned property adjoining his father's farm. He survived his father a few 
years. The Prosser clearing, named after Daniel Prosser, was about in the 
center of the township. 

Daniel Call settled previous to 1 800 on a farm about two miles northwest 
from what is now the borough of Columbus, the place being still recognized 
as Call Hill. He went away during the cold season of 1805— 6. 

Daniel Horn lived as late as 1806 about one mile east of the site of Co- 
lumbus borough, on the farm now occupied by Klmer Crosby. In 1866 he 
removed to Spring Creek, where his children still reside. Nathaniel Framp- 
ton was living in this township with his son-in-law, John Sample, until as late 
as 1825. 

Michael and James Hare were settlers, previous to 1806, about a mile south 
of the site of Columbus borough. Others of the same surname lived near the 
site of Corry, but they had all gone away before 1806. 

Luther Chase settled between 1806 and 18 16 in this township, near the 
line of Spring Creek. Not far from 1830, it is stated, he removed to Titus- 
ville. He was not able to accumulate much property, for he had a large 
family, and when he settled here he was well along in years. He was not a 
public man in any sense of the word. 



Columbus Township. 485 



James Phillis lived near the Corbett farm for a time, and after that moved 
around considerably. He married a daughter of James Irvin, near Wrights- 
ville. He was something of a lumberman, but much more of a hunter. A 
number of years after 1825 he went West. He has a number of descendants 
in the county now. 

Thomas Tubbs was reared by Daniel Corbett. He was born in Lancaster 
county. Pa., on the i ith of August, 1793, and while a small lad was bound out 
to Daniel Corbett for a term of twelve years. He has written and published 
a pamphlet memoir of his life, and describes Corbett as cruel, tyrannical, 
accustomed to steal and lie. Tubbs died but a few years ago near Titusville. 

These first settlers obtained their property rights by settlement and resi- 
dence. About the year 1822 Captain David Curtis, as agent for H. J. Huy- 
dekopper, the successor of the Holland Land Company, proposed to exchange 
wild lands in the " Brokenstraw country " for improved lands in Central New 
York, and being a practical surveyor, he came here with some others from 
Chenango county, N. Y. Soon after this time he sent Jabez Johnson to this 
township from Chenango county, who settled at what is now the Center. 
There he built a house and for some time boarded others who had come, while 
they were erecting houses of their own. Johnson was born on the 1 8th of 
November, 1798 ; was the first Yankee settler in Columbus, and became well 
known here before he died, on the I2th of February, 1841. He was a shoe- 
maker by trade and engaged in that occupation after his settlement until his 
death. About 1823 Captain Curtis, who was probably the wealthiest of the 
settlers, came here with his family and took the Johnson farm, upon which he 
passed the rest of his life. He was born on the i8th of August, 1786, and 
died July 27, 1832. His wife, Delilah, was born September 5, 1791, and died 
February 10, 1872. 

In 1823 others came also, most of them under the influence of Captain 
Curtis. Among them were Aaron Walton, Porter K. Webber, Edmund Rowe, 
JuHus Merriam, and Levi Boardman, all of them single young men engaged in 
chopping and clearing. The next year Kimball Webber, Matthias Spencer, 
Aaron Walton, sn, John Dewey, Luther Mather, and probably William Z. 
Bush, moved their families from New York State and became permanent set- 
tlers. From that time on the settlements became rapidly thicker and more 
modern. When Aaron Walton, sr., came here he found no store in the town- 
ship except a small affair kept by Porter Webber at his house about a mile 
east of the present borough limits. By the summer of 1825 the lumber trade 
had not become a very prominent industry, though it was in full tide farther 
down the river. The little saw-mill which Daniel Corbett had built on his farm 
had nearly gone to decay, and there was no other in town except the one then 
in process of construction by Luther Mather, at the falls, in what is now the bor- 
ough. Mather was also building a grist-mill — the first in the township — on 



X 



486 History of Warren County. 

the site of the mill now owned by Aaron Francis. Mather lived then in a 
little sixteen by sixteen plank house on the west side of the Brokcnstraw, on 
land now forming a part of the mill property — then the only house within the 
area of the present borough. The site of Columbus village was covered with 
an almost unbroken growth of forest ; there was no bridge across the creek, 
only a rough log thrown over. There was no post-office, the little mail that 
was obtained being brought from Warren. There was no physieian here, 
though Mrs. Aaron Walton had quite a practice in attending families at the 
birth of children. 

Luther Mather, who took so active a part in the improvement of the town- 
ship, especially of the village, was a son of Stephen Mather, and was born in 
Bennington, Vt, on the 24th of June, 1785. He came to Columbus in March, 
1825, from Jefferson county, N. Y., where he had been living for a number 
of years. Immediately upon arriving here he became the first settler in, and 
the founder of, the village of Columbus. He built a part of a saw-mill with a 
little lumber that he had brought with him, and from that sawed out the rest 
of his building material. Soon after his brother Daniel and Dr. M. F. C. Fitch 
bought near him, and in a settlement with J. H. Huydekopper for his services 
as surveyor, Captain Curtis became possessed of lands opposite and also in- 
cluded in the site of the borough. Daniel Mather and M. F. C. Fitch each 
donated lands for a public square on the west side of the creek, and Dr. Fitch 
surveyed and plotted that portion of the borough. David Curtis donated a 
public square and cemetery on the east side of the creek, and surveyed and 
plotted that part of the borough. 

Luther Mather married November 7, 181 1, Gabrielle B. Balmat, then of 
Jefferson county, N. Y., but a native of Paris, France. She died at Columbus 
in January, 1881, at the age of nearly ninety years. Her husband had gone 
before her on the 9th of June, 1842. They had six children, of whom five 
live — Harriet M., widow of Erastus Pearce, in Crawford county; Jedediah P., 
now of Council Grove, Kan.; Joseph V., now of Bear Lake, in this county; 
Eliza M., widow of Lore n Pearce, now in Columbus, and Arvilla A., now wife 
of H. A. Baker, and residing in Corry, Pa. 

Among the settlers who came to Columbus during that flood-tide of immi- 
gration preceding 1830 was Solomon Dutton. He was born in New Hamp- 
shire in 1804, of Richard and Sarah (Grant) Dutton, grew to manhood in Co- 
lumbus, Chenango county, N. Y., and in 1829 married Rebecca Rice and re- 
moved to this township, where he died in 1857, and was followed by his widow 
in 1876. They had a family of four children — Sarah E , Adelia A., Hiram R., 
who died in infancy, and Richard D. After he came to this place he taught 
two terms of school in a log building in the district now called the center school 
district. He was an acting justice of the peace for more than twenty-one years, 
school director several years, and has held the office of assessor. It is said 



Columbus Township. 487 



that he officiated at the marriage of more than fifty couples. By occupation 
he was a farmer. 

L. C. Baker, who lives here now, came to Columbus in 1837, from Catta- 
raugus county, N. Y., though originally from Chenango county, with his father, 
Ira, who settled in the southern portion of the township and there died in 1885. 
D. C. Blair came with his step-father, John Judson, in 1841, and settled in the 
village, first on the east and soon after on the west side of the creek. Judson 
died in 1878. He was for years a prominent merchant of the town, associate 
judge of the county, and in other respects a well-known public man and a life- 
long Democrat. Although he came here from Bradford county. Pa., he was 
originally from Madison county, N. Y. Ira Baker was a farmer of large prop- 
erty and was also a very active man. Messrs. Baker and Blair have furnished 
the following information concerning the growth of business interests in the 
village and townships since their recollection, and from tradition : " As before 
stated, the first store in town was kept by Porter Webber. Perhaps the first 
in the village was kept by William Jackman, on the site now occupied by the 
store of Baker & Co. He moved to Illinois in 1846 and died there. For a 
year or two, about 1843-44 and 1845, ^ peculiar industry was carried on here, 
viz., the manufacture of fanning-mills by John Smith, Charles Anderson, and 
one or two others; but it never became very flourishing. Anderson was a 
great inventor, and only a few years previous to this had invented a new steam 
engine for propelling boats. He built a steamer here and took it down the 
river to Beaver for the machinery, but his invention there failed. By 1 840 the 
village had become at least as large as it now is. At this time Judson & King 
were the principal merchants in the village and township, their store standing 
just west of the grist-mill. Besides dealing in general merchandise they bought 
and sold lumber and shingles, which were then practically a legal tender. 
About 1848 they sold out to Enfield Leach and Alfred Willoughby. Leach 
kept the store five or six years and was succeeded by Willoughby. Morillo 
Woodworth became then a partner of Willoughby, and this firm kept up the 
business until about 1861. 

About 1850 Davis Jones and Charles Hewitt opened a store on the site of 
Yates & Smith's present store, and after some three years were succeeded by 
"Dyer Elderkin and William Walker. They wound up the business in two or 
three years. The present building was erected by D. A. Dewey in 1871. 
About 1876 he was followed by Cyrus Blakeslee, who in turn sold out to 
George F. Yates. 

D. C. & G. Blair, brothers, opened a store in a building still standing just 
west of the hotel about 185 i, and traded in it for nineteen years. Upon the 
retirement at that time of George Blair, D. C. Blair took his son-in-law, E. S. 
Royce, into partnership with him, which continued some three years. Royce 
then purchased the business and property and engaged in it for four years. 



488 History of Warren County. 

when he sold out also to Mr. Yates. For about the fifteen years following 
1850, the other part of the building occupied, as last stated, was occupied suc- 
cessively by D. A. Dewey, Richard Dewey, A. J. Atherly, G. V. N. Yates, 
Muzzy, Horn & Cady, and Muzzy, Howard & Mallett, the last-named firm 
finally closing out. In 1867 D. A. Dewey and D. H. Cady started a store 
" on the bridge " on the west side of the creek, and kept it about two years, 
after which Dewey continued it alone until 1 871. 

The saw-mill which Luther Mather built in 1825 stood on the east side of 
the creek until about 1840, when it was rebuilt on the west side, above the 
grist-mill. The grist-mill has been many times rebuilt. About 1830, or a 
little later, Mather moved about a mile down the creek, and there erected a 
saw-mill on the site of the present mill of Russell Clark, and remained there 
until his death. Meantime William Jackman had succeeded him in the owner- 
ship and possession of the grist and saw-mill, and kept them in operation until 
about 1842 or 1843, when he failed, and the property went into the hands of 
Judson & Hutchins, of Waterford, Pa. Daniel Walton then bought them and 
operated them until 1864, at the same time doing a general mercantile and 
lumbering business. Stephen Stewart then had the property, and sold the 
mills to D. C. & G. Blair, who, after running them a few months, sold them to 
Henry Stevens, also in 1864. In one year they sold to James Smith and John 
Eason, who operated them five years ; Smith, Eason & Walton, Walton & 
Eason, A. W. Francis and M. E. Skinner, and finally A. W. Francis alone 
had charge of the property. Mr. Francis is the present proprietor. 

The second mill that Mather erected, he and his son, J. D. Mather, oper- 
ated until 1842, when the latter continued it until 1857. It was then sold by 
the sheriff to George Cady, Ethan Skinner, and Asa Walton. After several 
years they sold to George Vermilya, who transferred the property to the 
present owner, Russell Clark, about fifteen years ago. 

Captain David Curtis built a saw-mill before 1830 in the village, a little 
down stream from Mather's first mill, and near the mouth of Coffee Creek, 
which passed through many hands, and was burned in 1863. Soon after D. 
A. Dewey built a steam mill on the site, which was abandoned in a few 
years. As early as 1830 Elijah Smith built a saw-mill about half a mile east 
of the village, and connected with it a small grist-mill. Smith & Hull operated 
the two mills for several years. It was afterward successively operated by Mr. 
Pinney, of Pittsburgh, and M. P. Osborne, until the decline of the lumber 
trade, when it was abandoned. 

At one time, about 1840, Pine Valley, in thp northeastern part of the 
township, was quite a settlement. There were three mills, owned and operated 
respectively by Justin Danforth, Ezra Beals, and Thomas Barker and his father. 
About i860 the decline of the lumber business brought this smiling village to 
dust. The steam mill of D. H. Parker is the only industry there now. About 



Columbus Township. 489 



one and a half miles north from Pine Valley, on what is called the " Sulphur 
Spring " property, is the steam saw mill of Clemens, Huffman & Jamieson, 
which was built in 1885, and is now doing a large business. Chauncey Marble 
also has a saw- mill in the north part of the township, about four miles from 
Columbus borough, which he built in 1885, and which is doing a good busi- 
ness. The height of prosperity of this borough, Columbus, was during the 
greatest period of activity of the lumber traffic and manufacture between 1850 
and 1 86 1. The oil business and the junction of railroads then conspired to 
enlarge Corry at the expense of Columbus, and with the growth of that place 
has been a corresponding decline of prosperity in Columbus. The borough 
was chartered in 1853, and on the 29th of March of that year an election was 
held in the school-house on the west side. Nathaniel Stacy was chosen judge, 
Charles Hewitt and G. W. Bracken, inspectors, and E. C. Stacy and Jones 
Smith, clerks. The officers elected at this time were Ozro A. Smith, burgess; 
W. L. Weed, William Byington, William Walker, Alexander Harris, and D. W. 
Elderkin, common council ; O. A. Smith and D. W. Elderkin, justices; G. W. 
Bracken, constable ; A. Barris, F. R. Burroughs, and D. W. Mason, school di- 
rectors ; John Judson and M. S. White, path-masters; M. S. White, judge; 
W. C. Howard and Asa Walton, inspectors of elections ; Lucius Spencer, 
assessor; D. C. Blair, D. A. Dewey, and HoUis King, auditors. There being 
some irregularity in this election, another was afterward held with the same 
result, except that G. V. N. Yates was chosen justice. 

Presejtt Business Interests. — Of the four stores now open in Columbus 
borough, the one of longest standing is that of George F. Yates and Albert J. 
Smith, who deal in general merchandise under the firm name of Yates & 
Smith. The firm was formed on the I2th of February, 1883, succeeding 
George F. Yates. The previous history of this store has already been related. 
Their present stock is valued at about $5,000. 

The firm of Rhodes & Rowe Brothers, consisting of W. R. Rhodes, C. E. 
Rowe, and F. M. Rowe, was formed more than two years ago, and deal in 
stock containing, among other things, drugs and medicines. They estimate 
their stock to be worth about $7,000. The firm of A. Baker & Co. was formed 
about two years ago. F. M. Rowe had a store in this building before it was 
occupied by this firm. H. L. Zimmerman, dealer in stoves, general hardware, 
lime, cement, phosphate, coal, etc., began in Columbus township and borough 
in September, 1885, succeeding F. C. Smith, who had been here for several 
years. 

Hotels. — The first tavern or hotel built and kept in the township was that 
erected in 1826 by Porter K. Webber, which is in part the same building now 
owned and occupied by H. L. Gordon, on the east side of the creek. In 1844 
George Cady succeeded Webber, and remained until i860, since when it has 
passed through many hands. The property came into the hands of Mr. Gor- 
don in the spring of 1885. 



490 History of Warren County. 

As early as 1830 Dr. M. F. C. Fitch built the other hotel on the west side 
of the creek, and after a short time was succeeded by Daniel Walton, who kept 
it until 1849, ^^'^ was followed by William L. Weed. From that time for years 
it kept changing hands, until H. P. Stevens bought it. He was the last one 
who kept the house open for guests, and he left in 1884. The house is not 
now used for hotel purposes. 

There have not been many hotels outside of the village of Columbus in the 
township. At Pine Valley Lyman Calkins kept tavern about the year 1840, 
which was afterward in the hands of Anson Ouimby, George Shannon, and 
others, and was closed before i860. It was noticeable for its sign, which read, 
"Call and See," and the House was designated as the " Call-and-see House." 
A mile east of the village S W. Webber had a hotel between 1850 and i860, 
but discontinued it previous to the latter date. The building was destroyed 
by fire about 1872 or 1873. About three miles east of the village the Kansas 
House was opened in 1856 by Seth and Delos Wilber. After the lapse of 
three or four years it was converted into a private house, which it still re- 
mains. 

T/ie Ta7incry. — As early as 1840 Porter Damon built the first tannery in 
town, on the site of the present one. It was then but a small " pocket " affair. 
He was followed by Horace English as early is 1847, ^^^o kept it in operation 
about ten years in connection with the manufacture of boots and shoes, and 
sold out to Hollis King and Asa Walton. They ran it until about 1864 under 
the name of King & Walton, and were succeeded by Rose & Hewitt. The 
senior member of the new firm soon went out, and William Hewitt continued 
the business for a year or two, and was followed by Nathaniel Pearson. The 
next proprietor was Byron Pearson, from about 1868 to 1870, when John 
Williams acquired the property. His son, Frank Williams, is the present 
owner and proprietor. 

The Equitable Aid Union of Ameriea, which has carried the name of 
Columbus to all parts of the United States, describes the purpose of its institu- 
tion in its title. It was chartered on the 22d of March, 1879, under the laws 
of Pennsylvania, the headquarters of the company being at Columbus. The 
incorporators were D. A. Dewey, R. Nell Seaver, H. S. Ayer, W. H. Muzzy, 
and W. B. Howard, all of Columbus. D. A. Dewey was president of the asso- 
ciation until March, 1886, when he was succeeded by R. N. Seaver, who had 
been vice-president all the time previous. Mr. Seaver has also been supreme 
medical examiner during the history of the union. Since its organization, also, 
H. S. Ayer has held the office of accountant, and W. II. Muzzy of secretary. 
In addition to the five incorporators, two representatives from New York and 
two more from Pennsylvania came in in September, 1884, and since that time 
there have been added one from each State. The organization was introduced 
for the benefit of persons everywhere who were not able to enter other more ex- 



Columbus Township. 491 



pensive or less liberal associations in other respects similar to this one. It is 
not introduced as a competitor to any similar order heretofore existing, but 
solely with a view to extend social and financial benefits to a very large and 
worthy class of our fellow-citizens entirely "cut off and, as the incorporators 
justly think, unrighteously ignored by other organizations of a similar nature. 
They started with only the one society at Columbus, but at this writing they 
have 560 different societies in sixteen States and Territories from Dakota to 
Massachusetts. They have about 18,000 insurable members in all, besides 
about 2,000 non-beneficiary members. In November, 1886, they had paid 
687 death policies, involving $1,269,705.45 in money. 

Tlie Post-office. — The first postmaster in this township was Captain David 
Curtis, who was appointed as early as 1829, and probably earlier. His suc- 
cessors in the office have been about as follows : Robert Campbell, William 
Jackman, Mark White, who was appointed about 1845 and served several years, 
E. C. Stacy, Davis Jones, F. R. Burroughs, Lewis Crosby, W. H. Muzzy, 
Lewis Crosby, James Hopkins, Lewis Crosby, S. L. Skiff, O. A. Smith, and 
the present incumbent, Frank O. Howard, who was appointed on the 1 2th of 
April, 1886. The office was named Coffee Creek post-office until about 1840, 
when the present name was adopted. 

Schools and Churches. — The first school held in the township was at the 
house of Kimball Webber, in 1824, and was taught by his daughter Sophronia, 
for thirteen weeks at one dollar per week. There are now in the borough two 
school buildings, with three departments, and an attendance of more than one 
hundred pupils. Outside of the borough are twelve schools. 

A history of the religious movements in this township would be incom- 
plete without somewhat extended mention of the most prominent clergyman 
and theologian in the town. Rev. Nathaniel Stacy was born on the 2d of 
December, 1778, in New Salem, Mass. His father, Rufus Stacy, was a fisher- 
man, during the seasons, on the banks of Newfoundland, and, like his mother, 
was a native of Gloucester, Mass. They were probably of Scotch or Irish de- 
scent. The subject of this notice studied theology under the tuition of Rev. 
Hosea Ballou, of Massachusetts, and did his first preaching near New Salem. 
He was always of diminutive stature, being five feet and one inch in height, and 
weighing for years but ninety-nine pounds. His heaviest weight was 105 
pounds. He was active in movement and rapid and nervous in speech, but at 
the same time was of a very calm and even-tempered disposition. He lived 
his religion. In the fall of 1798 he went to Bridgewater, Vt., where, for his 
health, he tried blacksmithing and several other manual occupations. He soon 
returned to Massachusetts. Then he went to Hamilton, Madison county, N. 
Y., in April, 1808, after itinerating through Massachusetts, Vermont, and New 
York, and remained there during a period of twenty-two years. On the 30th 
of January, 1806, he married Susan, daughter of Perez Clark. In 1830 he 

32 



492 History of Warren County. 

came to Columbus, Pa. In his Memoirs (page 359) he says of this country- 
then : "Although the country was mostly in a state of nature, and the 
roads intolerable, still I was pleased with it. It evidently possessed great 
strength of soil, with the heaviest growth and the greatest variety of timber I 
had ever seen, or have since seen, thrown together in any one place." At that 
time there were here the houses of Luther Mather and Captain Curtis, a build- 
ing erected for a public house, another for a store, shops for blacksmithing, 
shoemaking, wagon-making, and other mechanical employments. After five 
years he removed to Ann Arbor, Mich., where he remained about five years, 
and then came back to Columbus, where he spent the remainder of his life, 
preaching, as he says, until spiritualism " broke out," about 185 i or 1852, and 
his meetings were interrupted. From that time he engaged in only occasional 
preaching. He died April 7, 1868, and was followed by his widow exactly 
one year and six months afterward. They had eight children, of whom only 
three, Judge Edwin C. Stacy, now of Albert Lee, Minn., Clara, wife of John 
D. Anderson, of Washington, Iowa, and Charlotte, wife of O. A. Smith, of 
this township, survive. The house now occupied by O. A. Smith in Columbus 
borough was built by Rev. Stacy in 1832. He was the first Universalist 
preacher, and the organizer of the Universalist Church, in Columbus. He 
came at the solicitation of Peter C. Howard, Ezra Button, Solomon Dutton, 
Captain Curtis, Isaac Crosby, and others of that denomination. The house of 
worship was erected under Mr. Stacy's direction in 1847, and is now a union 
church. While Mr. Stacy was in Ann Arbor, the spiritual needs of the church 
were placed in the care of Rev. L. Payne. Since the death of Mr. Stacy the 
Universalist society has not flourished. Indeed, it is said that all the churches 
have felt the inroads of spiritualism severely. 

In 1830 the majority of the settlers were inclined to Methodism in religion, 
among the early members of that persuasion being James Sears and wife, Sam- 
uel H. Ayer, Joseph Sheffield and wife, A. Soggs, David York and wife, Mrs. 
Eli Crosby, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, Mr. and Mrs. Marsh, Lloyd Smith, Mr. 
Brightman, William Jackman and wife, and Watson Miller and wife. Joseph 
O. Rich, the first preacher, was here about 1830 or 1832. The most pros- 
perous period in the history of the church was about 1840. The house of 
worship was erected in 1839. The present pastor is Rev. George Hummason. 
The membership now is about twenty. 

The only church in the township outside the borough is that of the United 
Brethren, who have had a church organization in Pine Valley about twenty- 
five years, and built their church edifice as many as twenty years ago. 



Limestone Township. 493 

CHAPTER XLI. 
HISTORY OF LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP.i 

LIMESTONE was formed from the provisional townships of Tionesta and 
Limestone (see chapter on township organization) in August, 1829. At 
this time the land was covered with large quantities of pine, hemlock and 
hard wood. Millions of feet of lumber have been manufactured in this town- 
ship and run to market, and at the present day quantities of hemlock and some 
pine cover a large portion of its territory. The land is well watered, and 
abounding in never-failing springs in addition to the numerous tributaries of 
the Allegheny River which flow through this township. 

Years before the township was organized many settlers took up claims 
along the river, making settlers' claims, as it was supposed that this land was 
owned or controlled by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; but some time 
later, after many had spent years of hard work in clearing their lands and es- 
tablishing homesteads, it was ascertained that a large portion of this land had 
been purchased by and belonged to an English landlord by the name of Ma- 
ben, and although many of them strongly protested against buying their farms, 
after spending so many years of work thereon, all those whose farms chancedi 
to be located on Maben's land were compelled to purchase them. This was 
done through Alexander McCalmont, agent. Other capitalists became own- 
ers of large tracts in this township and held the same for years. This retarded 
the settlement of Limestone, and the effect is still seen at the present daj^ 

A few coal mines have been opened and worked upon the more elevated 
tracts of this township, but with no great degree of success. 

There were few settlers in the township when it was organized, and these 
all lived along the river. 

The following are the names of parties living in Limestone at the time : 
Richard Arters, Robert Hunter, Arthur Magill, sr., James Middleton, Joshua 
Richardson, Alexander Magee, and Joseph Huff. Brief sketches of the lives 
of most of these old settlers will be found below. 

The first public road in Limestone township was laid out by order of the 
Court of Quarter Sessions of Warren county on the 24th day of March A. D. 
1824. This road extended from the county line northward along the river to 
a point opposite the mouth of Tidioute Creek. 

Early Settlers. — One of the oldest, and perhaps the first permanent settler 
in Limestone township, was Richard Arters, who with his wife settled in 
Limestone in 1806. Here he cleared a small farm, which was located nearly 
opposite the lower part of Tidioute borough. His family was large. 

1 By James Kinnear. 



V 



494 History of Warren County. 

Hunter, Robert, another of the first settlers, was born in Ireland in 1758, 
and his wife, Elizabeth (Park) Hunter, was born in the same country in 1762. 
They settled in Limestone, then Deerfield township, four miles below the 
mouth of Tidioute Creek in 1808. Here they made their permanent home, 
and by industry and frugality succeeded in clearing a large farm. They 
had a family of ten children born unto them, consisting of six daughters 
and four sons, all of whom grew to maturity and married, most of them 
settling in Limestone and vicinity. Robert Hunter died in 1836, and his wife 
in 1843. 

Hunter, RTathew, the youngest son of Robert Hunter, was born in 1802, 
and after his father's death continued upon the old homestead. Here he farmed 
and lumbered as his father had done before him. His wife, Sarah (Magill) 
Hunter, was born in 1809 and died in 1846. Mathew Hunter died in 1872. 
He had a family of ten children. 

In 18 12 James Magee and wife moved from the eastern part of Pennsyl- 
vania to Warren county, and settled four miles below the mouth of Tidioute 
Creek in Limestone, then Deerfield township. His family, consisting of eight 
sons and two daughters, were mostly grown at the time they settled here, and 
they all afterwards settled in Limestone and vicinity. 

r Magee, Henry, the seventh son of James Magee, settled three miles below 
Tidioute Creek, in Limestone township, as it is now called. He was one of the 
prominent men of that early day, and was instrumental in securing the or- 
ganization of Limestone township. He was justice of the peace for many 
years, and held at difterent times all the official positions of the township. He 
married Kate Grandin and raised a large family. About the time of the oil 
excitement he sold his farm and moved west, where he died about the year 
1884. 

Magee, Alexander, the youngest son of James Magee, was born in 1808. 
He settled four miles above Tidioute Creek in Limestone township. He was 
a farmer and a lumberman, and a prominent man in his day. His wife, Nancy 
(Smith) Magee, was born in 1809. /He had a family of five daughters, four of 
whom are still Hving and reside in Tidioute. Rebecca Magee married John 
Hunter, and Nancy Magee is the wife of W. C. Mabie. 

In the year 1854 the Harmony Society purchased about si.x thousand acres 
■of land in Limestone township, from various parties, paying for the same a 
large amount of money, but nothing in comparison with what the land has 
since proved to be worth. Most of this land was well covered with timber, 
and a large part of it was found to be good oil territory, yielding immense 
quantities of oil, and affording the owners large profits. This territory was 
operated in the name of the Economy Oil Coiitpaiiy, which company is identi- 
cal with the Harmony Society, and only given another name in order to keep 
this part of its business separate and distinct. , 



Limestone Township. 495 



Sketch of Harmony Society. 

The Harmony Society, a body of peculiar organization and interest, was 
founded by George Rapp and a colony of immigrants from Wurtemberg, who 
sought in the United States an asylum from hostility to their religious views, 
and a place where they might enjoy freedom in the exercise of their own re- 
ligious convictions, by the worship of God according to their understanding of 
his word. The basis of their association in its inception was a deep and earnest 
conviction of the necessity of a purer life, and the exercise of practical and 
personal piety, by a walk and conversation personally and socially in accord- 
ance with their understanding of the Scriptures. Entertaining similar views 
and convictions of religious duty and social economy (but views differing in 
some things materially from those of the recognized, religious denominations 
and organizations of that day), it was natural the different individuals of the 
colony should be attracted toward each other, and unite for their mutual ben- 
efit and advantage ; and the causes and influences which thus first brought 
them together in an associated capacity have ever since operated as a bond 
that has held them united and firrp in their adherence to the principles of the 
organization. 

One of the cardinal principles of the association was that of entire com- 
munity of property, community of interests and labor, and mutual assistance 
of and dependence upon each other. 

A formal organization was first effected in 1805, at Harmony, Butler county, 
Pa., where they first located, by written articles of agreement, signed by all 
the members, whereby each delivered up and surrendered all property owned 
and held by him individually to the association thus established, thus forming 
a common stock or fund, joint and indivisible, held and managed by a trustee 
therein designated, for the common use and benefit of all members of the so- 
ciety ; and bound themselves to submit to the rules and regulations established 
for the government of the society, and to labor for and promote the interests 
of the same ; and also that if any should withdraw from the society for any 
cause whatever, those thus withdrawing should not make or have any claim 
or demand for the labor or services of themselves, their children or families, 
but whatever they might do or labor should be done as a voluntary service for 
their brethren, and for the common benefit. In consideration for what each 
thus voluntarily surrendered and contributed in property, labor, or otherwise, 
to the common fund, he or she became a member of the society, and entitled 
to all the rights and privileges of members to maintenance and support in 
health and in sickness, from the common stock or fund, and to the religious 
privileges and teachings, etc., etc., established and provided. In 1821, 1827, 
and 1836 respectively, further and additional agreements were entered into, 
being signed by all the members, whereby some modification of and additions 
to the original compact were made, for the furtherance of their views and wishes 



496 History of Warren County. 

and the better establishment thereof, and of a more complete union, brother- 
hood, co-operation, and mutual assistance. 

George Rapp, who had been the principal founder of the society, its spir- 
itual teacher, and also trustee of the property, died in 1847. After his death 
a new and more complete system of government for the society and the man- 
agement of its property and affairs was ordained and established by the mem- 
bers, all of whom united therein and signed the written instrument in which 
the same is fully set forth. In none of these instruments or agreements, which 
were intended mainly for the better management of the social affairs of the 
society and its business with others, was there any departure from their views 
of entire community of property, labor and interests, adopted at their organiza- 
tion ; but they reiterated this as one of their cardinal principles, declaring that 
all their property was, and was deemed to be, joint and indivisible, the property 
of the society for the common benefit of all its members, and this has always 
been regarded and maintained as one of the essential features of their compact. 

In 1814 and 1815 the society sold their property at Harmony, Pa., and re- 
moved to New Harmony, State of Indiana, where land was bought as the joint 
property of the society, and held and used for the common benefit of all under 
their compact. The location proving unhealthy, this was in turn sold, and in 
1825 they removed to Beaver county. Pa., where land was again bought, held, 
and used as before, and where they still remain. The society has not escaped 
the fate of other similar associations, but there have been those of its members 
who became dissatisfied and withdrew, and who subsequently sought to re- 
cover from their former associates what they claimed they or their ancestors 
had put into the common stock, together with a proportionate share of the 
accumulations of the society, or if that could not be, then compensation for 
their labor and industry while they were members. Different suits were in- 
stituted for this purpose, some in the courts of the State of Pennsylvania, and 
others in the courts of the United States, wherein the affairs and management 
of the society were thoroughly investigated and the validity of the agreement 
or compact as originally entered into by the members, and as modified and 
ratified by the subsequent agreements, was fully and carefully examined by 
eminent counsel engaged on either side, and on most careful consideration 
sustained and established. 

Biographical. — Among the prominent citizens of Limestone township are 
William Merkle, superintendent of the Economy Oil Company ; John Myres, 
farmer, owning one of the best farms in the county, consisting of two hundred 
acres, and located upon the river bottom within a mile of Tidioute ; L. H. 
Sprague, J. H. McDonald, Michael Merkle, jr., Jacob Eisenbrown, Thomas 
Stroup, John Shoelkopf, T. A. McDonald, and W. S. Thompson. 

Houser, John P., was born in Venango county in 18 19. He came to Lime- 
stone township in 1836. He purchased three hundred acres of land on tract 



Limestone Township. 497 



5225, of which he has cleared fifty acres. He was elected justice of the peace 
in 1864, and has held that position for five terms. He married Margaret Tut- 
tle in 1843. They still reside on their farm about four miles from Tidioute, 
Their children now living are Ordelia Houser, born 1844, married W. J. Slater 
and lives in Watson township; John P. Houser, jr., born 1854, married and 
lives in Limestone township; Margaret E. Houser, born i860, married C. A. 
Buchanan, and lives in Kane, Pa.; Carrie S. Houser, born in i860 and resides 
at home. 

L. H. Sprague was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., in 1836. He came to 
Limestone township in i860, and entered the employment of the Economy Oil 
Company. He married Cordelia Richardson in 1862. He has been constable 
and collector in Limestone for one or two terms. 

Kelly, Andrew, was born in Clarion county in 1820 ; he came to Limestone 
township in 186 1 and purchased one hundred acres of land, most of which by 
hard work he has cleared and made tillable. In 1845 he married Elizabeth 
Kelly. They have had ten children born unto them. Those now living are 
Hannah Daubenspeck, John Kelly, Sharron S. Kelly, Flora Kelly, and Madge 
Kelly, who reside in Limestone township, and Samuel Kelly, who lives in 
Kansas. 

Averill, Sylvester, was born in Erie county. Pa., in 18 19, and came to 
Limestone township in 1840 ; here he purchased one hundred and ten acres of 
wild land which he mostly cleared. He died in Limestone township in 1880. 
His wife, Hulda (Brown) Averill, still resides on the farm. Of the eight chil- 
dren born unto them there are living Lee Averill, who is married and lives at 
North Clarendon, Pa.; W. C. Averill, married Ufretta Gilmore and resides on 
the old homestead ; Lunette Averill and S. H. Averill also reside in Lime- 
stone ; S. B. Averill married and lives at Grand Valley. 

Shanley, John, was born in Canada in the year 1848, and came to Lime- 
stone in 1869. Since that time he has been in the employment of the Econ- 
omy Oil Company. He served four years and ten months in the Union army 
before he was twenty-one years of age. In 1879 he married Belle Morrow, 
and has a family of four children ; at present he is constable and collector in 
Limestone, which position he has had for two terms. 

The first oil well in Limestone was drilled by the Economy Oil Company 
in the fall of 1861, and proved to be a small well, yielding but two or three 
barrels per day. On Christmas day of the same year their first flowing well 
was struck. This produced about fifty barrels of oil per day. The oil business 
in Limestone township assumed large proportions from this time on ; many 
different parties became interested, and large quantities of oil were produced. 
The Economy Oil Compan)' alone drilled about seventy-five oil wells. The 
territory of Limestone township was lasting, and the quality of the oil-bearing 
sand was good, though the rock was not thick. The production from the old 



History of Warren County. 



oil districts of Limestone has now dwindled down very low. New fields with 
small productions are now being operated in other parts of the township. 

The general business of Limestone at present is farming and lumbering. 
A number of saw-mills are kept runuing during a greater part of the year. 
Within the past few years a number of farms on the lands of the Economy 
Oil Company have been cleared, fenced, and made tillable. A few years more 
and the lumber will be gone, the oil exhausted, and then attention will be 
turned to clearing farms, and tilling the soil. Most of the land throughout this 
township will make fair farms. 

There is but one church in Limestone — a Union church, located upon what 
is known as Economite's Hill. In this church services are frequently held in 
German, to accommodate the German population living upon and working the 
lands of the Economy Oil Company. Religious services and Sunday-schools 
are held in nearly all of the school-houses throughout the township, under the 
direction of the Evangelical Association. Rev. M. V. De Vaux has charge of 
the work at present. 

About the time Limestone township was organized, half an acre of land on 
the McKean farm was donated for a public cemetery, and has been generally 
used since that time. In 1886 an association known as the Limestone Ceme- 
tery Association was incorporated, and purchased the old cemetery and land 
adjoining, placed the same in good condition, and opened it for public use. 

There are six schools in operation in Limestone township, and have an 
enrollment altogether of about one hundred scholars. The population of the 
township at present is about four hundred. 



CHAPTER XLII. 
IIISTORV OF ELK TOWN.SHIP.' 

THIS township, the organization of which was effected on the 3d of May, 
1830 (although formed as "Number Seven" and attached to Kinzua 
March 8, 1821), is situated in the northeastern part of Warren county, and is 
bounded north by Cattaraugus county, in the State of New York, east by Alle- 
gheny River, separating Elk from Corydon, south by Glade, and west by a 
part of Glade and Pine Grove. In extent it is one of the largest townships in 
the county, though for obvious reasons it is not so thickly inhabited as many 
of the more favorably situated and naturally wealthy towns. In general 
appearance it is rough, mountainous, and very rocky. Huge boulders scattered 

'Suljstantially as prepared by Peter Holt, of Elk. 



Elk Township. 499 



over the surface of the township present, superficially at least, the appear- 
ance of having been set in their beds by the convulsion of some prehistoric 
upheaval, earthquake, or " tempest, dropping fire." On the Warren and Olean 
road, about one and a half miles north of Peter Smith's residence, there are 
several rocks of such immense proportions as to be worthy of special mention. 
This road was changed by Mr. Cobham to conform to the demands of these 
silent but immovable sentinels. Two of the rocks are about 1 00 feet in length 
and rear their rough shoulders some fifteen or twenty feet above ground. The 
earth about them is of a beautiful white sand. The roadway here is always 
dry and smooth. Here are also two cavities shaped like wells, one of which 
is about five feet in diameter at the mouth, and sonje twelve feet in depth, 
after which it diminishes in diameter, though still extending into the bowels of 
the earth. A pole twenty-five feet in length cannot be made to reach the 
bottom of this aperture. Near this is another cavity so small as not to admit 
the body of a man, which is still unfathomable with any pole. A stone 
dropped in either of these holes may be heard tumbling along its dark descent 
for a number of seconds. 

The soil of Elk varies from a light sand to all kinds of clay and black loam, 
and is well adapted for the cultivation of nearly all the crops raised in the 
north — wheat, oats, potatoes, onions, grass, clover, fruit, and all the garden 
vegetables. It requires a good deal of manure, however. The writer has 
used plaster largely for this purpose, and finds it very effective, though he 
needs at least five bushels to the acre, rather than half a bushel, as a few the- 
orists are accustomed to recommend. The principal business of the town is 
agricultural. The inhabitants, a stranger would think from their polyglot 
speech, are contributions from many nations, English, Irish, Dutch, German, 
Swedish, Danish, and Yankee. The lumber trade, at one time thrifty, has now 
dwindled, and is really unprofitable. The fact is that the timber has all been 
cut away except small tracts of hemlock and oak, and indeed, the latter is 
nearly all gone now, owing to the heavy demand for it in the manufacture of 
railroad ties. There are now about four tie mills in town, which consume all 
the oak timber, and do not realize very heavy profits. The dairying interest 
here is in its infancy, the land not having yet been sufficiently cleared for graz- 
ing large numbers of cattle. The facilities will undoubtedly be good in a few 
years. 

No oil has been discovered within the present boundaries of Elk, though 
many profitable wells have been drilled in that part of the original township 
which now forms a part of Glade township. 

Coal Bed. — The Quaker Hill coal mine was discovered about 1834 by one 
Pond Curtis, who made the discovery while he was digging a well on the west 
side of the little ridge, about where the opening of Silas Dinsmoor's mine now 
is. I do not remember how long Curtis operated the mine, but I have been 



500 History of Warren County. 

informed that the coal was used for fuel in the house into which my father 
moved about 1839 previous to the time of his removal. At the date of my 
earliest recollection of the mine it was worked by a Mr. Thomas. This was 
about 1843. William Jones operated the mine next after Thomas. My bro- 
ther, David Dinsmoor, moved to the mine in the fall of 1847, according to my 
best recollection. With the exception of about two years, 1854—55, he con- 
tinued to operate the mine until his death in 1881, when his son, the present 
owner, Silas Dinsmoor, succeeded to the ownership and operation of it. 

Township Officers. — There is no record of the first election held in the 
township, nor of the elections for several years. I cannot find that the first 
settlers voted at any place for many years. As Elk had been settled many 
years before the organization of either Kinzua or Elk, and as there were nine 
years between the organization of Kinzua and Elk, the citizens of Elk must 
have voted at Kinzua, if anywhere. The first account of any organization that 
I can find was a school meeting held on the i ith month, 26th day, 1835. Of 
course there must have been an election held in 1831, but no record was kept 
in the town ; neither does this adjourned meeting give a single name of the 
members of the board of directors. The writing is Daniel Pound's. The pres- 
ent officers in the township of Elk are: Justice of the peace, W. O. Martin ; 
Mrs. Mary Walling, postmistress; constable, E. A. Headly;*road commissioners, 
Jacob Shulers, A. A. Instone, Frank Nelson ; William O. Martin, secretary ; 
school directors, Andrew Clendening, president ; Charles Frostburgh, A. A. 
Instone, Stephen Lounsbury, August Fosburgh ; collector, August Fostburg; 
treasurer, Charles Fostburg ; mail carrier, John McStraw ; auditors, Jerome 
Knapp, Lyman Walling ; assessor, William McMahon ; board of election, 
judge, Peter Larson ; inspectors, George Holman, Daniel McMahon. 

Charles Fostburg keeps a store on the Warren road near the Roy farm. 
Mike Quinn also keeps a store of groceries. 

There are four nearly new church edifices in Elk, besides the holding of 
meetings in school-houses, and besides the Presbyterian (Indian) church. The 
Methodist Church stands idle. The Lutheran Church is most largely attended 
by Swedes. The I^vangelical and Catholic Churches have small congrega- 
tions. The United Brethren have meetings occasionally in school-houses. 
There were twelve school-houses in town in 1835. I built a school-house at 
my own expense in 1857 on Cornplanter Run. The present population of 
Elk may be very near 700. 

The First Roads. — The first road is called the Old State road, and leads 
from Erie county, and passes through Warren and McKean counties, I be- 
lieve, to Philadelphia. This road crosses the Allegheny River near William 
Marsh's, in Kinzua. The next road leads from the old house of Robert Miles, 
in Pine Grove, to the house of Benjamin Marsh, in Elk, at the Allegheny 
River. There was opened a road from Warren to the house of Benjamin 



Elk Township. 501 



Marsh, in Elk, up the Allegheny River, and connecting with the above named 
road at Benjamin Marsh's. Another leads from Warren to the New York 
State line at the Allegheny River, near Calvin Webb's. 

Tlie First Settlers of Elk. — From the best information to be had at this 
late date, a George Schoonover made the first settlement on tract 5566, on 
the west bank of the Allegheny, on the farm which is now a part of James 
Roper's place, and lies opposite the lower Cornplanter Island. Mr. Schoon- 
over was moving down the Allegheny, either to Franklin or Cincinnati, late 
in the fall of 18 15 or 18 16, and having heard that the river at Big Bend was 
frozen over, he landed his boat, unloaded his goods and family, made himself 
at home, and commenced building a log house. It appears that Schoonover 
and his wife were both young. His wife was a very handsome woman, and 
gave birth to the first male child of the town. Walter Seaman and Schoon- 
over were related, and Seaman soon after appeared on the ground, and built 
another shanty near the first. It appears by recent developments, that Sea- 
man had three daughters born here, viz., Susanna, Polly, and one other. 
Susanna was born in 1 8 19. In the mean time, however, Benjamin Marsh 
arrived and built a hewn-log house, and, I believe, it is a part of the present 
dwelling house of Lewis Ladow. It seems that Marsh had a son born here, 
which died in infancy. It also appears that it became necessary to make some 
division of the property, whereupon Schoonover sold his interest to Seaman, 
who in turn disposed of his land to Marsh. Marsh soon after divided this 
property, giving to his second son, William S. Marsh, some 250 acres at the 
south end, and himself keeping about 170 or 180 acres — the same piece now 
occupied by James Roper. He next gave Ira F. Marsh, his eldest son, 100 
acres next north. Meantime Enoch Oilman had married Marsh's eldest 
daughter, and bought of his new father-in-law 270 acres south of the Corn- 
planter reservation. Hiram Oilman, who married Marsh's youngest daughter 
(for these giants of other days looked upon the daughters of men that were 
very fair), received from his father-in-law the 170 acre piece upon which, as 
we have said, he lived. These transactions took place about 1829 or 1830. 

Hiram Oilman was the first postmaster in Elk, at that time Kinzua, and 
was also justice of the peace in the days when justices were appointed by the 
governor, upon the petition of their neighbors. Mr. Oilman held the two 
offices for several years, or until 1834 or 1835. Elk was organized as a sepa- 
rate township on the 3d of May, 1830, having previously been a part of Kin- 
zua. During the progress of a convivial spree, as it is called, but which our 
author forcibly and justly denominates a drunken row, Ouy C. Irvine stabbed 
William S. Marsh in the abdomen, a thrust which cost Mr. Irvine $500. So 
much for whisky, which was a staple article in early times. Benjamin Marsh 
was drowned in the Allegheny River while on his way to Warren on a float. 
His body was discovered by Indians, some three months after the fatality, under 



S02 History of Warren County. 

an oil boat at Sill's Landing, and was identified by Osmer Hook, John F. Davis, 
and Abijah Morrison, who sent word to the family. Mr. Marsh was interred 
in the cemetery at Warren. 

Enoch Oilman sold his land in Elk, before mentioned, to the writer of this 
chapter (Peter Holt), and he and his wife are long since deceased. They reared 
a large family of children, all girls but one, and all of whom have gone to 
other parts. 

Up the river, at the State line, Abel Morrison and Russell M. Freeman 
moved to the place afterward owned and occupied by Calvin Webb, and be- 
gan to build a saw-mill, but soon concluded that the site was hardly suitable, 
and therefore with their families crossed the river into Corydon, where they 
built and operated the mill. The ground they abandoned was next occupied 
by a John Morris and by Warren Reeves. Reeves kept tavern in the very 
house that his predecessors had built, and sold large quantities of whisky. 
Calvin Webb bought the property of Reeves, and also kept tavern and store 
in the building. It is related that a wayfaring man, who stayed with Webb a 
few hours, warned him that his house was going to be destroyed by fire, and 
it is further said that another man, named Levi Leonard, who took supper at 
Webb's, taking notice of the old-fashioned and broken stove, set up in a box of 
sand, also informed Webb of the danger to which he was in this careless man- 
ner exposing the building. Mr. Leonard and the wayfaring man went on to 
Dalrymple's for the night. About midnight of that same day the house was 
irretrievably in flames. Some years afterward, when a new house had been 
placed on the same site, Mrs. Webb took an axe and knocked in the head of a 
barrel of whisky, with the expressed determination that that should be the last 
whisky in that house. Mr. Webb kept a store there for many years, and gave 
the property and good will to his son, James K. Webb, who also engaged in 
the mercantile business for a long time, though whisky was forever a pro- 
scribed article in that household. The property has remained in the Webb 
family ever since, though Mr. James K. Webb has resided in Frewsburg, N. Y. 

We now come to the Dalrymple place opposite Corydon. Here, in 1832, 
David Dalrymple built a house, in which for a long time he kept tavern. He 
also built the saw-mill now owned by his son James. Next below Dalrymple 
was S. Fisher, who was the father of quite a family, and filled a number of 
important offices, such as that of school director, justice of the peace, road 
commissioner, etc. Mr. Fisher came from the vicinity of the Genesee River, 
in the State of New York. He was killed by the overturning of his buggy in 
the Narrows. One daughter now lives in town — Mrs. E. Harrington, about 
half a mile below the old homestead. Dr. Peter Hollister, with his son, now 
occupies the F"isher farm. He has doctored in the writer's family to the fourth 
generation. In this neighborhood, and on the Dalrymple farm, a store was 
kept at a later day by Amos Peterson, who, after a brief experience here, re- 



Elk Township. 503 



moved to Corydon. Jacob McCall also kept store in this town for a time, and 
went to Corydon, where he was the quondam proprietor of the Corydon House. 
The Messrs. Morrison, mentioned above, came from the East in 1817. 

Going down the river, we next come to the old Elk mill, built very early 
by one of the Halls, from Jamestown, N. Y. It has been quiet for many years, 
and the very place can hardly be discovered. Next is the old Merritt or Flagg 
mill near the Big Bend. At this place was kept the first school under the 
school law of the State, in 1834. The old tavern house, torn down a few years 
ago because it was in the way of the railroad near Big Bend, was built by 
William Culbertson, one of the first settlers, who came to this town at the be- 
ginning of this century. Another early settler in this vicinity was Devorck 
Hodges, especially noted in his day for his extreme fondness for liquor. He 
moved away from this part of the country many years ago. 

The first settler on Quaker Hill, in this township, was Daniel Pound, who 
came as early as 1823 or 1824. Upon his arrival, and until he was able to 
build a rude shanty for shelter, his only house was his wagon. He is remem- 
bered principally from the fact that he was perhaps the most indefatigable 
friend of the schools in the township. He and his brothers, Elijah, Asa, and 
Thomas, with the assistance of their cousin, Jonathan Asher, built a log house 
on the corners, near the site of the present Evangelical Church, which was 
used for both church and school purposes. Daniel Pound here taught a night- 
school for the benefit of the young people of this town, and he also frequently 
organized and conducted spelling schools. He also erected a building on his 
farm in which he kept a select school. He and his brothers bought a number 
of thousand-acre tracts of land from the county commissioners of Warren 
county. The names of the Pound brothers were Daniel, Thomas, Jonathan, 
Elijah, jr., and Asa, sons of Elijah, sr. As has been stated, Asher Pound was 
a cousin of these brothers. Daniel Pound settled on the farm now owned and 
occupied by William Holman, where he lived until 1844. He was a surveyor, 
and subdivided the greater part of the township of Elk. Most of the mem- 
bers of this remarkable family were determined Abolitionists, both in practice 
and principle. For example, Daniel would use neither clothing nor food that 
was the product of slave labor. Jonathan Pound lived next north of the resi- 
dence of Daniel, and cleared the larger part of the farm now owned by Jacob 
Mack. He afterward exchanged farms with his' brother Thomas, who had set- 
tled the place now owned and occupied by Andrew Clendenning. Jonathan 
left this part of the country a few years later. Thomas continued to reside on 
the land which he had obtained by the trade with his brother. He built a 
saw-mill on a branch of Jackson Run, above Russellburg, and in 1834 sold it 
to the writer of this chapter. He owned several large tracts of land in Elk 
township, but he sold them all and removed to the East, and later still to the 
West. 



504 History of Warren County. 

Elijah Pound, jr., was the youngest son of EHjah, sr., and settled and con- 
siderably improved the farm that Joseph Clendenning had first cleared in part. 
Elijah afterward moved to the farm now occupied by William McMahon. In 
1838 he and his wife Judith, with their family, removed to Monroe county, N. 
Y., whence they removed to Rock county. Wis., in 1847. On this farm last 
mentioned, on the 6th of December, 1832, a son was born to these good peo- 
ple, who was destined to bear an important and conspicuous part in the legis- 
lation of the nation at a later day. His name is Thaddeus C. Pound, for he 
is still living. He is now a resident of Chippewa Falls, Wis. He commenced 
teaching when he was fifteen years of age, attended an academy several terms, 
afterward taught the union school at Caledonia, Livingston county, X. Y., at- 
tended the Rushford Academy in Allegany county, N. Y., and went to Chip- 
pewa Falls, Wis., in the spring of 1856. There he began as a book-keeper, 
early engaged in the lumber and mercantile business, and continued to ad- 
vance until he became one of the foremost leaders in public enterprises. He 
was a member of the Assembly of Wisconsin in 1864, 1866, 1867 and 1869, 
and in the latter year was elected lieutenant-governor. Since 1876 he 
has represented, without interruption, his district in the National Congress — 
the Eighth. Elijah Pound, sr., lived with his son and namesake until his death, 
at a very advanced age. He had 1,000 acres of land, which he subdivided 
and sold. Asa Pound, the next brother, lived on land since occupied at dif- 
ferent intervals by Asa A. Bennett, Joseph Bennett, and where A. H. and D. 
H. Lounsbury and John McStraw now live. He sold out or exchanged for 
lands in Ohio with a Mr. Reeves. 

Asher Pound, a cousin of those whom we have been describing, settled 
upon the farm now occupied by Mrs. Walling, and which had been first settled 
by William Shattuck, though he had never lived on it. After a brief residence 
in Elk, Asher Pound removed eastward. William Shattuck settled on what is 
now the James Roy farm, and there made extensive improvements. Mr. Roy 
married one of his daughters. Mr. Shattuck came from the State of New 
York about 1833, though he had been preceded as early as 1826 by men who 
were active in his interests. He was a Quaker in religion, an unwavering 
Abolitionist in politics, with the fiery zeal in that cause that stirred Garrison, 
and with an ability that might have made him as prominent as Garrison, had 
he possessed the latter's means and audiences. He was eccentric in his ways, 
but his eccentricity was ever on the side of the right. He had a large family, 
most of whom were daughters. He had two sons, the elder of whom was 
drowned while in bathing at Stump Creek Eddy, and the younger, William, 
jr., now lives at Salamanca, N. Y. William Shattuck, sr., was called upon at 
various times to fill nearly all the oflfices within the gift of the town, such as 
that of school director, supervisor of highways, etc. He finally removed to a 
farm near Randolph, N. Y., where he lived to an advanced age. His widow 




^^^2^ 




Elk Township. 505 



is still living, and at this writing is on a visit to one of her daughters beyond 
Chicago. 

John B. Hodges lived in what is now Glade township, and had a large, 
well-conducted farm there. He was a man of large stature, and took a prom- 
inent part in town affairs. He held many town offices. He finally moved 
away a few years ago. He had two sons, who lived in Russellburg. 

William Snyder, another early settler, lived on the farm afterward occupied 
by Daniel Lounsbury. He removed into what has since become Glade town- 
ship, and there died. John Snyder also lived in that portion of the original 
township of Elk, which has become Glade, and thence went west many years 
ago. Asa Plumb settled early near Cobham Park, where he reached a good 
old age and died. (For a sketch of George A. Cobham, see the history of 
Glade.) 

A. W. S. Bidwell was a brother-in-law of Daniel Pound, and settled at an 
early day on the MacMahon farm, south of the residence of William MacMahon. 
He lived many years on this farm, started a good orchard and raised a great 
deal of excellent fruit. He held several important township offices. He be- 
longed to the Hicksite Quakers. After many years of residence in this town 
he removed to the East. 

John Fitzwater settled on the hill above Cornplanter Run, and east of 
Bidwell's Settlement, where he cleared some sixty acres of land and built the 
first saw- mill on the site now covered by the steam mill of Lewis Ladow. 
Daniel Pound owned a half-interest in this mill, and each part-owner furnished 
his own stock of timber. Fitzwater was a very thorough man, and performed 
all his duties with energy and promptness. The writer of this chapter helped 
in the building of this mill, and operated it half the time for Daniel Pound. 
It was during the construction of this mill, in 1833, that occurred the memor- 
able natural phenomenon, the shower of stars. Fitzwater reared a large family 
of sons and daughters, and finally sold out his mill interests and removed to 
Ohio, none of his family remaining here. Thomas Fitzwater lived a little way 
west of his brother, on a small piece of land, but did not stay long. 

James Headley settled first on fifty acres west of Benjamin Marsh's, and 
after making improvements traded with Peter Jackson and removed to Quaker 
Hill, where he died at an advanced age. Elwood Headley now owns the 
place left by his father. Peter Jackson did not remain in town very long — 
yet long enough to become distinguished locally for the fact that his two little 
boys treed an old bear and captured two or three of her cubs, which they took 
to Warren and sold. This was considered quite a feat for so small boys. 

Isaac Bidwell came from the East and settled on one of the branches of 
Ackley Run, where the family of the late Edward Reynolds now live. Here 
Mr. Bidwell built a small saw-mill and an equally small but serviceable grist- 
mill. He had not made very extensive improvements before leaving for parts 



5o6 History of Warren County. 

unknown to the writer. His was the only grist-mill ever in town. Edward 
Reynolds got the property and made many improvements, besides rebuilding 
and enlarging the saw-mill, and putting in machinery for manufacturing fan- 
ning-mills, wash-boards, etc. He died there a few years ago. 

Edson Hall bought a tract of land just west of the last above named, and 
erected a very respectable saw-mill, which property afterward came into the 
hands of his brother, Chapin Hall, of Warren. Both are long since deceased. 
A Mr. Davis built a saw-mill on the south branch of the run, above the Hall 
mill, which did a good business for those days. Both these mills are within 
the present limits of Pine Grove township, though at the time they were built 
they were in Elk. In this same tract, that was set off to Pine Grove, dwelt 
Joseph and Reuben Jones, brothers, who are now in Pine Grove. 

Eli Northrop cleared a farm on the road leading from the old " Pound 
Meeting-House" to Pine Grove, by the Edson Hall saw-mill, where he died 
many years ago, though I believe his widow is still living. James Headley 
came from New Jersey and settled on a piece of land about one and one-half 
miles west of Benjamin Marsh's, on the Pine Grove road. After making some- 
thing of an improvement he traded farms with Peter Jackson, taking in ex- 
change a piece of land on Cornplanter Run. Many years afterward he made 
a visit to New Jersey on foot, and before starting applied to the writer for a 
supply of codfish, which, upon obtaining, he pronounced good, saying that he 
could save money by eating nothing but codfish and drinking nothing but 
water. During his later years he removed to Qaaker Hill, where he died at 
an advanced age, and was followed some time later by his widow, who had 
also reached years beyond the allotted number. 

Daniel Lounsbury was an early settler from Wayne county, N. Y., and 
bought out William Snyder, on the corner of the road leading from Warren to 
the Allegheny River. He had a family of four sons and three daughters, and 
divided his large farm among the former. He was one of the first road com- 
missioners under the new road law of 1845. He lived to fullness of years and 
was survived several years by his widow. Daniel H. Lounsbury now lives on 
the west end of the old homestead, and is himself getting advanced in years. 
He has been honored with several township offices. He has one son and one 
daughter. A. H. Lounsbury lives on the south side of the corner above men- 
tioned, and is a highly respected citizen. Hiram A. Lounsbury occupies the 
old homestead proper, and sustains well the family reputation for integrity and 
industry. He has several children. Harlow A. Lounsbury has been dead 
several years. His widow occupies a part of the old homestead. 

Asaph A. Bennett came from Plymouth, Mass., in the thirties, and settled 
on a part of the Asa Pound farm, and south of Lounsbury Corners on the 
Warren and Olean road. He was a carpenter by trade. He and his wife 
have been dead for a number of years. Joseph Bennett now lives on his fath- 



Elk Township. 507 



er's farm and that of William Reeves. The old house burned some years ago. 
John McStraw, who satisfies the legal needs of the people hereabouts, and is a 
justice of the peace, lives north of Joseph Bennett. Frederick Kilburn settled 
near and adjoining the place of Mr. Webb. He was from Wayne county, N. 
Y. He and his wife have been dead many years. His one son, Allen R., now 
lives on the old homestead, and has recently put in a saw-mill. A. C. Marsh, 
who has been in town some thirty-three years, came from New York State, 
and settled on the Warren and Olean road on the farm originally settled by 
Samuel Kilburn. Albert Cargill, a peaceable and law abiding citizen, married 
a daughter of Calvin Webb, and settled on a part of his land. 

William Roper was a native of Norfolk, England. He came to Elk in Au- 
gust, 1833, from Canandaigua, N. Y., and cleared a piece of land about two 
miles east of the Warren and Olean road. He afterward traded this tract for 
land where George Nobbs now lives, on the Warren and Olean road. He had 
two sons, James and George, the latter of whom went west, and from all ac- 
counts was killed. William Roper died in 1878 at the age of eighty-three 
years. His surviving son, James, married the eldest daughter of William S. 
Marsh, and now lives on the Hiram Oilman farm. 

John Nobbs came from the Isle of Wight to Ontario county, N. Y., and 
thence to Elk in 1835. He and his wife have been dead many years. They 
had two sons and one daughter. George, one of the sons, still owns the old 
home, but lives on the old Roper place. Martin Frazer came from England 
and settled next east of the Nobbs farm, on the Pine Grove and Allegheny 
road, about four miles west of the Allegheny River. He was an eccentric and 
humorous man, who would have his joke on all occasions. He was very apt 
in his expressions. He went west a number of years ago and there died. 

Owen Feany came originally from County Sligo, Ireland, to the State of 
New York, and, in 1854, thence to this town. He is now some ninety-one 
years of age, and lives near Joseph Clendenning. 

Joseph Clendenning came from Managhan county, Ireland, about 1852 or 
1853, and owns the farm first settled by Elijah Pound, jr. Andrew Clen- 
denning came from Canada and settled on the old Thomas Pound place. Na- 
thaniel Enos formerly lived in Niagara county, N. Y., and settled on the Shu- 
ler place in this township about 1830 or 1831. He built a log house and found 
it convenient to occupy it before he had finished his fire-place. One winter's 
night a panther leaped on to the roof and peered through the hole left for the 
chimney. The tracks were examined by the neighbors next morning. After 
a few years Mr. Enos removed to the place near Clendenning's; of his large 
family only one son, Abraham, who lives on the old place, is now in town, the 
others being scattered or deceased. Mr. Enos was a man of decided individ- 
uality. John I. Striker came from New Jersey and settled near the place after- 
ward occupied by Nathaniel Enos. At a later day he bought lands and a 



5o8 History of Warren County. 

saw- mill in Cattaraugus county, N. Y. Levi Learn came from New York 
State about 1833 or 1834, and settled west of the Striker place, where he 
cleared a large farm. He reared quite a family of sons and daughters, three of 
the former of whom are now living, viz., Lewis, Jacob, and Adam, while one 
daughter is the wife of Andrew Clendenning. Mr. Learn lived to be more 
than eighty years of age. His wife died some years previous to his demise. 
Lewis Learn, by purchase and operation of law, has become the owner of his 
father's farm and the interests of his brothers and sisters, besides the farm for- 
merly owned by John Striker. Jacob Learn lives near the State line, and 
Adam lives southeast of Clendenning's Corners. 

Lewis Mintouge came to Elk from the State of New York and settled near 
the State line, and near the junction of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. 
He held several town offices in Elk, such as school director, auditor, town clerk, 
justice of the peace, etc. He removed to Jamestown and did not remain there 
long. He had one daughter, who married Edward Reynolds, and is still living. 

Zenos Rice came from New York State also, and settled about one mile 
northeast from the saw-mill of Thomas Pound. He cleared quite a farm there 
and then removed to the West. Daniel Gould came from Old Galen, N. Y., in 
1833, and settled near the northwest corner of Elk township. He was the father 
of several sons and two daughters. His youngest daughter became the wife of 
David Holt, brother of the writer, and is still living. Mr. Gould and his wife 
have been dead for a number of years. John Brokaw came from New Jersey 
about 1 83 1 and built a saw-mill on the State Line Run. He did not reside 
within the limits of the township, though his saw-mill was within the town. 
Freeman Fenton owned a saw-mill on the State Line Run, below the Brokaw 
mill. James K. Webb also built a saw- mill on the west branch of State Line 
Run, though it is not very active now. Henry Brown, of Warren, built an- 
other saw-mill on the west branch of State Line Run and west of the Webb 
mill. Orren Hook built a double saw-mill a mile below Corydon on the river, 
which was in charge of Benjamin Marsh for a number of years, and was finally 
washed away by the flood of 1865. 

John Holman came from Kent, England, to Rochester, N. Y., and thence 
to Elk township, where he bought the Daniel Pound homestead. Being of a 
roaming disposition, he did not stay long, but went west in quest of a fortune, 
and finally drifted to Oregon, where after a number of years he died. He had 
a large family of sons and daughters, the eldest of the latter being now Mrs. 
Walling. Mrs. Holman attained an age something beyond eighty years, and 
died. William Holman now lives on the old farm. Mrs. Walling lives on the 
place next south, and has been the postmistress for Germany for many years. 
Jacob Lash came to Elk about 1834 or 1835, and lived in different parts of 
the township. He finally settled permanently on the place adjoining the James 
Roy farm. Mr. Lash reared a large family. He was, in his younger days. 



Elk Township. 509 



one of the merriest of jolly men, but years have somewhat sobered him ; he is 
now about seventy-seven years of age. 

Jason Andrus was a very prominent man. He came from the State of 
New York about 1833, and settled about one mile south from John I. Striker's, 
on a thousand-acre tract. He made extensive improvements, and subsequently 
added another thousand acres to his possessions. He was a surveyor, and 
speculated in land to a considerable degree. He was a successful man. He 
took an active and a prominent part in town affairs, was at different times 
school director, supervisor, justice of the peace, etc. His family consisted of 
two sons and three daughters, only one of whom, Mrs. Owen Ladow, is now 
Hving. Mrs. Andrus died many years ago, and her husband married again. 
His second wife attained an advanced age, and died something more than a 
year ago. 

George F. Dinsmoor, from the State of New York, came to Elk about 1835^ 
and soon after purchased the place now owned and occupied by Jacob Mack. 
Mr. Dinsmoor reared a large family, and died full of years. He was frequently 
called upon to fill town offices, and was capable of holding any office which, 
lay within the gift of the town. ' 

Lewis Ladow, from the State of New York also, married the eldest daugh- 
ter of Joseph Clendenning, 1st, and with his brother purchased the old Fitz- 
water place, and the W. S. Marsh farm. He has held several township offices, 
and has built a large steam saw-mill. At the mouth of Hodge Run is the 
most extensive saw and planing-mill in town, owned by Imel, Powers & 
Shank. The mill does a large business, and is connected with an extensive 
store. Charles Rollins came to Elk a number of years ago, and built and now 
operates a saw-mill on Hodge Run. R. E. Green formerly owned the Enoch 
Gilman farm, and now lives at Big Bend in Glade. 

Peter Holt was born in the township of Billings, twelve miles from Liver- 
pool, Lancashire, England, on the 2d day of April, 181 1. On the day of the 
opening of the Liverpool & Manchester Railroad (which he witnessed), Sep- 
tember 16, 1829, he, with others, took ship at Liverpool, though they did not 
sail for a number of days. After sailing for nearly a week their ship was dis- 
masted, and they were obliged to return and put in at the Cove of Cork, Ire- 
land, where they remasted their ship and fitted her out in new rigging. Their 
next attempt was beautifully successful, and they arrived at New York on the 
20th of November. Thence they took a steamboat to Albany, and journeyed 
on to Buftalo, arriving at John McKinney's a few days previous to Christmas. 
Peter Holt came to Elk in 1833, and helped to put the running gear into the 
Fitzwater & Pound saw-mill. His first vote in this country was cast for Jack- 
son in 1832. He has resided in Elk ever since his arrival here, fifty-three years 
ago. On the 3d of September, 1834, he married Susan B. Howard. In April, 
1834, he bought the Thomas Pound saw-mill. In 1850 he built a saw-mill on 



510 History of Warren County. 

Cornplanter Run, which was burned about six years ago. His wife was a sister 
of the late Edward Howard, of Fredonia, N. Y., and came to Ell< in 1831. 
They have had seven sons and four daughters, five sons and two daughters of 
whom are now Uving. Mrs. Holt was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., on the 
19th of September, 18 14. She witnessed the last leap of Sam Patch over the 
Genesee Falls, at Rochester, N. Y. 

A Partial History of the Indians of Elk Townsliip. — The Indian reserva- 
tion is about three miles south of the New York State line, on the west side of 
the Allegheny River, and contains nearly 1,000 acres, including two islands, 
called Cornplanter Islands. This reservation was a gift by the State of Penn- 
sylvania to John Obeal, alias Cornplanter, for meritorious services during a 
part of the Revolutionary War with Great Britain. Cornplanter was held in 
great esteem by General Washington, from which the writer has read letters 
highly commending the invaluable services of Cornplanter. All this property 
is exempt from taxation of any kind. The county commissioners did at one 
time assess this property, but Cornplanter rebelled and resisted its collection. 
He appealed to the governor of the State, who sustained his position. 

Cornplanter was much opposed to the education of his tribe, regarding the 
indoor book-training of the white people as effeminate and enervating.' Nev- 
ertheless, he did give his eldest son, Henry, something of an education, which 
that enterprising and modern-like young man improved by forging his father's 
name to a check. This act so enraged Cornplanter that he drove his son into 
Canada, and forever after disowned him. The Legislature of the State made an 
appropriation of $1,000 to be used among these Indians for school purposes, 
not more than a hundred dollars of which was to be expended in a year. Sub- 
sequent appropriations have increased this annuity to something like $300 a 
year. The Indians do not take kindly to school. They are very fond of music, 
and at one time had a very respectable band, besides having among them a 
number of good singers. They have a good church, built by the Presbyterians 
in and about Warren. It adds much to the appearance of their town. Some 
years ago the Legislature made an appropriation of several hundred dollars to 
be expended in the erection of a monument to the memory of Cornplanter, 
and Judge S. P. Johnson was placed in the supervision and management of it. 
Judge Johnson has done much for the good of the Indians. They are of a 
peaceable disposition when not in liquor, and have made considerable advance- 
ment in the arts of civilization. It will be better for them, however, when they 
relinquish their unhappy jealousy of each other, which now disturbs all their 
mutual relations in religious and public affairs. Cornplanter died in F"ebruary, 
1836, at the great age of a hundred years or more ; at the time it was alleged 
and believed that his age was one hundred and fourteen years. He had three 
sons and three daughters, viz., Ilcnr_\-, Charles, and William, Polly, Esther, and 
Mrs. Silverheels. 



Sheffield Township. 511 



CHAPTER XLIII. 

HISTORY OF SHEFFIELD TOWNSHIP. 

THIS township was formed from Kinzua, on the 7th of June, 1833. Its 
territory occupies the entire southeastern corner of Warren county, and 
is bounded north by Kinzua and Mead townships, east by_McKean county, 
south by Forest county, and west by the township of Cherry Grove. It is 
very regular in outline, the northern boundary being the only one that devi- 
ates from a straight unbroken line. The land is drained by Tionesta Creek 
and its tributaries, and other small streams. This township, with Mead and 
Cherry Grove, was originally included in the limits of Kinzua township. The 
first town meeting after the town was set off from Kinzua was of a most primi- 
tive description. There were but seven men present at the meeting, which was 
held on the old farm of Timothy Barnes. Their bench consisted of a bob-sled 
turned upside down. There were not men enough present to fill all the offices, 
and those who were there merely agreed upon the persons who should perform 
certain duties, and thus sent in their report. According to the accurate mem- 
ory of Erastus Barnes, the names of these seven were as follows : Timothy 
Barnes, and Erastus Barnes, Samuel Williamson, Stephen Taylor, John Will- 
iamson, John Brown, John Gilson. The only families in town at that time 
were those of Timothy Barnes and John Gilson. 

Early Settlers. — The first tax list for Sheffield, completed in 1834, reveals 
the names of thirty-three property owners in the township, not more than 
twenty of whom were permanent residents. Several of them were mere squat- 
ters, who " folded their tents " and departed upon the slightest occasion, while 
others were men of prominence elsewhere, who in their speculative reach had 
taken hold of land or other property in this vicinity. The list is as follows : 

James Arnett, 225 acres ; Richard Dunham, 225 acres and a saw-mill ; 
Timothy Barnes, 225 acres and a saw-mill ; Asahel Kidder, 225 acres; Henry 
Snapp, 225 ; Melchi Snapp, 225 ; George Jones, 165 ; David Mead, 445 acres 
and two saw-mills; Thaddeus Mead, C. Mastin, 850 acres and a saw-mill; 
John Ingoldsby (Inglesby), John Williamson, 1 12 acres ; Samuel Williams, on 
220 acres ; Silas Lacy, 450 acres ; Nathan Lacy, 650 acres and a saw-mill ; 
Patterson Lacy, Jeremiah Lane, 50 acres ; Stephen Taylor, John Brown, Or- 
rin Stanton, 225 acres; Joseph Carver, Stephen Carver, John Gilson, 225 
acres ; William Barton, Cabot Barlow, James Stedman, Christopher Stranger, 
Daniel Stranger, Lorenzo Mason, James Scott, James Gaty, Henry Snapp, jr., 
Archibald Tanner. The last named — whom everybody knows to have been a 
prominent resident of Warren — was ta.xed for 450 acres of land. In the above 
list we have not mentioned the personal property for which these persons were 



512 History of Warren County. 



assessed, deeming it sufficient to state the amount of their real possessions. 
Below are given a few facts concerning the more prominent of these early- 
settlers. 

James Arnett lived in the northern part of the township, as it was then 
constituted, a little above the present Stoneham. Arnett's Run derived its 
name from him. He was one of the earliest of the settlers in that part of the 
town. He remained there but a few years, however, before removing to the 
West. 

Richard Dunham was one of the most prominent men ever in Sheffield 
township. He died on the 30th of January, 1870, aged sixty-seven years six 
months and twenty-two days. More particular mention is made of him in the 
sketch of M. B. Dunham, appearing in later pages. In May, 1832, he with 
his wife and infant child, in company with the now venerable Adam L. Pratt, 
crossed the Allegheny River at Shipman's Edd)-, assisted by Mathew Morrison. 
The crossing was made with two large canoes lashed together, on which was 
a platform of boards. On this were transported the goods, while Dunham's 
cow and oxen swam the river behind the catamaran. The river being high, 
involved the party in considerable danger. On the south side of the river 
they met with John Inglesby, who had previously settled in the dense forests 
of what is now Cherry Grove township, but had become disheartened and 
moved out again. Dunham employed him as a guide in this wilderness. Their 
road lay over the top of the mountain northwest of the site of the Stoneham 
tannery, near which was a small log house occupied by a Mr. Brown, who had 
about an acre of land partly cleared. Here the party took dinner. The road 
has been described by Mr. Pratt as being little more than a trail, the under- 
brush cut off, and the logs turned to one side far enough to let a sled pass. 
In many places they were compelled to widen the road in order that their 
wagon, the first one that had been over the ground, could pass. Night over- 
took them at what was called the " Blacksley Chopping," about three miles 
southwest of the present site of the Clarendon tannery, where there was a 
chopping of two or three acres, without a clearing or a house. A shelter was 
improvised of hemlock boughs, in which the party passed a comfortable night. 
The next day they came to the house of Inglesby, about half a mile from the 
present residence of Montgomery Farnsworth, in the township of Cherry 
Grove. They remained there several weeks, meantime repairing an old cabin 
on Dunham's land, about a mile north of the Inglesby tract. In June they 
removed to this cabin, chopped and cleared ten acres, sowed it in wheat and 
had an excellent crop in the ensuing season. In 1833 Richard Dunham left 
his place in Cherry Grove and engaged in lumbering a short distance north of 
the present village of Sheffield. He was an energetic and public spirited citi- 
zen, through whose influence it was chiefly that the township was organized 
and schools started. In his later days he removed to Warren, where his wife 
still resides with their son, M. B. Dunham. 



» 




0'^J^^OL.-^r'^>r^^M^ 



Sheffield Township. 513 



Timothy Barnes has been justly styled the pioneer of Sheffield township. 
He was born on the 4th of October, 1786, and died on the loth of October, 
1878. As early as 1828 he emigrated from Italy Hill, Yates county, N. Y., 
and built the first saw-mill on the south branch of the Tionesta Creek. His 
house was about half a mile south of where E. Barnes now lives. This mill he 
operated about two years, and then sold to Nathan E. Lacy. On the 4th of 
July, 1832, he raised another saw-mill on the site of the one now owned and 
operated by his son, Erastus Barnes, at Lower Sheffield. It was then closely 
surrounded by a forest of lofty pines, which stood like serried ranks of grim 
and silent sentinels, frowning upon the intrusion of civilization. One of these 
trees, to drop the simile, at the height of eight feet from the ground, measured 
twenty-three feet in circumference ; another made seventeen saw-logs sixteen 
feet in length. When he first came to his wilderness home, he came from 
Warren, and was obliged to cut his own roads. The journey of fourteen miles 
was accomplished in four days. About thirty-five years ago Erastus Barnes 
built the grist-mill near the old saw-mill, which was the first and only grist- 
mill in town. Timothy Barnes was characterized by his charity and benevo- 
lence — a twofold quality which seems to have been inherited by his son, 
Erastus Barnes. " In the early settlements," Mr. Pratt has written, "food and 
provisions were often scarce, but Barnes permitted no one to want for either 
food or work — he was the ' mainstay ' of the whole country. He spent the 
evening of his days with his son Erastus at the old homestead, surrounded by 
his children and in the enjoyment of all the comforts merited by a well-spent 
hfe." 

It is related that the next winter after Timothy Barnes built his mill he 
went back for his family in the State of New York, while Erastus hired out to 
work in a mill at Warren. During the winter Erastus came back to see how 
the men who worked in his father's mill were improving their time, and how 
they prospered. He made his way through the woods on foot and alone, and 
was followed the entire distance by wolves. The men he found had gone 
hunting and left nothing to eat in the shanty but a few spoonfuls of buckwheat 
and a small piece of venison. Of this young Barnes made a partial meal and 
passed the night alone in this rude hut, with the hungry wolves howling about 
his ears in an ominous manner. On his return to Warren the next day, he 
found the wolves had returned before him. 

Asahel Kidder cleared a farm two miles west of Sheffield Station. After a 
residence there of eight or ten years' duration he removed to Jackson Run, 
two miles north of Warren. His old farm is now used in the production of 
oil. He left no descendants in this town, though he has one son, Nathan, in 
North Warren. 

Henry Snapp was a farmer who lived about half a mile north of Sheffield 
Station, where he remained until his death. He has several descendants in 



514 History of Warren County. 

town now. His son Melchi (who died October I2, 1882, aged about seventy- 
nine years) had charge of the farm in later years. They settled there in 1832. 
William and John Snapp, now respected residents of this township, are sons 
of Melchi. George Jones, an eccentric character, who was accustomed to 
calling on his neighbors for " victuals," of which he devoured inordinate quan- 
tities, and who was known as " Brother Jones," because he styled all his woman 
friends as " Sisters," lived about two miles west of Sheffield Station for a few 
years, and then left for parts unknown. 

David Mead, a shrewd seeker after wealth, lived on the southern line of 
the township, his house standing partly in one town and partly in another. 
It is related as a fact that when a sheriff from Warren county came for his ar- 
rest, he would invariably be found on the Forest county side, and vice versa. 
He had a saw-mill at this place. Some thirty years ago he removed to War- 
renton, O., where he was soon after drowned while attempting to cross the 
Ohio River in a skiff. Thaddeus Mead was a brother of David, who never 
had a fixed residence in town. 

C. C. Mastin was a wealthy man, who came to Warren from Yates county, 
N. Y., but who never lived in Sheffield. He built a large mill three miles be- 
low the forks in the south part of the town, now owned by Frank Henry, and 
which, it is said, has manufactured more lumber than any other mill in Shef- 
field. 

We have already learned something concerning John Inglesby. He oper- 
ated the Mastin mill for a number of years and then moved away. None of 
his descendants now live in town. 

John Williamson, a bachelor, operated the David Mead mill for a time. He 
was here but si.x or eight years. A singular circumstance was that there were 
five brothers of them — Samuel, John, Nathan, and two others whose names 
are not remembered — who all lived bachelor lives and kept bachelor's hall. 

Silas Lacy was born at Bound Brook, N. J., on the 30th day of March, 
1789, and died at Warren on the 27th of December, 1870. Few men of any 
country have lived a more virtuous, consistent, and faultless life than he. At 
the early age of twenty years he became a member of the Presbyterian Church 
6f his native place, and was soon after elevated, by virtue of his pious zeal, to 
the position of ruling elder. In 18 16 he removed to Yates county, N. Y., where 
he was again promoted to the position of elder. He came to Warren county in 
1828, and became one of the pioneers in the roadless and unbroken forest of Shef- 
field township. After enduring privations of cabin life and aiding his brother, 
Nathan E., in the operation of his mill in Sheffield for seven years, he went to 
Warren to pass the remainder of his life. There he resumed and for years en- 
gaged in the business to which he had been trained — that of a hatter. Previous 
to his coming to Warren it had been his custom to take part in religious services 
in Sheffield, and often also walked to Warren to church on the Sabbath. Three 



Sheffield Township. 515 



years before leaving Sheffield he was elected an elder in the Presbyterian 
Church of Warren. This office he held by successive re-elections until his 
death. In February, 1809, he married Nancy Parker, of New Jersey, who 
survived him two years. They had eleven children, only one of whom is de- 
ceased. One of the daughters is now the wife of Peter McKinney, of Pitts- 
field township. 

Jeremiah Lane settled on the farm next south of the present residence of 
Erastus Barnes, and built the house which stands there to this day. He mar- 
ried a daughter of Deacon Silas Lacy, and now lives in Jamestown, N. Y., a 
very old man. He went there at least thirty-five years ago. Not far from the 
year 1840 he built a saw-mill on the east branch of the Tionesta, which has 
long since disappeared, and the site of which is now a part of an oil field. 

Stephen Taylor was born December 4, 1796, and at the time of his resi- 
dence in Sheffield, a single man, worked out for Timothy Barnes, and after- 
ward for Erastus Barnes. He it was who came first with Timothy Barnes and 
helped to cut the roads through the forest. He also built the mill. At a later 
day he was the mail carrier for this part of the country. He finally married, 
and on the 13th of August, 1878, died at the home of his son, Neri, in Forest 
county. He was a soldier of the War of 1812. 

John Brown, the father of the famous ornamental penman, Delavan Brown, 
who was born in Sheffield, came to the town to reside on the west bank of the 
Tionesta in 1832, the year in which the tide of immigration in early days had 
reached the flood. He afterward moved to Chautauqua county, N. Y., where 
he died. 

Orrin L. Stanton settled about the same time about on the present site of 
Barnes Station, in Lower Sheffield, where he kept the first store and the first 
post-office in town. The Warren and Ridgeway turnpike was built by the State, 
and commenced in the summer 1832. Orrin Stanton built the first section of 
it, from the summit north of Stoneham to the river, and it was probably this 
business which brought to his notice the desirability of living in this fertile 
region. It is said that for a time he kept the little hotel in Warren which 
stood on the site of the present Carver House. He afterward removed to 
Smethport and thence to Kinzua, where he now has relatives and descendants. 
While he was postmaster the mail was carried once a week between Warren 
and Ridgeway, and his brother, Daniel Stanton, was the carrier. 

Joseph Carver operated the mill of Timothy Barnes, and rented it a year 
or two. Stephen Carver was his brother and partner in the mill. After a 
residence here of two or three years they removed to Warren. Stephen Car- 
ver built and named the Carver House in that place. 

John Gilson was one of the most prominent men that have figured in the 
history of Sheffield. He was born on the 20th of May, 1797, and died June 
17, 1884. During his residence in this township he lived on the site of Gilson 



5i6 History of Warren County. 

Station, which derived its name from his descendants. His widow still resides 
in town. Four sons also live here, Rufus, Curtis, James, and John. Carver 
Gilson, another son, named after the Carver family, now lives near Fredonia, 
N. Y. One who is in every way competent to state the facts, writes thus con- 
cerning the life in this county of the subject of this notice : 

" John Gilson, sr., brought his family on a raft from Olean to Warren the 
day John, jr., was six years old. (This must have been on May 20, 1803.) 
They lived in an old storehouse that stood where the Carver House now 
stands, until they put up a log house — one of the first families to settle in 
Warren. John was about fourteen years old when his father died, leaving him 
and his sisters to support their mother, who died four or five years later, and 
was the first person buried in Warren. The father was buried about three 
miles up the Conewango Creek. John, jr., was the youngest of a family of 
ten children. While he was supporting his mother he worked for a man by 
the name of Reese (who lived three miles below Warren) twenty- one days for 
a barrel of flour, cutting cord wood at the rate of four cords a day. The place 
now called Sheffield was then called ' Forks of Tionesta,' and he helped to 
run the lands through the region for miles around. He was then about six- 
teen years old. He was with Colonel Dale, surveying, who advised and helped 
him to buy the lot 358, which was covered with fine pine timber. He made 
his home in Warren most of the time. He followed the river, rafting, canoe- 
ing, and boating, until he was thirty years old. There is not a mile of the 
river bank between Warren and Pittsburgh that he has not slept on in his 
trips. He began work at the ' Forks' in January, 1820. He chopped about 
an acre, and put up a plank house twelve feet by sixteen in dimensions. On 
the lOth of February he married and came to live in this house the same 
week, making the journey with horses and sleighs on the ice, there being no 
roads. In April he went to Franklin to buy a yoke of oxen, and brought 
back seed potatoes and oats on a sled. From lack of roads his progress was 
slow, and he was overtaken by night in the forest. Wolves and owls were his 
company. He was gone just a week, while his young wife was left alone all 
that time. The only family living within ten miles of his home was that of 
Mr. Barnes, who had moved here just a week before. Asa Barnes, aged about 
sixteen years, stayed in the house with her nights, while she passed much of 
her time during the long days listening to the twittering of winter birds, and 
fishing. She caught many a trout weighing a pound and a pound and a half. 
The wolves kept up their howling about every night. When Mr. Gilson 
reached home he set about clearing his land, after doing which he was at a 
loss for a drag. He finally succeeded in constructing one, teeth and all of 
wood. When the oxen first began to draw the drag, it caught for a second on 
some roots, and then bounded against the oxen's heels, which ran as if for life. 
John came in the house laughing, and said he thought his oxen were pos- 



Sheffield Township. 517 



sessed of the evil spirit. The first year he raised turnips, potatoes, and oats 
enough to keep a yoke of cattle and a cow. Winters he passed in cutting 
square timber and running it down the Tionesta, while he passed his summers 
in clearing and cultivating land. There was about here a great amount of 
land sold for taxes, several lots of which he bid off for the sake of the timber. 
In 1844 he built a saw-mill and ran his lumber to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and 
Louisville, supporting his family in this manner until 1865, when he sold out 
all but the improved lands. These he divided between three sons who were 
married, and took the rest of the family to Fredonia, Chautauqua county, N. 
Y., where he bought a farm. He stayed there fourteen years, and was then 
compelled, on account of poor health, to return to his old home in Sheffield, 
where he bought half an acre of land and built Jiimself a house. He buried 
five children in the Sheffield cemetery. Electa died at the age of six years, 
Sarah at the age of two, John H. at ten, Gilbert at two, while George S. 
enlisted in the War of the Rebellion and was killed at the battle of Gaines's 
Mills, when twenty years of age." 

The above paragraphs were taken from an interesting letter from Mrs. Gil- 
son, the widow of the subject of this notice, who also writes : " When we first 
moved here to the ' Forks ' of the Tionesta Creek, our house stood near the 
bank of the creek. There was a plenty of wild game at that time. We could 
very often see deer swimming in the creek. John could kill one almost any 
time. We frequently saw them feeding with the cattle. There were also 
wolves and bears in abundance. He killed several bears, and caught several 
wolves in steel traps, for the scalps of each one of which he received a bounty 
of twelve dollars. 

" We had visitors every fall. The Indians, who came every fall to hunt, 
camped around us. I often went to see them in their camps, and buy baskets. 
The first fall after we came here I saw wild turkey tracks in the first snow that 
fell ; they were quite near the house ; I told John I thought I could catch 
one with a trap, and accordingly set one baited with oats. The next morning 
I heard the chains rattling, and on going to the trap found a fine fat turkey 
struggling for liberty ; I broke his neck with a stick. After the Warren and 
Ridgeway turnpike was opened we built a new house, back on the road, large 
enough for a hotel. One day, while the men were at work on the house, a 
deer came swimming up the creek. I seized a gun, and resting it on a pile of 
boards, shot and killed it. The men dressed it. That night we heard a mourn- 
ful howling down the creek. John set a steel trap next morning, baited with 
the deer's head, and we soon caught a wolf We supposed that the wolves 
Jiad driven the deer down the river. At that time there was no store nor gro- 
cery nearer than Warren. As soon as the road was finished the farmers from 
the State of New York began teaming through here, and carried everything 
from a spool of thread to a barrel of flour. We could buy everything we 



5i8 History of Warren County. 

wanted of them. They carried provisions to the iron country and came back 
loaded with iron. After a time we commenced keeping hotel and post-office, 
remaining in the hotel twelve or fourteen years." ^ 

James T. Osgood was born in Rockingham county, N. H., on the lOth of 
October, 1808. He is a descendant of William Osgood, one of three brothers 
who came from England in 1636 and settled in Southern New Hampshire. 
• Chase Osgood, father of James, settled still farther in the interior. James Os- 
good came to Sheffield township in 1848, and has been one of the justices of 
the peace in town for the last thirty-three consecutive years. His business for 
the first few years in Sheffield was shoemaking. In February, 1832, he mar- 
ried Jane, a daughter of Jacob Cole, of Sussex county, N. J., who is living yet. 
They have had ten children, six of whom, four daughters and two sons, are 
still living. Both sons. Chase and Henry, were in the army during the last 
war. When he came here in 1848 the surface of the township was covered 
almost entirely with a dense growth of pine, mingled with considerable hem- 
lock timber. The lumber business was then at about its most active period. 
It lasted with almost equal activity until about i860, and since then has some- 
what declined, though it is even now by no means extinct. The pine was 
about all gone, however, by the close of the last war. 

In the winter of 1864, after J. F. Schoellkopf, of Buffalo, had purchased 
some land of Daniel D. Bowers and of John Gilson, an oil excitement was 
created, and all the rest of the property about where the village of Sheffield 
now stands was sold for the purpose of producing oil. Lands of Elias Kings- 
ley, Elihu Kingsley, John Russell, Stephen Andrews, Captain Wallace, and 
James T. Osgood were sold to non-residents, who intended to drill for oil. 
Drilling was done, but by reason of the ignorance then prevailing concerning 
the proper method of testing, no oil was discovered, and the lands which had 
so recently enriched the vendors and impoverished the vendees, were sold for 
nominal prices or for taxes. This was in the winter of 1865. No paying well 
was drilled until 188 1, when the firm of Crary, Sigel & Co., consisting of 
Walter HortoH, Jerry Crary, and Charles Sigel as members, associated with 
James Magee, of Warren, started a well with a production of about fifty bar- 
rels a day, which is still producing about five barrels a day. There are now 
eleven wells on what is known as the Donaldson farm, and twenty-three wells 
on adjoining lands. Other oil firms here now are Melvin, Walker & Howe, 
Clark & Armor, the Union Oil Company, and many others. The first gas 
was struck by W. W. Hague, of Tidioute, in 1875 on lands of Horton, Crary 
& Co. The same well now furnishes the town with gas and has shown no 
diminution since the end of the first six months. Among many private gas 
wells may be mentioned those of Erastus Barnes and Mrs. L. M. Barnes. 

' Allhoujjh ihis letter was not written to be published verbatim, it contained so vivid a description 
of the mode of living in those pioneer times, that we could not refrain from publishing it in almost the 
form in which it was written. 



Sheffield Township. 519 



It will be seen that these various industries, coupled with the extensive 
tanning business which will soon be mentioned more at length, have conspired 
to keep the agricultural resources of the township from emerging from their 
rudimentary state. The soil of the town is well adapted for some kinds of 
farming, especially the raising of grain and fruit, but not particularly fitted for 
dairying. The lowlands are composed of a sandy loam, and the uplands of a 
gravelly clay. The decline of the lumber interest has conduced to develop an 
interest in the agricultural possibilities of the town, and farming has become 
one of the infant industries of the region. 

Municipal History. — Contrary to the natural supposition of a strange vis- 
itor to the township, the fact is that the little settlement called Lower Sheffield, 
at Barnes Station, is by far the oldest village in the township, and was indeed 
looked upon as the only village in the town for many years before it con- 
ceived the probability of having the present Sheffield village for a rival. It 
was here that Stanton first sold goods, and that Gilson first kept tavern. In 
1839 John Gilson built this tavern, which, after twelve or fourteen years, went 
into the hands of George Messenger. His successors have been Nathan Branch, 
to 1850; Asa H. Barnes until 1868 ; various lessees under Asa Barnes until 
1876; Erastus Barnes has since owned and rented it. The present lessee is 
James Marley. 

It was here, too, as we have seen, that the first mills in town — those of 
Timothy Barnes — were built. In 1850 Erastus Barnes started a store oppo- 
site his present residence. He drew his goods by team from Dunkirk. This 
store was kept open for ten years. The only store now kept here is that of 
J. E. Berkheimer, who has been here since 188 1, and who carries stock worth 
about $3,000. (At the present writing it is learned that Mr. Berkheimer is 
now closing his store.) About five years ago Selkirk Newell, of Syracuse, N. 
v., took a contract from Erastus Barnes for ten acres of land, on which he 
proposed to drill for oil. Instead of finding oil he found large quantities of 
gas. Nolan & Boardman, from New York State, then purchased four acres 
of Mr. Barnes for the manufacture of lamp-black. They erected a long iron 
building for this purpose, and have now demonstrated the success of their 
scheme of converting the gas into lamp-black of a superior quality. These, 
with the mills of Erastus Barnes, constitute the present business interests of 
Lower Sheffield. 

The village of Sheffield owes its origin and growth to the enterprise of the 
several firms now engaged in the extensive tanneries of the place. From about 
1836 to 1864 the land, or the larger part of it, now embraced within the 
limits of Sheffield village, was owned by Daniel D. Bowers, a native of Ver- 
mont, who, soon after the latter date, removed to Missouri and there died. 
In 1864 W. & W. Horton purchased his land, and three years later the firm 
of Horton, Crary & Co. was formed and built one tannery. In 1871 J. McNair 



520 History of Warren County. 

& Co. bought the land and saw-mills of I. V. Stone, and in 1878 built a tan- 
nery on the site, in which Horton, Crary & Co. have a controlling interest. 
About the time of the building of the tannery first above mentioned, J. F. 
Schoellkopf, of Buffalo, built a tannery here, in which Horton, Crary & Co. 
have also obtained a controlling interest. Horton, Crary & Co. have also three 
saw-mills in the village, and produce large quantities of lumber. Their income 
from the production of sole leather amounts to some $2,500,000 per annum. 
They are further largely interested in the production of oil, having wells in 
this township — at Henry's Mills, at Donaldson's, and near Farnsworth's Siding 
— which altogether produce about 18,000 barrels a month. This village is 
also the center of the great gas-producing district, in which Horton, Crary & 
Co. have extensive interests. This firm own land in this and adjoining counties, 
for their varied interests, amounting to about 50,000 acres. They built the 
Tionesta Valley Railroad in i88i, and afterward bought out the Cherry Grove 
and Garfield Railroad, which was built by an eastern company. The mem- 
bers of this company are Webb Horton, H. H. Crary, Walter Horton, Jerry 
Crary, George Horton, Isaac Horton, and George Dickinson. They employ 
nearly or quite 3,000 hands, most of whom are Swedes and Germans, and re- 
side in this village. The members of the firm of Schoellkopf, Horton & Co. 
are J. F. Schoellkopf, sr., Charles Sigel, and Horton, Crary & Co. The mem- 
bers of the firm of John McNair & Co. are John McNair, C. W. R. Radeker, 
and Horton, Crary & Co. The principal part of the business done by this en- 
terprising firm of Horton Crary & Co. is export trade. They manufacture 
nothing but hemlock sole leather. The hides are almost entirely from South 
America. Of course the chief motive which induced them to locate here was 
the dense growth of hemlock in the forests. To their industrious energy, and 
that of their neighboring companies, is due the thrift and growth of the village 
of Sheffield. 1 

The Horton family came here from Sullivan county, N. Y. They are de- 
scended from Barnabas Horton, who came to this country from England in 
1632, in the good ship SzvaUozv, and settled on Long Island. H. H. Crary, 
and indeed all the members of the firm of Horton, Crary & Co., except George 
Dickinson, are natives of Sullivan county, N. Y. Mr. Dickinson is from Del- 
aware county, N. V. 

Daniel D. Bowers, mentioned above, was born in Vermont, it is said, about 
1803, and came to Sheffield not far from 1836. He settled about on the site 
of the present house of Webb Horton, and, besides operating a saw-mill, kept 
a tavern there under the name of the Forest House until about 1867. The 
house was then converted into a boarding-house for the employees of the tan- 
ning company, and thus used it burned about 1879. 

'The DoiiaUlsoM tract, before mentioned, embraces the land once owned by Andrew Donaldson in 
the southern p.irt of the township. He was a farmer and lumberman, and came here about 1845. His 
widow now occupies a part of the old farm. He died .Vugust 17, 1867, aged sixty- six years. 



Sheffield Township. 521 



About the time that Horton, Crary & Co. came to Sheffield, Amos Lee, 
a quondam butcher and cattle dealer, also arrived, and about 1869 built the 
Lee House, which he kept until his death, in 1875. In 1873 he enlarged it. 
During his life it was a temperance house. The next proprietor was Charles 
Lamkin, who did not own the property, however, and who gave place in 1884 
to the present proprietor and owner, Joseph Clinton. It is now one of the best 
of hotels. It has about thirty rooms, and is unusually spacious and convenient, 
as it was erected apparently for the benefit of families rather than transient 
individuals. 

The mercantile history of the village of Sheffield also properly begins at 
the year 1864. W. & W. Horton then started a store in connection with 
their other business, and in the following year put up the block that now faces 
the railroad. At that time Chase Osgood was keeping a store at Lower Shef- 
field. In 1867 Horton, Crary & Co. succeeded W. & W. Horton. They now 
carry stock valued by one of their firm at $175,000 in all the departments. 
They have stores in three separate blocks, and deal in all kinds of goods, gro- 
ceries, dry goods and furnishing goods, furniture, hardware, boots and shoes,, 
drugs, etc. E. L. Branch also began to deal in groceries about ten years ago, 
and in the spring of 1886 took into partnership Orris Hall. Morris Einstein 
deals in general merchandise, and has been in buiness here about eight years. 
F. D. Austin has dealt in groceries about six years. The clothing store of 
Levi Epstein is about two years of age. Hull & Siegfried have traded in drugs 
since the spring of 1885 ; Frank Johnson & Brother in groceries since the 
spring of 1886. 

The planing and saw-mill of George R. Wood has been under the pro- 
prietorship of Mr. Wood about ten years. It was formerly operated by Wood 
& Culbertson. 

In June, 1885, an opera-house was opened by a stock company, who had 
built it, and promised to be a thing of profit and pleasure to the citizens. 
The cost of building it has been stated to the writer to have been about 
$12,000. In May, 1886, this building burned. 

Post-offices. — The first post-office in town was at Lower Sheffield, though 
it was established by the appointment of Orrin Stanton, about 1834 or 1835, 
under the name of Sheffield. About 1841 John Gilson was appointed, and 
had the office several years at his house. George Messenger succeeded him. 
James T. Osgood then held the office until 1853, when he was elected justice 
of the peace, and was succeeded in the post-office by Asa H. Barnes. After 
several years he had Mr. Osgood appointed his deputy, and requested him to 
keep the office. In 1873 Erastus Barnes was appointed postmaster, though 
since his appointment Mr. Osgood has continued to act in his stead. For 
some years previous to 1864 an office had been opened at Dunham's, called 
West Sheffield, and presided over by Richard Dunham. The Philadelphia and 



522 History of Warren County. 

Erie Railroad was opened in the winter of 1865, and in tiie following year the 
office of West Sheffield was discontinued and re-established as Sheffield (while 
the old Sheffield office was changed to Barnes), with Webb Horton as post- 
master. In 1868 Jerry Crary was appointed postmaster at this point, and has 
ever since continued in this office. 

Schools and Cliurchcs. — The present school-house at Barnes Station was 
built in 1883. On this site, about 1 840, Erastus Barnes and John Gilson built 
a school-house. The first school in town was taught in this part of the town 
in 1833, by Miss Milford. The next was taught by Leverett Barnes. In the 
spring of 1835 Richard Dunham, Melchi Snapp, and Adam L. Pratt built a 
school-house in the woods near the spot where Mr. Armstrong's barn now 
stands. There Miss Hannah Snapp taught the ensuing year, and the winter 
terms of 1834 and 1835 were taught by Adam L. Pratt. About 1852 or 1853 
the township built a larger school-house on the site of the one formerly erected 
by Barnes and Gilson, and which is now used as a union church in Lower 
Sheffield, though it has been removed from its old site. In this school are 
now in attendance about one hundred pupils. There are now in the entire 
township about six separate schools, two in the Farnsworth neighborhood, one 
in the western part of the town, one at Barnes, one near Frank Henry's mill, 
and the graded school at Sheffield village, which was built in 1876, burned in 
1877, and immediately rebuilt, having been fully insured. It has five depart- 
ments. Its average attendance is stated to be about 250. The principal is 
M. A. Rigg. 

The first organized church in town was of the Methodist Episcopal denomi- 
nation, and was formed in the Barnes neighborhood about fifty years ago. 
Erastus Barnes, though not a member of any denomination, recognized the 
desirability of having a church in the town, and obtained a good subscription 
list, which he headed himself Silas Lacy, Jeremiah Lane, Melchi Snapp, and 
Richard Dunham were also very prominent and active in its organization and 
support. Rev. Hallcck preached the first year, while residing in Warren. 
Services were held once in four weeks in the school-house. About three years 
ago a Free Methodist Church was organized here, and a house of worship was 
erected in the summer of 1886. The pastor is Rev. Mr. Gaines. 

The first church to be built in Sheffield village was the Methodist Episco- 
pal, which was erected in 1867, and burned in the winter of 1876-77. It was 
originally built through the efforts of Richard Dunham and Horton, Crary & 
Co. After the fire, the firm just named rebuilt it at once at a cost of about 
$7,000, and presented it to the Methodist denomination. The present pastor 
is Rev. Mr. Darling. About 1877 the Roman Catholics built a church here, 
which is attended by Father de la Roque, of Warren. There is a Free Metho- 
dist Church also at I'arnsworth's. 

The Evangelical Lutheran Bethania Church (Swedish), located at Sheffield 



Freehold Township. 523 



village, was permanently organized in 1882. The first meeting was held on 
the 30th of June, 1882, in the private house of John Monson. Rev. T. Fran- 
yen, of Kane, presided, and Rev. N. G. Johnson, of Warren, acted as secre- 
tary. The original members were J. A. Anundson, John Monson, J. P. Gus- 
tafson, Eric Peterson, Olof Peterson, C. G. Bergman, Otto Lagerquist, James 
Christiansen, T. A. Rydeberg, Andrew Wermblad, and Carl Otto Lang. The 
church edifice was erected in 1883 at a cost of about $2,500 — framed. The 
first pastor was Rev. J. A. Rinell, for 1883 and 1884. At present the congre- 
gation is under the care of R. A. Thompson, a student of Aug. College and 
Theological Seminary, of Rock Island, 111. The present membership of this 
church numbers sixty, while the church property is valued at about $3,000. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 

HISTORY OF FREEHOLD TOWNSHir. 

THE township of Freehold was formed from Columbus and Sugar Grove 
on the 3d of September, 1833. ^^ contains about thirty-five square miles, 
or something more than twenty-two thousand acres. It is in the northern tier 
of Warren county townships, and is bounded north by Chautauqua county N. 
Y., east by Sugar Grove township in this county, south by Pittsfield and a 
corner of Spring Creek, and west by Columbus. The surface of the town is 
uneven and, along the streams and water courses, broken and occasionally even 
precipitous. It was originally covered with a heavy growth of valuable timber 
such as pine, oak, hemlock, chestnut, ash, and whitewood. The pine was floated 
in rafts down the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, while the oak was formerly 
manufactured into oil barrels, but more recently into butter-tubs and firkins, 
and the whitewood into household furniture of different kinds. The soil is 
generally a gravelly loam of good quality and very productive. The fruits, 
especially apples, are raised here in good quantities. 

The Little Brokenstraw Creek flows in a southeasterly direction through 
the township, furnishing an abundant and continuous water supply. Along its 
banks five saw-mills and one grist-mill have been built; the first in 181 5 and 
the last in 1886. 

The road leading from Pittsfield through Wrightsville and Lottsville to the 
New York State line was opened in 1 8 14, while the old country road, as it 
was known for a number of years, from Owen's Ferry on the Conewango 
Creek, near the State line between New York and Pennsylvania, to Lottsville 
by way of Sugar Grove, was partly opened from Sugar Grove to Lottsville in 
34 



524 History of VVarrex County. 

1816, trees and underbrush being cut out so that an ox team and sled could 
pass over it. 

The territory of Freehold remained practically unbroken by the a.\ of the 
pioneer until about 1802, when James Irvine and others came in, though Mr. 
Irvine was the only one who remained permanently. The fearful and discour- 
aging privations of that early day, the perils and hardships that encompassed 
him who would make his home in the wilderness were so certain and severe 
that few could resist them long, but either died early from the exposures and 
fatigues, or removed to more congenial climes. James Irvine was born in North- 
umberland county. Pa., about 1773 or 1774, and died at Wrightsville in 1849. 
He was half brother to Guy C. Irvine, of Pine Grove, and Andrew Irvine, of 
Glade. He settled on the west side of the creek at Wrightsville, in September, 
1802, where he built the first house this side of Pittsfield. During the rest of 
his life, which he passed here, he was a prominent lumberman and farmer of 
this region, and held a number of the township offices. He was a justice of 
the peace almost from the beginning until that office was made elective. Sam- 
uel Irvine, who came to his present farm near Wrightsville from Pine Grove 
about forty years ago, married a daughter of James Irvine, by whom he has 
had six children — all living. At the present writing Mrs. Samuel Irvine is liv- 
ing, though she is very ill. 

The next permanent settler was probably Harmones Lott, who came from 
his home in Long Island, N. Y., in 1814, and in the following year removed to 
the present site of Lottsville, which derived its name from his family, and on 
the place now occupied by Mrs. A. M. Smith. Harmones Lott died some time 
previous to 1840 at an advanced age. Hewlett Lott, one of his sons, built the 
house (1847 or 1848) now occupied by Mrs. Smith (his daughter), and came to 
the place with his father. He was born on the 25th of September, 1793, on 
Long Island, and died February 16, 1868, in this township. His wife, Maria, 
daughter of A. D. Ditmars, of Sugar Grove, died December 18, 1 880, aged 
eighty-seven years. The Lott family have always been prominent in both 
Lottsville village and Freehold township. Hewlett Lott was the first mer- 
chant in the township, though he relinquished that pursuit before the year 
1830. His store building was converted into a school-house, which stood on 
the corner just opposite the present residence of Mrs. Smith. His brother, 
Daniel Lott, was also one of the leading men of the township for many years. 
He came with the rest of the family in 181 5, when he was about eleven years 
of age, and remained in town until his death on the 24th of July, 1886, at the 
ripe age of eighty- two years six months and twenty-four days. On the 12th 
of January, 1827, he married Sally, daughter of William Row, who survives 
him. They had five children, of whom two, Charles and Stephen, are still liv- 
ing. Daniel Lott was a farmer, and for fifty years previous to his death he 
was also a preacher of vigor and force in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



Freehold Township. 525 



He was ten years a justice of the peace in Freehold, and during two winters 
represented his district ably in the Legislature at Harrisburg. In all the ques- 
tions which affect the morality, peace, or prosperity of the Commonwealth or 
community, he was found on the side of right, his tendency being rather to 
carry those principles too far, than to be too lax in the interpretation and exe- 
cution of them. He was a believer in temperance, and during the long years 
of anti-slavery agitation he was an outspoken Abolitionist. For some time 
previous to his death he had accepted the doctrines of spiritualism, and under 
the inspiration of his feverish meditations, at night chiefly, he wrote several 
treatises on the subject, such as "The War in Heaven," "John Wesley and 
Modern Spiritualism, " etc., believing himself to be under the direction of the 
unsubstantial inhabitants of the invisible world. A short time before he died, 
however, he renounced this faith, pronouncing it an injurious delusion. 

William Row, the father of Mrs. Daniel Lott, was also an early settler in 
Freehold. He came from Broome county, N. Y., in 1823, with his family, 
and settled about three miles west of Lottsville in what is known as the Mon- 
roe neighborhood. Mr. Row was a farmer and a blacksmith, and had the 
ingenuity sufficient to make shoes for the members of his own family. He 
died about the year 1852 at a very advanced age. His wife had preceded him 
several years at the age of sixty-seven years. Five of his children are now 
living, although only three of them are in this county : Mrs. Lott, at Lotts- 
ville ; John, at Bear Lake ; and Edmund, at Columbus. 

In 1815 and 18 16, owing to the efforts of Agent Sackett, of the Holland 
Land Company, about thirty families emigrated from Oneida county, N. Y., 
to this part of Pennsylvania, most of whom settled in Sugar Grove and Pine 
Grove, although several families made their homes in Freehold. Among them 
was John Tuttle, who settled on the site of the village of Wrightsville, and for 
many years had a wagon shop in the building in that village now used as a 
blacksmith's shop. Mr. Tuttle was born in the year 1771, and was therefore 
about forty-four years of age when he came to Wrightsville. He was a man 
of worth, well fitted to act the part of a pioneer in an undeveloped country. 
He died on the 30th of January, 1855. 

Another early settler who lent force to the community by the worth of his 
character was Nathan Abbott. He was born in 1765, and as early as 18 16 
settled at the Four Corners between Lottsville and Wrightsville. He was a 
farmer and also engaged, as did nearly all the early farmers who cleared their 
own farms, in lumbering. He died on the 3d of September, 1841, aged sev- 
enty-six years and five days, and was followed, on the 29th of March, 1847, 
by his wife, Anna, who had reached the age of seventy-four years seven 
months and nine days. Mr. Abbott's location made it convenient for him to 
entertain travelers, and he opened a public house, which benefited the lumber- 
men more than any other class of travelers. Among other early settlers 



526 History of Warren County. 

whose arrival probably antedates 1820 by several years, may be named Isaac 
L. Fitch, who settled in the southern part of Lottsville, and engaged in farm- 
ing until his death some time previous to 1825 ; Joel Hill, a bachelor, who 
lived much of the time with Hewlett Lott ; James Phillis who came early to 
Wrightsville from Columbus, married a daughter of James Irvine, and passed 
his time farming and hunting; and William Arthurs, or Arters, who occupied 
a plank house in Wrightsville previous to 1820, and later, also, and operated 
the mills in that place. Jared Boardman was an early settler in Wrightsville, 
and for years kept a tavern in the large block opposite the saw-mill. He was 
later than those who have been before mentioned, however, as his birth took 
place on the 8th of September, 1817, and his death on the 5th of June, 1882. 
He was a soldier in the last war, in Company D, Third Artillery, One Hun- 
dred and Fifty-second Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. 

Joshua Wright, from whom Wrightsville derives its name, came to the site 
of this village in 182 1 from near Rochester, N. Y. His house stood near the 
site of the present saw-mill. There were then only two houses on the ground 
now covered by the village. A grist and saw-mill were operated by William 
Arthurs. They were built a number of years previously by Peter Burgett 
Joshua Wright died on the 19th of January, 1842, aged seventy years and four 
months. From the time of his arrival here until his death he operated the 
grist-mill, and also ran the saw-mill until it burned a year or two after he came, 
whereupon his sons, Lester and Jude, rebuilt and operated it for many years. 
Lester Wright was born in Massachusetts on the 20th of August, 1 804, and 
went to Otisco, N. Y., when an infant. At the age of six years he was taken 
by his parents to Genesee, N. Y., and when he was sixteen accompanied them 
to Wrightsville, as it has since been called. They reached here on the i6th of 
July. At that time there was hardly an acre of tillable land in one spot in the 
entire township of Freehold, as now constituted. Trees had been extensively 
felled, but the farmers had been more industrious to reap the profits of lum- 
bering than of clearing the land. The timber was principally beech and maple, 
with considerable pine scattered through the forests. The flat south of Wrights- 
ville had been partly cleared and was occupied in 1821 by Stephen Burgett. 
The few roads were extremely primitive and rough, being cut out barely enough 
to permit the passage of teams. Lottsville had been laid out as a village by 
the members of the Lott family, and had been named. Its streets were 100 
feet wide. Since that time Wrightsville has passed through all the events of 
a growing and declining village. Lester Wright started the first store in the 
place about 1832, on the site of the present meat- market. As he was engaged 
during the working hours of the day in his mill, he attended to the store only 
mornings and evenings. About 1837 ^^ enlarged this branch of his business, 
and in 184O built the large block now occupied by his son, Philander Wright. 
Lester Wright has been proprietor of this store from the beginning, almost 



Freehold Township. 527 



without interruption, to the present. At the close of the war, in which his son 
took an active part, he took him into partnership with himself — a relation 
which has continued ever since. They keep on hand a good stock of goods. 

Jude Wright, brother of Lester, died on the I2th of March, 1871, aged 
sixty-eight years seven months and twenty days. Ouartus Wright, another 
brother of Lester, ten years his junior, was also in the mercantile business in 
Wrightsville for some time subsequent to 1840. He and Lester operated the 
saw-mill. Quartus now resides in Vineland, N. J., where he removed about 
1864 or 1865, and since his departure his son, Newton Wright, has had sole 
charge and ownership of all the mills, both the grist and saw- mills. The first 
tavern in Wrightsville was kept by Chauncey Messenger, who built the pres- 
ent hotel many years ago. The site was occupied at an earlier date by Ed- 
ward Jones. After Messenger left the hotel, Calvin Wright, son of Jude, kept 
it for two years. A number of years later, in 1861, Philo Wright bought the 
property, and now owns and has charge of it. 

\\'rightsville has seen very lively times. There have been as many as 
seven stores open in this place at one time. Just previous to the last war was 
perhaps its most thrifty period. As long as lumber was abundant it was one 
of the leading villages of the county. As many as 2,000,000 boards have gone 
over the dam there in a season. Then in the height of the season forty or 
fifty hands would come daily from neighboring towns to " run boards." At 
present Chauncey Messenger has a store in the village, though he deals prin- 
cipally in wool. He has been in the mercantile business in town almost as 
long as Mr. Wright, and is one of the most worthy and prominent men in the 
county. His son, Alfred, keeps another store, and a good one. Albert 
Wright has also a store here, which he has presided over about two years. 

The first postmaster in Wrightsville was Cornwell Giftbrd, appointed about 
thirty years ago. Lester Wright has been postmaster, as have also his sons, 
Philander and Philo. The present incumbent is John Smallman, who received 
his appointment from the present administration. 

As in most other towns the first religious meetings held hereabouts were 
called from house to house as convenience dictated. The members and allies 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church built a house of worship here some forty 
years ago. Their pastor now is Rev. J. P. Burns, who attends from Bear Lake. 
There was also at one time a P'ree Will Baptist Church here, but it is deceased. 

Darius Cooper was born in Shoreham, Addison county, Vt, in 1797. When 
he was but seven years of age his father died, and when he was thirteen his 
mother died also, and he was left with no money and but few friends. He 
chose Eli Smith for a guardian, and lived with him nine years. He then, at^ 
at the age of twenty-two years, resolved to take a journey into the West, and 
traveled successively to New York, Ohio, Michigan, and Upper Canada. He 
then returned to Vermont, but after a few days started on another journey to 



A 



J 



528 History of Warren County. 

Quebec and through Lower Canada, and back to Vermont, taking up in this 
way about a year. About this time he was married to Martha Tower, shortly 
after which he removed to Florence, N. Y., where he purchased 125 acres of 
land and lived upon it two years. The title to this property being defective 
through some oversight he was compelled to use his personal property to pay 
his debts. He was thus practically destitute, but his courage did not forsake 
him. He employed a man to remove him again to Vermont, where he soon 
earned enough money to pay the man for his removal. He remained in Ver- 
mont five years, renting a farm and performing different kinds of labor, until 
by close economy he had accumulated five hundred dollars in money and a 
good team of horses. He then removed to Slab City, a small place not far 
from Buffalo, N. Y., where he remained until 1833, when he sold his land at 
an advance and started for Pennsylvania. He settled in the township of Co- 
lumbus, now Freehold, and purchased of Mr. Barlow 200 acres of wild land 
and built upon it a log house and settled down. He lived in Freehold thirty- 
three years and then removed to Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he lived 
four years. After this he returned to Freehold and purchased the"BordweH" 
place, where he lived three years until the death of his wife. Mr. Cooper, now 
in the evening of a long life, lives with his grandson. He has lived an honest 
and a useful life, a reflection which must indeed be pleasing to old age. 

The village of Lottsville, as has been indicated, is of older date than 
Wrightsville, though it has never seen quite so stirring events. Between the 
arrival of Harmones Lott and family in 18 15 and the year 1820, the village 
had been laid out into streets, as it is at present to be seen. It is difficult to 
ascertain much more concerning the early history of Lottsville than has 
already been written in this chapter, because the early settlers have all passed 
away. In 1857 Chauncey Messenger built the hotel which is still open here, 
and for the first two years William Seeley kept it. John Eastman then came 
into possession and kept it until 1869, when his son, John, jr., succeeded him 
and remained in possession for ten years. Since his departure it has been man- 
aged by Frank Eastman. 1 he widow of the original John Eastman, Mrs. A. 
H. Eastman, has owned the property since the death of her husband. 

The only store now in the village is that of Whitney & Kay, the members 
of the firm being W. D. Whitney, M. D. and F. W. Kay. The partnership 
was formed in the fall of 1885, before which Dr. Whitney was here alone about 
two years. He was preceded by Charles Lott, whose uncle, James Lott, had 
been a merchant of good standing in the village for many years. Dr. Whit- 
ney was born in Brokenstraw township on the 28th of April, 1852. He 
received his medical education at the Buffalo Medical College, from which he 
was graduated in February, 1884. He is a regular. His wife, Mrs. D. A. 
Whitney, is also a physician. She was born in Freehold township on the 14th 
of November, 1853, and was graduated from the Homeopathic Hospital Medi- 



Freehold Township. 529 



cal College at Cleveland, Ohio, in February, 1886, and came to Lottsville at 
once. She is a daughter of Isaac Baker, who came to Lottsville in 1835 from 
Ithaca, N. Y., and engaged in farming here until his death, in 1870. He was 
born on the 25th of January, 1809. His widow is now residing with her 
daughter, Mrs. Dr. Whitney. Mrs. Baker has eight children, all but one of 
whom are residents of this part of the county. The other is in Colorado. 

T. I. Baker owns and operates the saw-mill at this village. He built the 
mill in the summer of 1883. It was burned in July, 1886, and was immedi- 
ately rebuilt. Mr. Baker also owns and operates a mill at Abbott's Corners, 
which came into his hands some time before he obtained ownership of this 
mill. Mr. Baker was, during the last war, a member of Company F, Ninth 
New York Cavalry, and was wounded at Morton's Ford, Va., by a bullet which 
passed through his liver from the back of the right side to the front. This is 
a wound from which no one but with an iron constitution could have recovered. 

The present postmaster at Lottsville is Dr. Whitney, who was appointed in 
November, 1881, as successor to William Allen, whose appointment is dated 
in the year 1875 or 1876. Previous to this term the office was held for many 
years by James L. Lott. 

The only church in Lottsville is the Wesleyan Methodist Church, which 
organized on the 7th of October, 1852. Meetings were held for a number of 
years in the old school-house, during most of which period Rev. E. J. Carroll 
was the preacher. The house of worship was erected and finished during war 
times, and Mr. Carroll was present at the dedication. Services are now held 
once in two weeks, the pastor being Rev. John Case. 

Concerning the early schools of the township a writer has reported sub- 
stantially as follows : The first school was kept by Mrs. Rufus Fitch, at her 
house, in the summer of 1817. Her husband, Rufus Fitch, a Revolutionary 
soldier, kept school in the summer of 18 18. In the following winter James 
Austin was the teacher. After the country became more thickly settled edu- 
cational matters were systematized. The first school-house was constructed 
of logs, and extended sixteen by twenty feet. The salary for these early 
teachers was about ten or twelve dollars a month for men, and one dollar to a 
dollar and fifty cents for women. The text books in use were principally 
Webster's Elementary Speller, the American Preceptor, Columbian Orator, 
Dilworth's Arithmetic, and the New Testament. 

Bear Lake. — This thriving village is the product of railroad enterprise. It 
was formerly called Freehold, but about fifteen years ago this name was 
changed to Bear Lake, after the beautiful body of water of that name about a 
mile east of the village. This lake has a surface about ten acres in area, is 
deep and very clear, and without a visible outlet. As late as i860 there was 
no road through Bear Lake worthy of the name. Previous to that date a large 
part of the land now covered by the village was owned by Daniel Walker to 



530 History of Warren County. 

the southwest, Asa Chapman to the north and east, and Ira Hamilton to the 
north and west. These three men, it is said, were here as early as sixty years 
ago. 

The first store in Bear Lake was kept in a small shanty, i6 by 20, by Ab- 
ner Chapman, on the site of Bordwell's present store. He dealt in groceries, 
liquors, etc., about i860, while the railroad was in process of construction. 
After an experience of a few months he sold out to George and Bryan Hill, 
who enlarged the building and increased the trade. They also kept a board- 
ing-house. They failed, however, in the course of eight or ten months, and in 
1868 sold to C. T. Bordwell, who kept store there until some three years ago. 
Howard & Wadsworth then purchased the property and opened a store, which 
they kept until a year ago, when they failed. Mr. Bordwell took the property 
again in April, 1886, and now owns and conducts the store. 

One of the early mills in this part of the township was that of Bushrod 
Woodin, on the Little Brokenstraw, about two miles southeast of the site of 
the village. This mill he built about 1855. It was a large mill for those days. 
After running it for some fifteen years Mr. Woodin sold it to James Dennison, 
of whom he repurchased it in a few years. The present owner, Clarence 
Triskett, bought it of Mr. Woodin about ten years ago, and has converted it 
from a water to a steam-power mill. Sylvester Williams built the first mill 
exactly on the site of the village about 1866 or 1867. It was a steam grist 
and saw-mill. It burned about 1 871, after which he rebuilt it and soon sold 
it to James Goodwin, who operated it about five years. John Hill then owned 
it. Henry L. Wilcox next purchased the property, took down the old mill 
and built the present structure, which he now owns. 

Present Business Interests. — It has already been stated that the oldest of 
the present merchants in Bear Lake, considering their term of service, is C. T. 
Bordwell, who began to trade here in February, 1868. He now deals in mer- 
chandise of almost every description, hardware, flour and feed, and other 
wares, his entire stock being valued at about $6,000. The store building now 
occupied by Howard & Laquay for the sale of dry goods and groceries, was 
built by Joel Carr about twelve years ago. The present firm came into the 
store in December, 1885. C. V. Mather began to trade in feed in 1876, and 
two years later changed his stock to drugs and groceries. He came into the 
building he now occupies in 1880. C. L. Chadwick and William Sweetland 
formed the firm of Chadwick & Sweetland on the i6th of April, 1883, and at 
that time bought out the store of Henry L. Wilcox, who had been engaged in 
mercantile business about two or three years. The stock is confined princi- 
pally to groceries. The building which they now occupy was erected in 
March, 1886. 

Willis H. Houghtling started a business in hardware about three years and 
a half ago, and in November, 1886, first occupied his present quarters. The 



Freehold Township. 531 



stock which Mr. Houghtling originally owned was purchased in November, 
1886, by Henry L. Wilcox, who now trades in this line of goods. The gro- 
cery and drug store of Phillips & Livermore was established by the present 
firm on the i8th of October, 1886, when the partnership was formed. The 
building which they occupy was erected by them in the summer of 1886. 
Their stock is valued at about $1,000. W. H. Davenny also deals in dry 
goods and groceries. The harness shop of G. W. Cole was opened in August, 
1886. Mr. Cole then bought out George Livermore. 

The saw-mill of Henry L. Wilcox, as it now stands, was built by the pres- 
ent proprietor in 1879. It has a capacity for 2,000,000 feet of lumber, but 
cuts ordinarily about 700,000 feet. 

About 1874 Daniel Parkhurst built a steam shingle and planing- mill and 
cider-mill on Greeley street, west of the railroad station, which he sold the fol- 
lowing year to Lorenzo Hyde. It was destroyed by fire about 1880, and Mr. 
Hyde then built another shingle and planing and grist-mill on the opposite 
side of the road, of larger capacity, which also burned in the fall of 1885. He 
now has a mill on Main street, with a planer and matcher, and connected with 
a grist-mill. 

Sylvenus St. John erected his steam grist-mill — roller process — in the sum- 
mer of 1886. The saw-mill of Borcher & Jamieson was built two years ago. 

About the time that Mr. Chapman opened the first store in the village, one 
Jordan opened a small tavern on the site of the present hotel in Bear Lake ; 
this was probably in the year 1861. Mr. Jordan did not remain long. The 
present hotel was erected in 1883 by A. E. Hollenbeck, who owns the property 
at this time. The lessee, since November, 1886, is B. C. Roberts. 

The Bear Lake Record, a live newspaper which promises to be a success, 
was started here in November, 1886. Mr. Gardiner is to be congratulated 
both on the appearance of his paper and on his choice of a location. 

The first physician to practice in Bear Lake was Dr. A. P. Phillips, who 
came about fifteen or sixteen years ago. Other physicians, of later arrival, are 
Dr. L. W. Harvey and Dr. F. T. Noeson. 

The first postmaster in the village was Caleb Carr, who was appointed 
about 1862. The name of the office was at first Freehold. C. T. Bordwell 
succeeded Mr. Carr in two or three years, and was followed by William Sweet- 
land about three years ago. Henry L. Wilco.x then held the position a few 
months, and was succeeded by the present incumbent, W. H. Houghtling, in 
the summer of 1886. 

The first house of worship erected in Bear Lake was built by the United 
Bretheren in 1874, at a cost of about $1,700. They formed a society in this 
vicinity about sixteen years ago, Rev. J. Hill being the first preacher. Among 
the first members were Joel Carr, S. Williams, H. C. Howard, William Hunt- 
ley, and others, many of whom were from the surrounding country. The 



532 History of Warren County. 

present pastor is Rev, Lucius Markham, who has resided here a little more 
than a year. 

About 1876 the members of the Methodist Episcopal and Christian de- 
nominations organized churches here, and built a Union Church edifice at an 
expense of $2,000, in which they still worship. Among the first Methodists 
were Henry Widrig, Charles Goodwin, Harrison Robinson, and James Harter- 
Their present pastor is Rev. J. P. Burns. Among the early Christians were 
M. Kendall, Abner Chapman, and Frank Eddy. Their pastor is Rev. Mr. 
Wilbur. 

About five years ago the town built a school-house here with two rooms. 
There are now in this building an attendance of not far from 100 pupils. H. 
Phillips is the present teacher. 



CHAPTER XLV. 

HISTORY OF PLEASANT TOWNSHIP. 

THE township of Pleasant, a sparsely settled, irregular tract of territory, is 
situated nearly in the center of Warren county, and is bounded north by 
the Allegheny River, separating it from Conewango and Glade townships and 
Warren borough, on the east by Mead township, on the south by Cherry 
Grove and Watson, and on the west by the Allegheny River, separating it 
from Deerfield and Brokenstraw. The township was formed in March, 1834, 
and undoubtedly derived its name from its beauty of situation and prospect. 
The petitioners who caused its formation wanted it to be named " Mount 
Pleasant," but the court subtracted the first word from the title. The land- 
scape is everywhere lovely, especially opposite Warren. 

It is somewhat remarkable that the town was so late in being settled by 
permanent residents, when all along the other side of the river is a portion of 
the county which was dotted with homes almost at the beginning of the pres- 
ent century. But Pleasant was inhabited only by occasional and transient 
" squatters" until 1826. At that time no improvements to speak of had been 
made in the township. There were no roads whatever, nor any evidences, ex- 
cept the settlement of John Mead, opposite Brokenstraw, that man had ever 
intended to make the town his home. The first road, the main road from War- 
ren to Limestone, was opened about the year 1835. 

Nathaniel Sill, sr., the second permanent settler in town (John Mead being 
the first), was born in Lyme, Conn., in 1776, and in 1807 removed to Black 
Rock, near Buffalo, N. Y., where he engaged in the business of a forwarding 



Pleasant Township. 533 



\ 



merchant, and was the senior member of the prominent firm of Sill, Thompson 
& Co. At one time they owned every vessel on Lake Erie except two small 
schooners. His partner, Sheldon Thompson, was the first mayor of Buffalo. 
They owned the famous Michigan, which went over the Niagara Falls. Mr. 
Sill's house, which was built of stone and was one of the best houses in the 
State we.st of Albany in its day, was battered down by the British in the War 
of 18 1 2. Nathaniel Sill removed to this township, or the territory now known 
as Pleasant, in 1826. He came to the farm now owned and occupied by his 
son and namesake, in December of that year, having made the journey from 
Buffalo by team by way of Dunkirk and Jamestown. He had a family of three 
sons and five daughters. Nathaniel Sill, jr., was born in Ontario county, N. 
Y., on the 13th of February, 18 14, and since his father's arrival on this farm 
in 1826, has made it his home. He married Susan, daughter of Josiah Farns- 
worth, then of Sheffield township, in 1853. His father died on this place on 
the 1 8th of February, 1858, and he has managed the farm alone since that 
time. 

When Nathaniel Sill came here in 1826 there were but three small open- 
ings — they can hardly be called clearings — within the present limits of the town- 
ship. One of these had been made by squatters on a tract embracing the 
present farm of Mr. Sill, the other was opposite Warren, and was probably 
made by owners who had not lived on it, and the third was on the Irvine farm, 
near the present village of Irvinton. Not a stick of timber had been cut at 
any distance back from the river. About 1832 and 1833 a German immigra- 
tion began. Christian Hertzel came in 1835, Philip Wendling as early as 1832, 
and many others who will be named in the course of the chapter. There was 
a great boom in land speculation in 1837, and many of those who had settled 
here sold out and removed to the vicinity of Chicago and Northern Illinois. 
These Germans were many of them from Alsace. There they had been ac- 
customed to live in villages and travel several miles each day to a little patch 
of land which they owned, and out of which, by the severest labor, they 
wrung a scanty subsistence. The reports which reached them of the large and 
productive farms of Pennsylvania, and other parts of America, stirred them 
with a desire to visit and settle upon these lands. This country seemed an El 
Dorado to them. As a rule they were steady, hard-working, economical, tem- 
perate, law-abiding, and intelligent men. Most of them were poor, and after 
they reached this country they found hard times. They had to work harder 
for their living than their children and^'grandchildren are obliged to do. Able- 
bodied men labored for fifty cents a day in haying, and took wheat at two 
dollars a bushel in payment. Cloth that now costs six cents a yard then 
brought twenty-five cents, and most other articles which the laboring people 
must have were priced accordingly. Still they labored on hopefully, and 
many of their descendants now live in comfort and some of them in luxury, 
the reward, in part, of their industry and thrift. 



534 History of Warren County. 

Following are the names and places of residence of the more prominent 
and permanent settlers of the township, who settled here previous to its forma- 
tion, and are mentioned in the first list of taxables, in 1835 • 

Martin Esher, assessed with forty-seven acres, lived a short distance west 
of where the cemetery now is. He came here with other Germans about 1832 
or 1833, and moved away after a few years. He was an Alsatian. 

George Arnold, also an Alsatian, came about 1834, and settled in the 
western part of the township opposite Brokenstraw. He lived there very many 
years, and died in October, 1886, in Warren, at a very advanced age. 

Lewis Arnet, a German, but not an Alsatian, came about 1832, and took 
up one hundred acres of land on the upland, some distance south of Martin 
Esher's settlement. He went west in a few years. 

Emmanuel CruU rented the Irvine farm, opposite Brokenstraw, and lived 
on it for about ten years, when he removed to the vicinity of Franklin. His 
daughter married Perry Shaw, of Tidioute, where he and his wife died. An- 
other daughter married James Newgen, a shoemaker by trade, and a pilot on 
the river, who went down the river on annual raft pilgrimages until within a 
few years. 

Jesse Foster, and David, his brother, lived opposite Brokenstraw for a 
number of years, when the former sold out and removed to the northern part 
of the county. 

Jabez B. Hyde owned forty acres just west of the farm of Nathaniel Sill, 
and built the house now owned by the heirs of Mrs. J. H. King. He was a 
Presbyterian clergyman, and, for some years previous to his settlement here, 
was stationed among the Seneca Indians of Cattaraugus county, N. Y. He 
was well known in Buffalo. He lived here a few years and returned to the 
Indian Reservation. By an unfortunate turn of affairs he lost his mind, it 
seems, and was found in an impoverished and distressed condition in Buffalo, 
where friends cared for him until he died. 

Christian Hertzel, father of Andrew and Philip Hertzel, settled, in 1835, 
on the first farm south of that of Nathaniel .Sill, on the hill now occupied by 
his son Philip. (See sketch of Andrew Hertzel in later pages). 

Jabez Hyde, jr., son of Jabez above mentioned, died here while his father 
lived in this township. He was a printer by trade, and worked for a time in 
Buffalo. 

Christian Groos, a German, lived for a year or two near Christian Hertzel, 
and then went west. 

Jacob Knopf, a German not from Alsace, took up 184 acres of land south 
of Christian Hertzel, about 1832, and lived there until his death, about i860. 
He was one of the most prominent of the Germans, and was very active and 
industrious. Peter Knopf, his nephew, cleared a farm of 133 acres about a 
mile west from the settlement of Nathaniel Sill. He was a man of considerable 



Pleasant Township. 535 



ability, though he has been characterized as of too sanguine a temperament. 
He had a large family, and late in life went to Glade, where he died, with some 
of his children. 

Michael Kraienbuehl came from Alsace with the other emigrants previous 
to 1835, and took up forty-seven acres of land directly opposite Warren. He 
resided there until his death, about thirty years ago. Among his descendants 
still in this county is Mrs. Andrew Ruhlman, of Warren, who is his grand- 
daughter. 

Adam Knopf, a brother of Jacob, settled near him at the same time, but 
in 1837 sold out and removed to the West. His log house is still standing. 
The property was bought from him by Christian Hertzel, and is now owned 
by Philip Hertzel. 

Jacob Lenhart settled on five hundred acres of land opposite Brokenstraw, 
where he died about 1 860. His son Matthew now owns and occupies the farm. 

Jacob Luther was an early German settler, near the present site of Oakland 
Cemetery. Jacob Myers settled as* early, probably, as 1833, on the uplands 
opposite Warren and back some distance from the river. His tract contained, 
according to the assessment roll, one hundred acres. He died on this farm 
not long after 1850. One son is now on the old homestead, and another son 
occupies another farm in this township. 

John Mead had 331 acres of land and a saw-mill about two miles west of 
the farm of Nathaniel Sill, and was there a number of years previous to 1 830. 
He was a member of the Mead family, which receives more particular mention 
in the history of Brokenstraw, and was a brother of Mrs. David Beatty. He 
moved on to the Brokenstraw and there died, about twenty-five years ago. 

William McDonald was an early settler (about 1826) on the south side of 
the river in the western part of this township. He was assessed in 1835 with 
300 acres. 

John Raham, probably an Alsatian German, came to this township about 
1832 or 1833, and took up fifty-four acres of land, now a part of Oakland 
Cemetery. He was taken with the land fever of 1837, however, and at that 
time sold out and went west. 

John Reig, an Alsatian German, settled early during the period of German 
immigration in the vicinity of Oakland Cemetery, where he remained until 
about 1850. He then removed to a farm near Irvinton, though in Cone- 
wango township, where he died in 1855. He was the father of Mrs. Andrew 
Hertzel, and his widow made her home with her daughter until her death, in 
1884. 

l-'rederick Stroopler was an Alsatian German, who lived four or five years 
about one and a half miles from Warren in Pleasant, and went west in 1837. 
George Swigart, at Alsatian, resided from about 1832 to 1837 "P Sill Run. 

Alexander Van Horn, a Hollander, settled in Warren previous to 1826, 



536 History of Warren County. 

and about 1832 settled on 120 acres of land, directly west of Nathaniel Sill's 
farm and only a few rods distant. He was a shoemaker by trade, and after a 
residence on this place a few years, sold and returned to Warren. About 
thirty years ago he was drowned in Conewango Creek. 

Philip Wendling, already mentioned as a German from Alsace, who came 
one of the first of immigrants, occupied a forty-seven-acre tract within the 
present limits of Oakland Cemetery until 1837, when he removed to Glade. 
In 1843 he went west, and at his death left children in Cook county. 111., who 
are there now. 

George Wiler was an early Alsatian settler on the farm adjoining that of 
Jacob Esher. In 1837 he sold his land and removed to Conewango township, 
where two of his sons, George and John, now reside. 

Jacob Wise, a German, whose wife was a sister of the wife of George 
Swigart, came at the same time as Swigart and settled near him, on Sill Run. 
He went away with Swigart. 

Pleasant township has been so situated as to need no post-office, the prox- 
imity of offices at Warren and Brokenstraw being deemed sufficiently conven- 
ient by the inhabitants. The same cause has operated to deter any one from 
attempting to establish a store of any kind in the township. The only kinds 
of occupation in the town, therefore, have been those of farming, in which the 
Germans were most numerous, and lumbering, which was almost entirely con- 
fined to settlers other than the Germans. Among the Germans who have en- 
gaged in lumbering with success may be named the several members of the 
Hertzel family. John and Nathaniel Sill have at times engaged in lumbering 
with success. The first steam saw-mill in town (we have already mentioned the 
mill of John Mead, which was operated by water) was that of one Morton, 
who built it about four miles south of the farm of Nathaniel Sill to saw the 
timber of Colonel L. F. Watson, about 1862. It kept in operation some fif- 
teen years, and sawed millions of feet of e.xcellent lumber. The next mill was 
built by William A. Wheeler, of Jamestown, N. Y., soon after the mill of Mor- 
ton was finished. It was afterward abandoned for a short time and went into 
the hands of Elijah and Alonzo Johnson, who sawed great quantities of lum- 
ber. It was about a mile south of the mill of Morton. It went down about 
1870. Another steam mill, built and owned by Marsh & Kinnear, of Youngs- 
ville, situated south and west of the Johnson mill, went down about 1875 or 
1876. A Mr. Satterly also built a steam mill in the west part of the township 
as early as 1862 or 1863, which he kept in operation ten or twelve years. 

There has never been a church nor a religious organization of any kind in 
town. This does not argue anything against the piety or religious habits of 
the inhabitants, as they usually belong to church organizations near their re- 
spective residences, but in other townships. There are at this writing seven 
schools in the township of Pleasant, and they are well conducted and effect 
the purpose of their establishment. 



Southwest Township. 537 



CHAPTER XLVI. 
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TOWNSHIP. 

THIS township, which was formed from Deerfield in March, 1838, is situ- 
ated in the extreme southwestern corner of the county, whence its name, 
and is bounded north by the township of Eldred, east by Triumph, south by 
Venango county, and west by Crawford county. It is nearly square in outline. 
Its population at present does not exceed, perhaps, a thousand souls, of whom 
not more than two hundred constitute the village of Enterprise. The town is 
intersected by Pine Creek, which flows in a southwesterly direction and, with 
its tributaries, forms the principal natural drainage of the town. This stream 
was from the beginning known as the east branch of Oil Creek, and is still 
called occasionally by that name. 

Early Settlers. — That portion of Warren county west and north of Alle- 
gheny River was settled a number of years earlier than the part lying to the 
south and east — a fact which seems to affirm that even a stream no larger 
than the Allegheny River may form a boundary line or barrier which will 
mark the limit of human settlement for many years. Southwest township, 
or that portion of the county now confined within the limits of Southwest, was 
settled almost as early as any part of the county. We have no means of as- 
certaining the exact date of the first settlements, but they were probably about 
contemporary with the birth of the present century. One of the first settlers 
in the town, if he was not the first, was Richard Henderson, who had made 
quite a clearing here at the time the first list of taxables of the county was 
made out in 1806, lived about two miles east of the site of the village of En- 
terprise. His grandson, Clark Henderson, now owns and occupies the old 
homestead. He was what the other early settlers denominated a " Pennam- 
ite," /. c, a settler from the eastern part of Pennsylvania, as opposed to those 
who came from New York and England. There was considerable ill feeling 
between the Pennamites and the other settlers ; and Richard Henderson, though 
a quiet, peaceable man, was not exempt from this dislike, and would not min- 
gle much with his Yankee neighbors. He was a man of sterling character, 
however, one of the kind fitted by nature to fell the forests of a new country 
and aid in establishing schools and comfortable homes in the wilderness. He 
was in no sense of the word a public man, but attended strictly to his home 
affairs and family. We have not the date of Henderson's death, but it must 
have been as late as 1850, for settlers who did not come here until 1847 or 
1848 remember him. He and Selden Spencer were for a number of years the 
only Whig voters in this township. 

Robert Hunter was another " Pennamite " settler, who came to this part of 



538 History of Warren County. 

the county probably as early as 1800, and settled near to Richard Henderson. 
His son, Gates Hunter, now lives on the old homestead. Another son, Jared, 
lives not far from Grand Valley. Robert Hunter was one of the best citizens 
in the township, quiet and peace loving, industrious, temperate, and econom- 
ical. He reared a large family. He died previous to 1847, and probably as 
early as 1840. 

Thomas Gilson was another " Pennamite," whose settlement in town is 
probably dated as early as Henderson's and Hunter's. He was the first settler 
on the place some three miles and a half north of Enterprise, now owned and 
occupied by John Wales. He was a very active and prominent man among the 
early settlers, and was universally respected. He was passionately fond of 
hunting and trapping. He died not far from 1850. Mrs. Stowell Cheney is 
his daughter. 

Between the year 1806 and the year 1838, the date of the formation of the 
township, many settlements were planted in this forest territory, and cultivated 
fields took the place of tangled underbrush and thick woods. The period in- 
tervening between about 1825 and 1836, however, was the period of most 
rapid immigration. The following paragraphs disclose the names of the most 
prominent settlers of this period, together with the places of their settlement, 
and such information concerning them as is deemed of interest, not to their 
descendants, but to the present inhabitants of the township. 

The first name on the list is that of Jare Benedict. Particulars of his set- 
tlement and career are given in the sketch of his grandson, W. B. Benedict, 
appearing in later pages of this volume. His arrival to this township from 
New England was in the year 1833. He lived in the house afterward occu- 
pied by his widow, and in which he died. Selden Benedict, his son, came with 
him, and at the time of the formation of the township lived in the village of 
Enterprise, near the Spencer and Benedict mill. In 1840 he built the house 
now occupied by his son, W. B. Benedict. Elbridge Benedict settled in the 
village of Enterprise, where he remained until about 1 87 1, in which year he 
removed to Corry, Pa., where his widow now lives He died in Dakota in 
April, 1882, and was buried in Corry. His house in Enterprise was the sec- 
ond building west of Dunham's store. 

Elijah Bevier settled on a farm east of Enterprise and near the hamlet 
called Pineville. The Beviers were from Ulster county, N. Y., and went back 
previous to 1850, excepting Elijah Bevier himself, who remained in town and 
died here but three or four years ago. He was a man of domestic tastes, quiet 
and respectable. 

Benjamin Dunham settled two miles east of Enterprise on the Tidioute 
road, where he died many years ago. He reared a large family, some of whom, 
with their descendants, are 1 w living in \'enango county. Myron Dunham, 
now a respected citizen of tiic township, is his nephew. James Dunham was 



Southwest Township. 539 

a brother of Benjamin and lived on tlie adjoining farm on the west. He was 
a bachelor. He died many years ago. William Dunham, another brother of 
Benjamin, lived about one mile east of Enterprise, where he operated a saw- 
mill of his own for a number of years. About 1870 he sold his property to 
W. B. Benedict, and removed to Venango county, where one son lives at the 
present writing. William Dunham died at a ripe old age about two years 
ago. 

Eli Dibble came to this town some time previous to 1838, and set up a 
carding-machine in the village of Enterprise nearly opposite the present resi- 
dence of Alonzo Wilson, on the Pleasantville road. His son, Marcus T. Dib- 
ble, is a justice of the peace in this township now. 

W^illiam Dunkin lived about a mile and a half north of Enterprise on the 
farm adjoining that of S. Cheney. He removed to Erie county. Pa., about 
1866. He was a farmer of eccentric disposition. One son, John, now lives 
in Crawford county, near Titusville. His first wife was a daughter of George 
McCrea, of Crawford county, where he was an early settler. His second wife 
was a daughter of Thomas Gilson of this township. 

Simeon Frear settled on a tract of land about four and one-half miles east 
of Enterprise on the Tidioute road, where he remained until his death, many 
years ago. He was a farmer and lumberman. He had several sons, none of 
whom are here now. They removed to Vineland, N. J., about the year 1866. 

Hugh and William Gilson are mentioned in this list. They were sons of 
Thomas Gilson. The former settled on a farm five miles east of Enterprise on 
the Tidioute road, near Funk's mill, where he died a number of years ago. 
The latter occupied a part of his father's homestead north of the village, and 
after many years removed to some part of the Great West. 

Dr. Alonzo Heffron, who was the eldest brother of Mrs. Selden Benedict, 
and son of the celebrated Dr. Heffron, of Madison county, N. Y. (see sketch 
of W. B. Benedict), came to Southwest from Madison county in 1837, and 
practiced medicine here until about 1844, wlien he removed to Fabius, N. Y. 
He died at that place a few years ago. 

Warner Perry was born in Windham county, Conn., on the 7th of Novem- 
ber, 1800, and came to Warren county in May, 1826. He settled at once on 
the hill about half a mile northeast of Enterprise. About 1840 he built the 
first hotel in town, which stood on the Pleasantville road a few rods south of 
the present hotel in Enterprise. Here he passed the remainder of his days, 
dying on the 17th of September, 1863. He was the first postmaster in town, 
receiving the appointment between 1845 ^^^ 1850, and holding it until his 
death. He was a justice of the peace in this town for the thirty-three years 
immediately preceding his death. He was county commissioner two terms, 
commencing with 1 840, and in 1 860 took the census in his district, which then 
comprised portions of Warren, Venango, and Crawford counties. He was a 
35 



540 History of Warren County. 

Democrat, and, as has undoubtedly been Inferred from the public positions 
which he filled, he was a public-spirited man. He married Sarah Stowell, at 
Ashford, Conn., on the 24th of September, 1824, and by her reared a family 
of five children. Two of these only are living — Jason A., who now resides 
in Southwest, and Hiram S., who moved to Titusville in 1865, 'ind thence to 
Warren, where he now resides, in 1879. 

Dorus Wales came to Southwest from Ashford, \\'indham county, Conn., in 
1826, with Warren Perry, and settled on the hill adjoining Mr. Perry's place 
on the east. One Williams built the first mill in town, on the site of the Ben- 
edict mill, which was afterward operated by Mr. Lee, and then passed into the 
hands of the Messrs. Benedict. But to Dorus Wales belongs the honor of 
building the second mill — on Pine Creek, about half a mile above Enterprise, 
on the site now occupied by the Benson mill. This mill Mr. Wales operated 
until his death in 1854. He was a stepfather of Mrs. Warner Perry. Dorus 
Wales was not a public man, but a good business man, and one who loved 
quiet better than contention. His only living child, John Wales, is now a 
resident of this township. 

Jonathan S. Cheney came to Southwest also from Windham county, Conn., 
in 1827, and settled on a farm about a mile east of Enterprise, on the Hender- 
son road, so called. In 1840 he married Alice, daughter of John Gilson, who 
resides in town to-day. He died on the old homestead in the summer of 1886. 
He was a hard-working, home-staying man. Three of his sons and three of 
his daughters still reside in Southwest. 

Enos Whitney, soon after 1833, settled about a mile east of Enterprise, on 
the Henderson road, and died a few years ago in Youngsville, where he had 
been for a number of years living with a daughter. None of his descendants 
now reside here. He was a laboring man. 

George Kellogg settled on the site of what is now called Pineville, in the 
southeastern part of the town, where he built and operated a saw-mill, and a 
pottery for the manufacture of stone ware, etc. His wife was a daughter of 
Simeon Frear. In the oil excitement of 1865 he sold his land and removed 
to Vineland, N. J. 

Truman Knight was a sawyer and worked for many years in the mills of 
Jare Benedict and of Spencer & Benedict. He came to Southwest from Cen- 
tral New York. He was especially noted for his gigantic structure and hercu- 
lean strength. He was the father of one son and a number of daughters. 
The son, Samuel, was killed by a bear when he was about fourteen years of 
age. Some thirty-five years ago Mr. Knight went to Wisconsin. 

John G. Smith, a native of Vermont, came here from Chautauqua county, 
N. v., about 183s, and settled in Enterprise, where he worked in the cloth- 
dressing mill of Alonzo Wilson. At a later day he engaged successfully in the 
lumber business, and finally removed to Muddy Creek, in Crawford county; 



Southwest Township. 541 

thence he went on to a farm near Union City, in Erie county, where he is still 
living at the age of about eighty years. One son, Samuel R. Smith, now lives 
in Southwest. He was a prisoner in Andersonville prison fourteen months 
during the War of the Rebellion. 

Selden Spencer (who was born February 2, 1793, and died December 12, 
1872) came to this township from West Stockbridge, Mass., about 1833, soon 
after the emigration of his partner, Jare Benedict. He and Mr. Benedict 
engaged for years together in the lumber business and were very successful. 
Mr. Spencer's house was right in the village of Enterprise. Selden Spencer 
was one of the most prominent men of this part of the county. His children, 
all but one, are living. Mary became the wife of Isaac B. Rowe, of this town; 
Harriet married George C. Pettit, and still resides here ; Egbert built the 
Spencer Hotel here about 1850 and kept it for many years, after which he 
engaged for some time in mercantile business, and finally went to Jamestown, 
N. Y., where he now lives ; Delia was married to Asbury Dawson, of Pleas- 
antville, Venango county, and now lives at Coldwater, Mich. 

Alonzo Wilson settled just south of where the hotel now is in Enterprise, 
in the house which is still standing there. He owned a carding-machine — 
the same one which was kept in operation by Eli Dibble. He was a brother- 
in-law of Selden Spencer, and came from Massachusetts about 1833. His. 
death occurred here not far from thirty years ago. He had two daughters^ 
both of whom married well. Delia became the wife of David H. Mitchell, who' 
came here about 1845, and was afterward well-known throughout the county.. 
He engaged in lumbering and in general mercantile business in Enterprise, his 
store being in the building now occupied by Myron Dunham. He also built 
an oil refinery directly below Enterprise, about 1862, and at the same time, and 
during his residence here, carried on a sort of private banking business. 
About 1 870 he removed to Titusville and established the Producers' and Man- 
ufacturers' Bank, of which he was made president. He and his wife both died 
in Titusville. Delia's sister, Laura, married Foster W. Mitchell, brother of 
David, who engaged also in lumbering and general mercantile business in En- 
terprise, and finally removed to Venango county. He now resides at Frank- 
lin. He is at the head of the banking house of F. W. Mitchell & Co., of Oil 
City, which is largely identified with the oil business. 

Peter Yost, whose wife was a sister of Samuel Grandin, of Tidioute, lived 
very early in the southwestern part of the township, near the present site of 
Benedict's mill. After living a few years at that place he removed some dis- 
tance southwest of Enterprise to the Grandin Farm, so called, in Venango 
county. 

Thomas Van Scoter Morian, who is at present the oldest merchant in this 
part of the county, was born in Steuben county, N. Y., in 18 18, and in 1842 
married Clarinda Woods, of Pomfret, Chautauqua county, N. Y. They had a 



542 History of Warren County. 

family of six children, four of whom, Carlos C, Elbridge R., Herbert T., and 
Eva C, are living now. In 1845 he came to Enterprise as a clerk for C. Smith, 
of Sinclairville, N. Y. Two years later he built his present store, and at that 
time became largely interested in general mercantile and lumber trade. In 
i860, when success seemed attainable only in the oil business, he left the store 
and began producing oil, and running it in barges from the mouth of Oil 
Creek (now Oil City), down the Allegheny River to Pittsburgh. Being an 
expert pilot on the river, he also carried on a large shipping business. By 
degrees, and as the oil excitement abated, he returned to his former occupa- 
tion in Enterprise. 

His father, Jacob Morian, was born in Germany in 1782. Not liking the 
prospects which promised Napoleon the subjugation of all Europe, he decided 
to remove to America, and upon arriving here settled in Philadelphia. He 
afterward went to Steuben county, N. Y., and married Lydia Van Scoter. By 
her he had nine children, six of whom, Anthony, John, Margaret, Alexander, 
Thomas, and Lydia, are still living. Jacob Morian served in the War of 1812, 
and was under Colonels Brown and Scott, at Lundy's Lane. In 1830 he 
removed his family to Chautauqua county, N. Y. He died in 1862, and was 
followed by his widow in 1869. Both are buried in Forest Hill cemetery, of 
Fredonia, N. Y. 

Southwest in 1847. — When Mr. Morian began his mercantile career in this 
township in 1847, there was no village of Enterprise in existence. The terri- 
tory had become more thickly populated than it was at the time of the forma- 
tion of the township in 1837, but it was still in a great part uncultivated, and 
with considerable tracts covered with the virgin forests. In what is now the 
village of Enterprise there were about nine houses. Selden Spencer lived a 
few rods north of the present store of T. V. S. Morian, and had cleared the 
greater part of the present village site. As has been stated, Mr. Spencer was 
a very active and prominent man, a determined Whig and a devoted Metho- 
dist. A a little way west of his house, at this time, lived Annis, widow of Jare 
Benedict. There was quite a clearing in the pine forest back of this house. 
Spencer and Benedict had a mill near to Benedict's house. For a history of 
the Benedict family and the prominent part that they have always borne in 
business and public affairs in this township and county, the reader is requested 
to scan the sketch of Mr. W. B. Benedict in later pages. 

In 1847, where the hotel now stands, was a story and a half house owned 
by Selden Spencer, and occupied by T. V. S. Morian as a dwelling house. In 
the latter part of this year Mr. Morian built his present store, left the employ- 
ment of the Sinclairville Quaker, C. Smith, and started for himself South of 
this house, on the road toward Pleasantville, where J. A. Perry now lives, was 
then the house of C. O. Child, a shoemaker. He had a small 10 by 12 shop just 
south of his house. This part of the town was extensively cleared at that time. 





^ S ^^^--^^ 



Southwest Township. 543 

About I 864 Mr. Child became quite wealthy by selling lands for oil purposes, 
and removed to Philadelphia, where he lost all his acquisitions, it is said. 
About six rods south of Child's house stood that of Enos Whitney, who has 
been mentioned in an earlier page. 

About thirty rods still farther to the south on this street lived Alonzo Wil- 
son, and on the opposite side of the street stood his carding- machine. Mr. 
Wilson was shrewd enough to invest his money in New York State at seven 
per cent, rather than in this State at six per cent. 

Some ten rods west of the store of Mr. Morian, on the road to Titusville, 
lived, in a little 16 by 20 house, one Edward Landas, a stone-mason and laborer. 
He lived here until about 1850, when he was killed by being thrown from a 
raft. The next house on that street, occupied by Stephen Brown, stood about 
thirty rods west of the site of the hotel. On the opposite side of the street he 
had a small foundry in which he manufactured plow-points, sled-shoes, etc. 
He went west about 1852. or 1853. In the next house west, and on the north 
side of the street, about half a mile from that of Mr. Brown, lived a Mr. Free- 
man, a laborer. He died soon after this time. A son, Morris, lives in Enter- 
prise now. 

Next was the house — the frame of which is still in use — then owned and 
occupied by Selden Benedict, whose son, W. B. Benedict, lives in it at the 
present time. Still farther west some thirty rods, on the north side of the 
street, was a log house occupied by M. F. Benedict, brother of Selden Bene- 
dict. That was the utmost house in the neighborhood. 

Outside the site of the village the clearings were few and small, and far 
between. The principal business of the people was lumbering. There must 
have been at that time eighteen or twenty saw-mills in active operation in the 
township of which we are writing. Among these may be mentioned the mill 
of George Kellogg near Pineville, that of Warner Perry and Dorus Wales 
about seventy rods east of Enterprise, that of William Dunham a little farther 
to the southeast, the Spencer and Benedict mill just north of the village, E. G. 
Benedict's mill a few rods south of Enterprise, that of S. S. and M. F. Bene- 
dict some distance to the west, while a long distance farther west, on the Titus- 
ville road, stood the mill owned and operated jointly by Forbes, Johnson, and 
Bela Tracy. Twelve years later, or in 1859, there were ten large mills in 
town, all on Pine Creek, which sawed about 5,000,000 feet in all a year, 
besides large quantities of shingles. 

Present Business. — The saw and shingle-mills in town at this writing are 
as follows : J'., F. and \ . Shepard, under the firm name of Shepard & Brothers, 
own and operate a large steam mill about half a mile east of the village of 
Enterprise. George Zover & Sons havs a mill in the village ; C. E. Potter, 
of Pineville, owns and operates a mill in the eastern part of the township ; Mr. 
Isinger has one in the northeast part of the town ; C. H. Ames has two mills 



544 History of Warren County. 

on the D., A. V. & P. Railroad, which cut vast amounts of lumber ; Jesse Whee- 
lock has one on the same railroad a short distance east of the mills of Mr. 
Ames ; near this is the steam shingle-miil of Frank Adams ; T. L. Cheney has 
a shingle-mill about two miles northeast of the village ; and J. F. Stearns has a 
shingle and cider-mill nearly a mile north of Pineville. The streams having in 
the past few years diminished in volume in consequence of the clearing away 
of forests, now fail to furnish the water power of former days, and all the mills 
now in town are operated by steam. 

There are two general stores in town. That of T. V. S. Morian, already 
mentioned, which was opened in 1847, closed from i860 to 1867, and from 
that time to the present open again. Mr. Morian has not altogether aban- 
doned his interest in the oil business, although he subordinates it to his mer- 
cantile occupation. 

Myron Dunham also deals in general merchandise in Enterprise. About 
twenty-two years ago he went in with David H. Mitchell, and two years later 
was a partner with V. S. Benedict four or five years. 

We have already observed that Warner Perry built the first hotel in town, 
and that the present hotel was built by Selden Spencer about 1850. The pres- 
ent proprietor, J. S. Forbush, came to Enterprise in March, 1886. 

The post-office was established at ICnterprise a short time previous to 1850, 
by the appointment of Warner Perry to the dignity of first postmaster. Pre- 
vioue to that time the mail was obtained from Holland post-office (now Pleasant- 
ville), once a week. After Mr. Perry's death in September, 1863, D. H. Mitch- 
ell was made postmaster, and was in turn succeeded by the present postmaster, 
Myron Dunham, about 1875 or 1876. The office of Scofield, which is located 
at Pineville, is of much more recent origin. The postmaster there at present 
is Philip Robinson. 

The first reli-^ious services in the township were held in private houses. 
This style of edifice gave place in time to school-houses, and about 1870 the 
present church edifice was erected by a union of all denominations. The pre- 
vailing denominations in early days, and indeed at present, were and are Baptist 
and Methodist Episcopal. Among the former were the Benedict family, while 
Selden Spencer and Enos Whitney, were most prominent among the Metho- 
dists. There was not in early times much religious fervor observable in this 
part of the county, owing, no doubt, to the sparseness of population. 

The first school in town was taught in the winter of 1836-37, by Mrs. Ben- 
edict, in a little tailor shop, twelve by fourteen feet. Twelve pupils were in 
attendance. The term was three months in length. The teacher received 
twelve dollars per month, and had the rare privilege of boarding herself 
Kirkham's Grammar, Daboll's Arithmetic, Webster's Speller, and the old 
English Reader were the text-books. The present school-house in Enterprise 
was built in 1850, and was occupied by Marshall Coach, of New York, as 
teacher. 



Eldred Township. 545 



CHAPTER XLVII. 
HISTORY OF ELDRED TOWNSHIP. 

THIS township was formed from Southwest on the Sth day of September, 
1843, and was named from Judge Eldred, a sketch of whose life is writ- 
ten in this work. The credit of procuring the formation and organization of 
the township belongs justly to Samuel W. B. Sanford, who drew up, circulated, 
and pushed through the petition upon which the order of the court was based. 
The township is situated in the western tier of townships of the county, and is 
bounded as follows : North by Spring Creek, east by Pittsfield, Deerfield, and 
Triumph, south by Southwest, and west by Crawford county. Eldred is quite 
regular in outline, being nearly a square in form. The soil is generally a sandy 
loam, and is well adapted for agriculture, particularly for grazing. No town- 
ship in Warren county is gifted so abundantly with perennial springs of water, 
and it has been said on good authority that within a few years, when lumber- 
ing has completely given place to farming, Eldred will be the principal dairy- 
ing township in this part of the State. Already many farms produce two tons 
of hay per acre ; spring wheat from ten to twenty-five bushels, and oats from 
forty to eighty bushels to the acre. 

Early Settlements. — Eldred, like all the townships in Northwestern Penn- 
sylvania which do not border on some important water way, was left uninhab- 
ited by man many years after the river lands had become quite thickly popu- 
lated. Lumbering being the chief industry, kept the inland tracts untouched 
until the forests along the rivers had been cleared away, and the enterprising 
white man had to penetrate farther into the wilderness to continue his chosen 
occupation. The first settler in the township of Eldred, as now limited, was 
probably Lovell Greeley, an uncle of the illustrious Horace Greeley, who came 
hither soon after the year 1 830, and took up lands in the northwestern corner 
of what is now the township. He remained here about ten years, and made a 
considerable clearing. About 1840, after Mr. Greeley had removed from this 
territory, his place was occupied by Elijah Leroy Williams, who remained on 
the farm not less than twenty years and died there. 

Between 1830 and 1838 only four new settlers arrived to cheer the lonely 
heart of L. Greeley. About 1835 John R. Smith emigrated from New York 
State hither, and engaged some seven or eight years in farming on a lot now 
in the southwestern part of the township. At the end of this time he returned 
to New York. Robert Robinson lived on the farm next north of that of Smith. 
He had been a drinking man in New York city, and his son sent him out in the 
wilderness to take him away from the allurements of the town and city. He 
went back about 1842 or 1843, leaving no descendants in town. John Cullom 



546 History of Warren County. 

afterward purchased this farm of Robinson's grantee, and has now been a res- 
ident upon it for more than thirty years. Ezra Trim came to the same farm 
he now occupies, in 1837, from Olean, N. Y. He was taxed at first with only 
twenty-five acres, but has by degrees increased his possessions. His brother 
Simeon came at the same time, and until within ten years last past lived 
near him. He now resides not far from Corry. Ezra Trim has gained his 
competence by economy and industry. He is a good citizen and a conscien- 
tious Democrat. 

Samuel W. B. Sanford, one of the most prominent of Eldred's citizens, 
and now about the oldest, came here from New York State in 1838. He has 
always taken a most active interest in the affairs of the township, and is worthy 
of the esteem with which he is universally regarded. We recommend our 
readers to peruse the sketch of his life which appears in that of his son, J. G. 
Sanford, in later pages of this book. 

From the time of the arrival of the first four or five settlers, as already 
named, to the time of the formation of the township, immigration poured a 
full flood of good men into the tract embraced within the township limits, and 
the forests began to fall visibly away beneath the strokes of the ax. The 
names of the more prominent settlers mentioned in the first list of taxables in 
1844, appear in the paragraphs immediately following, in the order in which 
they are written in the list itself: John M. Carr lived on the farm originally 
settled by John R. Smith. A short time previous to 1850, however, he re- 
moved to a place about a mile north of it, where he remained until his death, 
some ten years later. He was a blacksmith by trade, and was not inclined to 
take a very active part in public affairs. He usually voted the Democratic 
ticket. His son, James Carr, is now a resident of this township. 

David Cutler settled the farm now occupied by James Carr, and continued 
thereon until his death, about 1855. He has descendants in Eldred now. His 
father, Sheldon Cutler, also lived for a time near his farm, but soon moved 
away. 

From about 1S40, or a little later, until May, 1876, when he died, Noah 
Hand occupied a farm a few rods south of Ezra Trim's. He was an indus- 
trious farmer and a very prominent man. He became wealthy, and in later 
years engaged considerably in trading. For many years, also, he converted 
his house into a tavern when the comfort or convenience of wayfarers de- 
manded it. His health became poor at last. He was an active man in town- 
ship affairs, and was devoted to the destiny and principles of the Republican 
party. He was twice married and had but one child. His farm was first set- 
tled by a man named Willis, who died early and was buried there, and was, in- 
deed, the first person buried in the township. 

Leicester Kelley lived in the south part of the- township, and engaged in- 
dustriously in farming until about 1864 or 1865, when he became inoculated 
with the oil fever and sold out, removing with all his family. 




\. 




Eldred Township. 547 



Jeremiah Main lived rather to the east of the township center, and engaged 
in farming. Although not a prominent man in political affairs, he was strongly 
Democratic in sentiment. During the oil excitement of more than twenty 
years ago he sold out and removed to the State of New York. A daughter, 
Mrs. Levi Pierce, is still residing in Eldred. 

Cyrus S. Oviatt, still residing here, lived in 1844 about one and one-half 
miles north of his present farm. He has been twice married, and a number 
of his twenty-four children are still in Eldred. 

David H. Sanford, a brother of Samuel W. B. Sanford, came here at the 
same time and settled southwest from his farm, on the same tract. After liv- 
ing there about fifteen years, he removed to Erie, Pa., where he remained un- 
til about 1874. He then returned to Eldred, and here died in the spring of 
1876. Although he has no descendants in town, they are scattered through 
the State. 

About 1842 David White immigrated hither from the vicinity of Albany, 
N. Y., and settled in the south part of the township, on the place now occu- 
pied by Mr. Hatmaker. It is said that previous to the War of 181 2 that farm 
was occupied for a time by a man of the name of White, who went away dur- 
ing the war because of fear of the Indians. The Jeremiah Main place was 
also settled as early as 1806, for a very brief period, by Richard Cunningham, 
who went away during the War of 1812. On this (Hatmaker) farm David 
White died a number of years ago. He was quite prominent and took con- 
siderable interest in township matters. He was a member of the old Whig 
party. Two of his sons and two of his daughters now reside in this township, 
named respectively Alonzoand John, and Mrs. George Chappie and Mrs. Mary 
Brown. 

Charles M. Williams came here with the Sanford family in 183S, and set- 
tled on the same tract. He died in about ten years. 

Jacob Young came from New York State in 1838 and settled in the north- 
east corner of the township, where he remained to the day of his death, ten or 
eleven years ago. He was a good, quiet, industrious man, by occupation a 
farmer and blacksmith. Three sons, Mansel, Joseph, and Wesley, now live in 
Eldred township. 

Early Industries, etc. — The first mill in the township was built by David 
White on his farm. Mr. White operated this mill for many years, until, in 
spite of frequent repairs, it was worn out and went down. The first store was 
kept by Stephen Mead on the David White farm, and was opened during the 
oil excitement, about 1 862. The first regular tavern was opened by Leicester 
Kelley a few years before the war, and continued until about 1865. 

The first postmaster was David Cutler, who was appointed some time pre- 
vious to 1850. The office, as now, was called Eagle. Cutler's successors have 
been Benjamin F. Wallace, Alvin Way, Benjamin F. Wallace, and the present 



548 History of Warren County. 



incumbent, who was appointed under President Cleveland's administration. 
About fifteen years ago the post-office called " Star " was established by the 
appointment of John Main. In about five years Charles Carr followed him, 
and the office was removed to Grand Valley. E. W. Thompson was then ap- 
pointed, and has been succeeded by F. A. Wood, and the present postmaster, 
William Pierce, appointed by the present administration. 

Grand Valley. — Not until after the construction of the Dunkirk, Allegheny 
Valley and Pittsburgh Railroad some sixteen years ago, was there a suspicion 
that the site of Grand Valley was so soon to be covered by a thriving and 
promising village. During the earlier years of the township the ground was 
owned and occupied by Stephen Mead, who succeeded David White, and who 
kept the first store in the township. Enos W. Thompson — still a respected 
resident of this town — at a later date, but still quite early in the history of the 
township, owned the most of the village site, and engaged extensively and suc- 
cessfully in farming. About 1864 or 1865 he purchased the store of Stephen 
Mead and moved it to his place, where he kept it until about three years ago. 
He then sold it to his sons, A. R. & A. L. Thompson, who still engage largely 
in mercantile operations. 

Another man, to whom is due much credit for his enterprise and public 
spirit in building up this village, is L. B. Wood. Shortly after the railroad was 
opened Mr. Wood started a store, which he still owns and conducts as a hard- 
ware store. He also bought the mill of Mclntyre, Merritt & Co., which was 
built some sixteen years ago, and still operates it. Grand Valley now contains 
not far from 200 population, more than half of the village being the direct fruit 
of the oil excitement. 

Among the saw- mills and other factories in the township may be men- 
tioned that of C. H. Whaley. He has a saw and shingle-mill about one mile 
west of Grand Valley. Although he has made shingles for not less than 
twenty years, he has owned the saw-mill but four years. George Whaley also 
owns a shingle-mill about half a mile north of Grand Valley, which he built 
some three years ago. A. M. Parker, in partnership with the Reno Oil Com- 
pany, owns and operates a saw-mill about one and a quarter miles north of 
Grand Valley, which they built in the summer of 1886. The saw-mill of Rome 
& Brother, in the northern part of the township, was built about four years 
ago. 

There are five stores in Grand Valley. The oldest, which has already been 
mentioned, is that of A. R. Thompson & Brother. The store of J. P. Miracle 
was first opened by L. B. Wood, who with his brother, F. A. Wood, kept it 
for a number of years, and in April, 1886, sold to the present owner. L. B. 
Wood & Brother are now in the oil-well supply and hardware trade, and have 
invested in oil, gas, and lumber. They have a saw-mill at Newton, in Deer- 
field township, besides the one in Eldrcd. 



Eldred Township. 549 



Since his appointment to the postmastership, in the spring of 1886, Will- 
iam Pierce has kept a grocery connected with his office. The drug store of 
G. W. Peck was established by him in Grand Valley, in the spring of 1886. 
Previous to that time he had been one of the firm of G. W. Peck, Wood & 
Co., which for about two years kept a store at Star Station. They were there 
succeeded, when Mr. Peck came to Grand Valley, by Samuel Graham. 

The first hotel at Grand Valley was built early in 1879, and opened in 
April of that year by J. N. Gerow. It was burned on the 19th of September, 
1883, and on the 20th of the. folio wing September, Mr. Gerow moved into his 
present house. He now has room for many guests, and is well qualified both 
by nature and training, to provide for the comfort of travelers. Previous to 
his beginnings here in the hotel, he had for about twelve years been in the 
employment of L. B. Wood & Co., in the lumber business. 

Schools and Churches. — At the time of the formation of this township, 
there were but thirteen votes in Eldred. Previous to 1843, and as early as 
1836, however, a school was supported by subscription in a joint district of 
Crawford and Warren counties. About 1840 a log school-house, the first in 
Eldred, was biiilt about a mile northeast of the present Sanford school-house, 
and was very soon, within a year, followed by a school-house near the John R. 
Smith farm. Upon the formation of the township in 1843, the schools were 
no longer maintained by individual subscription, as theretofore, but were kept 
up by the unseated land tax and State appropriation, and as other settlers 
came in other schools were built. There are now eight good schools in Eldred. 
The most active friend of the schools, for many years from the beginning, was 
S. W. B. Sanford, to whom is due the organization of the township, any many 
other acts of praiseworthy character. The present school- house at Grand 
Valley was built in the fall of 1885, and has two well-conducted departments. 
The present, and first principal, is Mr. McClellan. The attendance here is 
nearly two hundred. 

The first church edifice in Eldred was erected by the United Brethren 
about i860, previous to which time services were held at irregular intervals in 
school-houses and private houses. The first religious organization in Eldred 
was of the Methodist denomination. Services were held by them as early as 
1840. Samuel W. B. Sanford was one of the foremost Methodists in town. 
These are the only denominations now in the township. It is stated on good 
authority that soon the Methodist Church will erect an edifice at Grand Valley, 
and that the preparations are already complete. The first Methodist preacher 
in town, remembered by the inhabitants, was Rev. Rev. M. Hinebaugh, who 
supplied this appointment from Youngsville in 1844. 



5 so History of Warren County. 

CHAPTER XLVni. 
HISTORY OF GLADE TOWNSHIP. 

GLADE township, lying northeast of the center of Warren county, is an 
irregular tract, bounded north by Pine Grove and Elk townships, east by 
Allegheny River, separating it from Kinzua, south by the same stream, sepa- 
rating it from Kinzua and Mead, and west by Conewango Creek, separating it 
from Conewango township. This township has in past years produced to its 
inhabitants and others considerable wealth from the abundance of its timber, 
and in the future, as to some extent it has in the near past, it may be product- 
ive of oil in great quantities, but as a farming town, it is destined to no very 
brilliant achievements, except by the most stupendous labors of the population, 
and generous fertilization. Much of the soil, in which an average clay pre- 
dominates, is reasonably productive, but the surface of the country is so rocky 
and broken as to be almost inaccessible to the plow. Nevertheless a few tracts 
which have been improved, are doing well. The name Glade was first applied 
to the stream now known as Glade Run, probably from the surrounding 
scenery, etc., and upon the organization of the township, on the 8th of March, 
1844, it was extended to the entire territory comprised within the township 
limits. 

Early Settlements. — Undoubtedly the first permanent settler within the 
present boundaries of Glade was James Shipman, who emigrated hither pre- 
vious to 1800, cleared land embracing the present farm of Guy C. Irvine, and 
built and occupied a plank house. The plank were sawn at Morrison's mill 
just over the river in Mead. Previous to 18 17 Shipman removed to what is 
still known, after him, as Shipman's Eddy, still in Glade, on land which had 
been for a short time previously occupied by a blacksmith named John Mor- 
rison. His first farm, now the Irvine place, was next occupied by Levi Leon- 
ard, who remained there a few years, went down the river to Conewango town- 
ship, where he froze to death about 1830. Meantime Shipman continued at 
the Eddy until his death about 1838 or 1839. He was a man of extraordinary 
stature, and was seemingly well fitted for the toils of a pioneer. He had a 
large family, and his three sons, William, James, jr., and Matthew, lived near 
him. Matthew, who remained there longer than the others, died ten or twelve 
years ago, and left a daughter, now Mrs. John Eddy. 

After Levi Leonard left the Irvine lot, Josiah Hook was taken into the de- 
serted house, and left to the ravages of the small-pox, which had " gat hold on 
him." After his death the house was burned. The property remained then in 
the hands of Jacob Hook, of whom Andrew Irvine bought it in 1835, and re- 
moved to it in the following year. 



Glade Township. 551 



Jacob Hook owned all the land along the creek, including the entire site 
of Glade City, before 18 16, though he lived at his saw-mill across the river 
in Mead. This mill, which had five saws, was one of the largest mills on the 
Allegheny River at that day. In 18 19 he built the large barn now standing 
on the farm of Guy C. Irvine. He died at Pittsburgh in 1827, while there on 
business. At that time he was one of the most extensive of the lumbermen 
in the entire State. He owned also a quarter interest in the old Pittsburgh 
bridge. He was a brother of Orren Hook, who will be mentioned in a later 
page. The family came from New Hampshire. He was a bachelor, and at 
the time of his death was in the prime of life. Another brother, Moses, owned 
his mill after his death, and later still transferred it to Orren Hook, who in turn 
operated it until it went down. The property is now known as Wardwell's, 
and it is the center of quite an oil field. 

A short time prior to 18 16, too, David Jackson lived in Glade, but in 1822 
removed to Warren, where he soon built the Mansion House. His farm in 
Glade included the property now designated as the Frank Hook farm. David 
Jackson lived in Warren county until his death, a little more than twenty 
years ago. John King, father of J. H. King, now of. Warren, was with David 
Jackson in Glade from 1817 to 1822, under a separate lease, on the farm now 
owned by Thomas Struthers. 

It was in 1 81 8 that one Thomas Murphy came up the river from Pitts- 
burgh in a keel boat with a load of flour, and went up the Conewango, through 
Pine Grove, to Jamestown, and across Chautauqua Lake to Mayville, after which 
he returned by the same route to Pittsburgh with a load of salt. This was 
one of the first trips ever taken for mercantile purposes along this route and 
in this manner. Murphy now lives near Pittsburgh. 

By the time that Glade was formed the settlers had become quite numer- 
ous, and tax lists afford a good avenue of information concerning their names 
and property acquisitions. The following were among the most prominent of 
these early settlers : 

John Allen came to the township about 1836, when he was already well 
advanced in years. He settled in Indian Hollow on the farm now owned and 
occupied by Jacob Sutter. His death probably took place soon after the for- 
mation of the town. His wife died on the same farm. No children are living 
in Glade now. William Goodrich, of Union, is a grandson of John Allen. 

Previous to 1836 John S. Davis settled and cleared the farm now owned by 
Albert Kerberger, where he also engaged to some extent in the business of a 
carpenter. He removed at a later day to Illinois, where he died. His son, 
Jerome, is now a resident of Warren. James L., John N., and Ferdinand S. 
Davis were the other sons of John S. Davis, and lived with him. James L. 
improved the place now owned by L. A. Siggins. 

Eliakim Davis settled, long prior to 1836, on the farm on Quaker Hill now 
owned by William Gebhardt. He went to Ohio soon after the year 1845. 



552 History of Warren County. 

David Cook, a farmer, settled about 1830 on the place now owned by Ross 
Kerr, near Cobham Park. He died, probably, as early as 1850. His son 
James now lives in Glade, and two other sons, Amariah and Norton, reside in 
Warren. 

About 1836 William Culbertson settled at Big Bend, on the place now 
occupied by Randall Geer, and there, before a road had been opened to the 
farm, built the first tavern within the limits of Glade as now constituted. Dur- 
ing the lumber seasons he had a good trade, especially in whisky, of which he 
sold large quantities. He died in Glade but a few years ago. In the earlier 
days of the township he was quite a prominent man. One brother, Isaac, now 
resides in Glade, and others of his relatives and descendants are scattered 
through the county. Alexander Culbertson, a brother of William, died in 
Glade some thirty years ago or more, having passed a number of years on the 
farm opposite Kinzua, first cleared by John Strong. 

Zachariah Eddy, jr., now a citizen of Warren, lived in 1845 o" '^h^ Lacy 
farm, in Glade, just above the home of Guy C. Irvine. While in Glade Mr. 
Eddy was very active, energetic, and public spirited. He did not remain there 
long after 1 850. 

John S. Gilson, who lived in Glade at this time, and who died more than 
thirty years ago, was a hunter by trade and occupation. He lived at what is 
known as the Round Turn, where Willis's Hotel now is. One son, Samuel, is 
now in Michigan, and another, Peter, is in Tiona. 

Adam Harmon, still living in Glade, in 1845 had quite a clearing at the 
mouth of Hemlock Run. He has earned his competence by hard and honest 
labor, and is one of the worthiest citizens of the township, by common con- 
sent. 

S. D. Hall settled on the place now owned by Ira Eggleston, and became 
by virtue of his activity and good sense one of the most prominent men in the 
township. He was frequently placed in positions of trust and responsibility. 
His death occurred about thirty years ago. Two of his sons, Miloand Oscar, 
and one daughter, Mrs. H. A. Jamieson, now reside in Warren. 

Hugh Holt, an Englishman, lived on and owned the farm now the property 
of Philip Lenhart, in Hatchtown. He came to Glade as early as 1836, but did 
not immediately settle on the Lenhart farm. He was an industrious farmer 
and lumberman, and was constable of Glade township for a number of years. 
Not far from 1850 he removed to Conneaut, Ohio, where he still lives. Abel 
Holt, his brother, lived in the same neighborhood, and went to Richmond, 
Ohio, a few years after the removal of Hugh. William Holt, their father, 
who came to Glade as early as 1830, lived in the same vicinity, and became 
quite prominent. He died previous to 1850, and his son James now occu- 
pies the old homestead. 

John Hackney, a Mohawk Dutcliman, so called because he came of an old 



Glade Township. 553 



Dutch family in the Mohawk valley in New York, settled about the time that 
the township was formed on the farm now occupied by his son, Tanner Hack- 
ney, where he lived until his death, about 1858 or i860. He was active, 
prominent, and influential in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his town, 
and was often made to serve in some official capacity. Although not a lum- 
berman, he invested in land to some extent. He was a man of good charac- 
ter, and was a deacon in the Presbyterian Church. His daughter Sarah now 
resides in Warren. 

Walter W. Hodges and Derrick Hodges, brothers, came from Yates or 
Tompkins county, N. Y., previous to 1840, and went back, it is thought, as 
early as 1845. The former owned land now owned by David Beaty, adjoin- 
ing the Kerberger farm, by did not live there. Derrick lived at what is called 
Hodges's Run, then in Glade, but now in Elk. 

Dorastus Hatch, from whom is derived the name of Hatchtown, was here 
quite early, and cleared, owned, and occupied the farm in Hatchtown now 
owned by James H. Eddy, where he remained until his death, but a few years 
ago. He was there as early as 1820. He had served ably as a soldier of the 
War of i8l2, and showed himself to be a man of worth in war and in peace. 
He owned a small saw-mill, and engaged quite successfully in the lumber 
trade. He had a large family of sons and daughters. Of them all, Joseph 
now lives in Chautauqua county, N. Y., Erastus is in Kentucky, and one 
daughter is in California. 

Francis Hook came from New Hampshire to Warren, and thence, about 
1836, settled in what is therefore called Hooktown, where he remained until 
his death, more than ten years ago. He was a good business man, a farmer, 
horse dealer, speculator in land, etc. He built the first iron abutment under 
the bridge across Conewango Creek. 

Orren Hook, uncle to the last mentioned, was a conspicuous figure among 
the speculators in land and lumber in this part of Warren county for many 
years. As early as 1834 he owned no less than 900 acres of land in Glade, 
including Glade City, and to the present farm of John McWilliams. In 1836 
he lived just below the dam, on the farm now owned by Thomas Struthers. 
In 1837 he went to Hook's Mills in Kinzua township, though in a few years 
he returned to Glade. On his return he built a hotel in Glade Run, called the 
" Glade Run House," and about 1856 built a large dwelling house near the 
site of the present railroad station, where he died but twelve or fifteen years 
ago. He was a man of almost unlimited personal resources of mind and body, 
and besides his prominence in business, was an active and influential public 
citizen. In 185 i he was elected county commissioner, which position he filled 
to the perfect satisfaction of his constituents. A number of his children sur- 
vive, among them being Clinton Hook, at Glade Station, and Mrs. Irvin Mead. 
Two sons, Frank and Orren, were killed in the last war. 



554 History of Warren County. 

Andrew Irvine bought 394 acres of land of Orren Hook in 1834, which in- 
cluded the farm now owned by his son, Guy C. Irvine, and in 1835 built the 
brick portion of the house which is still standing on the farm. In 1836 he 
removed into it from Bradford county, when Guy C. Irvine was in his thir- 
teenth year, he being a native of Towanda, in Bradford county. Andrew Ir- 
vine was born near Watsontown, Pa., and emigrated to Bradford county in 
1813 or 1 8 14. He was a tanner and currier by trade, and followed that busi- 
ness in Towanda, and in some measure here in connection with farming and 
lumbering on the river. He was a prominent and useful business man, and 
always took an active and vigorous part in the matters relating to the well- 
being of the township. He died at his home in Glade in 1853, and was fol- 
lowed by his widow about 1866. His eldest daughter, Jane D., died there in 
June, 1886; Mary F. died in 1876; B. Franklin died in Tununangwant, N. 
Y., more than ten years ago. Guy C. and Thomas now reside in Glade, and 
a daughter, Catherine Parker, lives in Bradford. 

Philip Lenhart, the father of his namesake now living in Conewango, lived 
on the farm on the creek now owned by Thomas Struthers, and built a brew- 
ery there about the year 1846, the only brewery that ever blessed the surface 
of the township. He was a prominent farmer and lumberman. He died a 
few years ago in Conewango township, where his son Philip now has a brew- 
ery. He has left numerous children in the county, all of whom are accounted 
respectable and worthy. 

James McAffee, father of Mrs. Andrew Irvine, was a native of Northumber- 
land county, served as a major in the War of 18 12, at Erie, Buffalo, and other 
points. During his stay in Glade he lived with Andrew Irvine, and died 
about 1855. 

Hugh Main, a Scotchman and a farmer, lived on the farm now owned by 
S. J. Page on Glade Run, near Cobham Park. He came thither as early as 
1828 or 1830. He afterward kept a meat-market and general store in Warren, 
and removed thence to Red Wing, Minn., where he died thirty years ago. 
He was remarkable for his quiet and unobtrusive industry and economy. 

Barney Owen was an old settler in the northwestern part of the township, 
on the farm now owned by his nephew, Orrin Jones. He died there about 
1875 or 1876. He was of a quiet and retiring disposition, provident and 
good-natured, and is spoken of as a " nice old man." He left no children. 

Amariah Plumb, who died about fifteen years ago, was a cooper by occu- 
pation, and settled near Cobham Park prior to 1840. Before that time he 
lived for a time in Warren. He was several times married, and left a number 
of grandchildren here, though his children are all gone. 

Davidson Russell was the first and a very early settler on the farm after- 
ward owned and occupied by Hugh Holt, and now by Mr. Lenhart. He was 
a son of Robert Russell, of Pine (irove. About 1840 he went to Kiantone, 
N. Y., and thence at a later time to the West. 




^/^X- 



Glade Township. 555 



Thomas Struthers, of Warren, owned a part of what is called City Point as 
early as 1837. 

John Strong cleared the farm afterward occupied by Alexander Culbertson, 
and lived there from 1832 or 1833 until his death, about 1845. He used to 
quarry stone on his place and dispose of it in Warren for hearths, headstones, 
sidewalks, etc. Several of his sons are now in Kinzua. He was a man of in- 
dustrious and temperate habits, and was universally respected and liked. 

William Snyder seems to have come from Yates county, N. Y., previous- 
to 1830, and settled on the farm east of Cobham Park, now occupied by 
Peter M. Smith. In the decade of years intervening between 1850 and i860 
he died, on the farm now occupied by John Cramer. Norman, John, Mrs. 
Abel Porter, Mrs. Hugh Holt, and Mrs. Johnson were his children. He was 
a bright-minded man, a good farmer, a resolute Whig, and an enthusiastic 
Baptist. He was an old man at the time of his death. His family are all 
gone. 

Daniel Nesmith settled about the time of the formation of the township, in 
the upper part of Hooktown, where he lived long and acquired a good prop- 
erty. He was a brother of Benjamin Nesmith, of Warren. Two sons, John 
and Homer, and one daughter. Rose, wife of Richard Orr, now live in Warren. 
Daniel Nesmith was well deemed a valuable citizen of Glade, and was to the 
Methodist persuasion what William Snyder was to the Baptist. 

Samuel Storam, a mulatto, cleared a part of a hundred-acre tract, now in- 
cluded in the farm of Guy C. Irvine, as early as 1834. He came to this farm 
from Pine Grove. He and his wife died of small-pox in 1854, on the farm 
owned by their son Samuel. Another son in Glade is Nelson, while a third, 
Henry, is in Pittsfield. 

James Shipman, one of the three sons of James Shipman, sr., who has re- 
ceived mention, lived at Shipman's Eddy, and as early as 1840 erected a hotel 
there for the accommodation of raftsmen. This he kept until his death, a few 
years later, when he was succeeded by Charles W. H. Verbeack, who married 
his widow. Shipman was extremely fond of hunting, and was a good " shot." 

Charles Whitcomb came as early as 1838 to the place just below Glade 
Run, now occupied by Jacob Baldensperger. He went to Kinzua about 1853 
or 1854, where he is yet living. His father, Paul, lived with him in Glade. 

Joseph Dunn was a settler of about 1836 on the farm now occupied by his 
widow and two daughters, next south of Barney Owen. He was a good 
farmer, and died there about five years ago. His sons, Samuel, Daniel, and 
John, now live in Warren. 

Rhodolphus Arnold had a log shoe-shop a short time near William Culbert- 
son's, and afterward near Hook's mill in Mead township. 

William Zeigler, a Pennsylvania Dutchman, cleared the farm now owned 
by Frederick Wentz, and lived thereon from 1838 or 1839 until about 1880, 
when he removed to Warren. ^'' 



556 History of Wakken County. 

Cobham Park and its Authors. — As yet the family, which by peculiar dis- 
tinction, is in some respects most worthy of mention, has not been named. 
George Ashworth Cobham, sr., was born at St. Asaph, in Wales, on the 20th 
of January, 1803, and was the third son of Elijah Cobham, one of the merchant 
princes of Liverpool, England. Mr. Cobham practiced law for some years at 
Liverpool, and afterward removed to Fearns Hall, at Rosendale, near Man- 
chester, which he rebuilt and occupied. In 1828 he married Catherine Cob- 
ham, the widow of his eldest brother, Henry Cobham, and daughter of John 
Gilmore Curry, M. D., of the same place. Henry Cobham had been accident- 
ally killed by a gun-shot wound in July, 1825. The young couple continued 
to reside at Fearns Hall until 1832, when they went to France and resided at 
Paris and Havre. In the autumn of 1834 they emigrated to this country, and 
in the summer of 1835 settled on tract 5536 (1,000 acres) in Elk, afterward 
Glade township. Here he built a fine residence, which he called Cobham Park, 
and on which he continued to reside until his death, on the 6th of October, 
1870. His wife preceded him, dying on the 27th of July, 1867, and he was 
buried beside her on the ground surrounding the residence. They had four 
children, Frederick Fearns Cobham, born at Fearns Hall, September 7th, 
1831, died at Jamestown, Chautauqua county, N. Y., on the 21st of May, 1835 ; 
Georgina Catherine Cobham, born at Havre, France, on the 20th of March, 
1834, and died at Cobham Park, August 7, 1882 ; Elizabeth Cobham, born at 
Cobham Park, April 1 1, 1837, and now residing on a part of the old farm ; and 
Alice Cobham, born at Cobham Park, June 19, 1839, and now residing at Cob- 
ham Park. 

Henry Cobham, born on the 24th of Januar\', 1824, at London, England, 
was the eldest son of Henry Cobham, a barrister of Liverpool, who was de- 
scended in direct line from Lord Cobham, the martyr who was burned at the 
stake at Smithfield, in the reign of Henry V, at the instigation of Thomas Ar- 
undel, Archbishop of Canterbury, because he was one of the followers of Wic- 
liffe, and assisted him in the publication of his translation of the Bible. The 
subject of this paragraph came to this country in 1834, with his step-father, 
George A. Cobham, and lived with him until 1866, aiding him with his labor and 
money (the rents of property he inherited from his father and other members 
of the family, and which he still owns) to purchase and improve the property 
in Glade township and to build Cobham Park. In i860 he married Ann 
Hodges, eldest daughter of \V. W. Hodges, but continued to live at Cobham 
Park until the residence was finished, when he removed to Warren and built 
the house which he now occupies. Soon after he was elected county surveyor 
and served two terms. He has two children, Kate C. Cobham, M. D., the eld- 
est, now practicing medicine at Dayton, Ohio, and Henry, who is still living 
with his parents at Warren. 

Brigadier-Gcucral George Asliivorlh Cobliavt. — (ieorge A. Cobham was 



Glade Township. 557 



the second son of Henry Cobham, the barrister of Liverpool mentioned in the 
preceding paragraph, and was born at Liverpool, December 5, 1825. He 
came to this country with his step-father, George A. Cobham, in 1834, and 
lived with him, helping to improve the farm and build the residence now 
known as Cobham Park, until a short time before the outbreak of the Rebel- 
lion. In 1 86 1, in response to the president's call for troops, he, in connection 
with Dr. E. M. Pierce, W. J. Alexander and others, raised a body of five hun- 
dred men, which, with a similar force from Erie county, constituted the One 
Hundred and Eleventh Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. Cobham was 
appointed lieutenant-colonel, and Pierce captain of Company D, and Alexan- 
der, first lieutenant. Their first service was at Harper's Ferry, where the One 
Hundred and Eleventh was posted on the Heights, and held them against the 
Confederates in pursuit of Banks. They distinguished themselves at Chancel- 
lorsville, and at Gettysburg, also. At the latter engagement Cobham com- 
manded General Kane's brigade, and from that time to the close of the war 
retained the command of a brigade, leading it at Resaca, Mission Ridge, Wau- 
hatchie, Lookout Mountain, and what the boys called the grand sk'rmish, until 
he fell on the field of Peach Tree Creek, on the 20th of August, 1864. Soon 
after, he was breveted by the War Department brigadier-general, to date from 
his death. When his remains were brought home, the citizens of Warren, in 
honor of his memory, gave him a public burial. 

Early Mills, etc. — One of the earliest mills in the township of Glade was. 
built by Robert Valentine at a very early date, and was purchased by Dorastus 
Hatch, at the time of that person's settlement in town. Mr. Hatch kept the 
mill in operation while he lived, and his sons owned it until within a few years. 
Several years ago, while owned by William and Joseph Hatch, it ceased run- 
ning. 

The next mill was built by Andrew Merritt, on Allegheny River, about a 
mile above Big Bend, about 1840. Previous to 1850 it came into the hands 
of Orris Hall and Mr. Flagg, who kept it in operation for a number of years. 
It went down about thirty years ago, while in the possession of Stephen Mor- 
rison. 

James Eddy and Francis Hook built a saw-mill in Glade City on Cone- 
wango Creek about 1845. Orris Hall afterward owned it for many years. L. 
B. Hoffman now owns the property, though the mill fell into decay and disuse 
eight or ten years ago. The first tannery built in the township stood near this 
mill and was operated by the same power. It was built by John Reig about 
1858, and ceased in 1876, though Mr. Reig still owns the site. 

George A. Cobham and his two step-sons, Henry and George A. 2d, built 
a saw-mill on Hemlock Run in 1847, and operated it for ten years, when they 
sold it to Peter M. Smith. He owned it when it burned, about 1880, and rebuilt 
it. It is now silent from lack of timber. 



558 History of Warren County. 

About a mile above the Cobham Mill was a saw-mill, erected in 1855 by 
John Eaton, and afterward owned and operated by C. W. H. Verbeack and 
James Roy. It went down a number of years ago. 

A Mr. McFarland built a saw-mill about 1857 some three miles above the 
Cobham Mill, which afterward came to the hands of James Roy, and was until 
ecen tly operated. 

The tannery of L. A. Robinson, which the present owner acquired in 1875, 

was built by Newkirk at the mouth of Glade Run, its present site, about 

thirty years ago. Mr. Robinson has developed the business with most com- 
mendable enterprise, and made it one of the largest tanneries in Warren 
county. It is stated on good authority that Mr. Robinson pays $100,000 
annually for hemlock bark, and that his weekly pay roll ranges from $1,200 to 
$1,500, inside the building. 

There was no store in Glade township until long after the construction of 
the tannery by Newkirk. From 1852 or 1853, for a few years, Myron Waters 
and O. H. Hunter sold goods to the raftsmen during the seasons, but the near 
proximity of Warren has been a hindrance to the opening of a successful store 
in Glade until recently. There are now a number. Among them are the fol- 
lowing : N. C. Allen, groceries and general merchandise; Jacob Balden- 
sperger, groceries, provisions, flour and feed, and meat market ; J. W. Geer, 
general merchandise; Frank D. Jones, news-room, tobacco and cigars; S. S. 
Jordan, general merchandise ; J. R. Mitchell, groceries, boots and shoes ; and 
J. P. Trushel & Son, groceries. 

Post-office. — There has ne\er been a post-office in Glade. The mail is 
obtained at Warren. 

Hotels. — The first tavern in town was the little concern of William Cul- 
bertson, already mentioned. The next one was that of James Shipman, jr., at 
Shipman's Edd)', who kept it for years and afterward was succeeded by Ben- 
jamin Nesmith. It was open as long as the raftsmen went down the river 
from that point in numbers sufTicient to make it pay to accommodate them. 

From about 1844 to about 1850 Solomon Hudson entertained guests in a 
slab shanty at Glade Run. At this time Orren Hook built a hotel of more 
dignity at Glade Run and named it the Glade Run Hotel. Jacob McCall, the 
first landlord, kept it two or three years. It burned ten or twelve years ago, 
and C. B. Willy built on the same site the present hotel two or three years ago. 
George Hertzel keeps it. 

Schools and Churches. — The first school kept in the present limits of Glade 
township was built on Quaker Hill, of logs, about 1836. About that time, too, 
there was built a log school-house in the Hatch settlement. The Glade Run 
school-house was built about the year 1852 by subscription, Andrew Irvine, 
Orren Hook, John and Alexander McWilliams and others subscribing for the 
purpose. There are now seven schools in the township, including the Union 



CoRVDON Township. 559 



Graded School in Glade City, which was built in 1877 and has four depart- 
ments, and the school in Glade Run which has two departments. Thomas W. 
Arird is at present the principal of the Union School at Glade City. 

As in all business respects, lumber and oil excepted, the proximity of so 
large a village as Warren has ever operated to prevent a large independent 
growth of business in Glade, so the same cause has prevented the formation 
of large churches here. Everybody who attended church in other days was 
content to go Warren, where a more numerous congregation could pay for 
better preaching. And thus the need of church work did not press itself upon 
the people of Glade in early days. About 1870 the United Brethren built a 
church in Hatchtown, in which they hold services at regular intervals. At 
Glade Run is a hall built by temperance reformers, which is used by all denom- 
inations at times for purposes of religious worship. 



CHAPTER XLIX. 
HIS'l'OliY OF CORVDuN T<JWNSH1P. 

CORYDON township was erected by order of the court on the 20th of March, 
1846, from territory then recently set off from McKean county. It con- 
sists of a long narrow strip of land occupying the extreme northeastern corner 
of the county, and is bounded north by Cattaraugus county, N. Y., east by 
McKean county, south by McKean county, and west by Kinzua and the Alle- 
gheny River, separating it from Elk township. The drainage is furnished en- 
tirely by Allegheny River and its numerous tributary streams, such as Corn- 
planter Run, Whisky Run, Tracy Run, Willow Creek, and Sugar Creek. 

There was no settlement in the present limits of the township until as late 
as 1827. In 18 1 7 James Richards passed through the land on his way to 
Cincinnati, and his daughter, Mrs. Lucinda Morrison, is now a resident of 
Corydon, and will be mentioned in this chapter in connection with the early 
settlers. The first settler in town was undoubtedly Philip Tome. He was 
born on the 22d of March, 1782, in Dauphin county. Pa., near the site of 
Harrisburg. His parents were of German extraction. They moved up the 
Susquehanna River about ninety miles, in 1786, in a keel boat, landing at 
Farris Creek, in what was then Northumberland county. The country was 
then troubled by the enmity of the Six Nations of Indians, and this family 
soon thought it prudent to move back to Cumberland county. In two or three 
years they went to Warry Run, about two miles above the junction of the 
east branch of the .Susquehanna. In 1791 they again moved, this time some 



S6o HisTuKV OK Warren County. 



seventy miles up the west branch of that river. As early as l8i6 Philip Tome 
was living near the present site of Kinzua, but he soon went away and did 
not return to this part of the State until 1827, when he came to the territory 
now in Corydon from Lycoming county, and built a rude shanty for a tem- 
porary dwelling place, on ground now in the center of the road which termi- 
nates ^between the store on the village corner and Hale's Hotel. He came 
down the river in a canoe, striking across from Canoe Place to the river. He 
died on the 30th of April, 1855. A year previous to his death he wrote and 
published an interesting book entitled " Pioneer Life; or Thirty years a Hunter," 
which is filled with his own adventures, some of them of the most thrilling 
description. He was a great hunter, and was for fifteen years interpreter for 
Cornplanter and Governor Blacksnake, Indian chiefs on the Allegheny River, 
and familiar characters to the students of the early history of Pennsylvania. 
Philip Tome's eldest son and. second child, John C, was the first male white 
child born in town. The first female child born in town was Martha Forbes, 
daughter of Abel Morrison. The descendants of Philip Tome in Corydon and 
other parts of the county and State are very numerous. 

From Mrs. Lucinda Morrison, wife of Abel Morrison, now living in Cory- 
don, the writer obtained the following description of the countrj- in 1827, when 
she was brought hither. Her maiden name was Lucinda Richards. She was 
born in Lisle, Broome county, N. Y., and passed through Corydon in 1817, 
on the way to Cincinnati with her father, James Richards. In 1818 she was 
married to Abel Morrison, who was a native of Lycoming county. In 1827 
they settled on the very place now occupied by Mrs. Morrison. At first they 
lived in a plank house. There were then in the whole town but three other 
houses, two of logs, and one shanty. Russell Freeman lived a short distance 
south of the Morrison settlement in a log house. In another log house, farther 
north, had recently settled Dr. Benjamin Blodgctt, the first physician, the first 
postmaster, the first merchant, and the second settler in town. Still farther 
north, in the shanty already mentioned, lived Philip Tome. Very soon after 
the arrival of Abel Morrison came William Case. At that time the face of the 
township as it is now constituted was a trackless wilderness, unrelieved by a 
clearing, and inhabited by the brutal denizens — bears, deer, wolves, and occa- 
sionally a panther. Immediately after the settlement of these few families 
here, however, improvements began to make their inroads on the forests. 
Mills were at once erected — partly for the profit expected from their operation, 
but more immediately because of the necessity of boards for building. Abel 
Morrison's mill stood where it still stands (although of course it has been many 
times repaired), and is now owned by Flavins Josephus Morrison. A short 
time before this was erected Knoch Oilman built a mill, the first one in town, 
on the site of the large mill now in Corydon village. It was put up in the 
summer of 1827, while Abel Morrison's was delayed until the following year. 



CoRYDON Township. 561 



Previous to 1830 one Wheeler built a mill between the other two, the same 
frame standing there now and at present used by Sunderland & Payne for a 
handle factory. In the winter of 1827-28 there was a school-house built of 
planks, a little way northeast from the dwelling house of Abel Morrison. It 
was first taught by Sabra Blodgett, a relative of Dr. Blodgett, for six months, 
and under her administration it was a very efficient school. There was an 
attendance of about fifteen or twenty pupils. Religious meetings were held 
almost from the beginning in, this school-house, and a little later; also in the 
one farther down the river, and on the site of the present school-house. The 
first tavern was kept by Jacob McCall, on the site of the present hotel, a num- 
ber of years previous to 1853. He also had the post-office in his tavern for a 
time. The first store was kept by John Converse, a little way south of the 
tavern, from the time of his arrival in 1830 until his death a number of years 
thereafter. George and Augustus Wetmore and L. D. Wetmore, brothers, at 
a more recent time had a saw-mill on the site of the present large mill, previous 
to the erection of the pulp-mill. There has never been a grist-mill in town, 
though for a brief period Alanson G., son of Abel Morrison, ground feed and 
made staves and shingles on the east side of the mill now operated by his 
brother. 

The population of the neighborhood did not increase very rapidly for a 
number of years after 1827. Several families moved in and, after a short ex- 
perience of the hardships necessarily incident to pioneer life in this wild country* 
moved away. Lumbering used to be the principal business of the town, though 
of late years it has greatly declined from scarcity of timber. There is now not 
a tithe sawn annually as there was thirty and forty years ago. 

William Case, father of Squire Case, immigrated to this town very soon 
after the settlement of Philip Tome, and built his house about ten rods north 
of the hotel. He married a daughter of Philip Tome, and is now living, hav- 
ing survived his wife. Contemporary with Abel Morrison were his brother, 
Rice Morrison, who settled about sixty rods below where the ferry now crosses 
the river, where he died only a few years ago, and Russell M. Freeman, al- 
ready mentioned, who built his house on the east side of the street, near the 
present ferry, and about on the site of Flavius Morrison's house. After a num- 
ber of years he moved away. Several years after this early settlement, Ira 
Butler and George Smith lived on Butler's Run in the wood on the eastern 
part of the present farm of George W. Tome, and there they undertook to 
make brick, without very flattering success, however, and after the lapse of a 
few unpropitious years they emigrated. 

One of the most prominent families ever in Corydon, that of Rev. Asher 
Bliss, deserves special mention, though they may not be denominated early 
settlers. Rev. Asher Bliss was born on the 20th day of February, 1801, and 
on the 2d of September, 1832, married Miss Cassandra Hooper, of Boylston, 



562 History of Warren County. 

Mass. In November of the same year he began his labors as a missionary of 
the A. B. C. F. M. to the Seneca Indians on the Cattaraugus Reservation. 
At that time there was, it is said, but two or three framed buildings on the 
entire reservation. The Indians lived in log or bark huts with no floor, and 
only a hole in the roof for the exit of the smoke. Their cattle and horses had 
to look out for themselves through the long winters, digging through the snow 
to get a little frozen grass, and a good many of them died every winter. Mr. 
Bliss early perceived the importance of raising their temporal condition as 
well as their spiritual, and urged them to build comfortable houses and barns, 
fence and cultivate their land, set out fruit trees, etc., and in the nineteen 
years during which he prolonged his stay among them, he effected a wonder- 
ful improvement among them in these respects. In 185 i he came to Corydon, 
remaining here until 1864, when he removed to an adjoining town, South Val- 
ley, N. Y. While in this township he organized a small church, and during 
his residence here frequently preached here and in this vicinity. He also 
labored among the Indians on the Allegheny Reservation, and at Cornplanter's 
one or two years while in Corydon. Four sons lived to manhood, Asher, jr., 
Samuel Munson, Porter Cornelius, and David G., of whom three served in the 
War of the Rebellion, and are now living in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., and 
the other resides in Corydon. Rev. Asher Bliss died on the 23d of March, 
1881. 

Mrs. Cassandra Hooper Bliss was born at New Braintree, Mass., on the 
14th of February, 1802, and died April 2ist, 1878. She was descended from 
the Hooper and Washburn families, of Bridgewater, Mass., from Isaac Allerton, 
of Mayfloiver celebrity, from Robert Cushman, who preached at Plymouth the 
first sermon in New England that was printed, and from Secretary Nathaniel 
Morton, the first historian of New England. She received her education at 
Ipswich and Amherst Academies, partly under the direction of Mary Lyon. 
She was engaged for several years by Samuel Slater, the founder of the man- 
ufacture of cotton in this country, to teach the school connected with his es- 
tablishment. Mrs. Bliss was a lady of fine personal traits of character, deeply 
beloved by her associates, and b)' the Indians to whom she was so long a ben- 
efactress. 

The most distinguished son of Rev. and Mrs. Bliss, and probably the most 
distinguished person who ever resided in Corydon, was Porter Cornelius Bliss, 
who is mentioned at some length in " Appleton's Annual Encyclopedia" for 
1885. He was born in Erie county, N. Y., on the 28th day of December. 
1838, and died in New York city on the 2d of February, 1885. He studied 
at Hamilton and Yale Colleges, and in i860 traveled through Maine, New 
Brunswick, and Nova Scotia to investigate the condition of the remnants of 
Indian tribes. In 1861 he went to Washington to apply for a place in the In- 
terior Department that would give him an opportunity to make similar inves- 



CoRYDON Township. 563 



ligations beyond the Mississippi ; but as he was disappointed in this, he accepted 
the post of private secretary to Hon. James Watson Webb, who had just been 
appointed minister to Brazil. In 1862, when Mr. Webb returned home, Mr. 
BHss went to Buenos Ayres, and was commissioned by the Argentine govern- 
ment to explore the Gran Chaco, where he spent eight months in learning the 
Indian dialects and investigating the antiquities. The result was published by 
the government. He edited for a short time, at Buenos Ayres, the River 
Platte Magazine, and then went to Paraguay, where he became private secre- 
tary of the United States minister, Hon. C. A. Washburne, in 1866. President 
Lopez commissioned him to write a history of Paraguay ; but while he was 
engaged in this work the war between that country and Brazil broke out, and 
he fell under suspicion from the fact that he had formerly been in Brazil. The 
government archives were closed to him, detectives watched him, and finally, 
as he was trying to leave the country, he was thrown into prison, where he 
was subjected to the most inhuman tortures to compel him to confess that he 
had been a Brazilian spy. At the end of three months (December, 1868) he 
was released on the demand of the United States government, backed by the 
presence of a squadron of the United States navy. He went to Washington, 
was a translater in the War Department for about a year, and edited the Wash- 
ington Clironicle for about a year and a half, and was then (July, 1870) ap- 
pointed secretary of legation in Mexico, which office he held for four years. 
During that time he was an active member of the Mexican Geographical So- 
ciety, made archaeological explorations, and wrote much on the condition of 
Me.xico and its opportunities for American enterprise. By his sole personal 
exertions he saved from execution three American officers in the army of Diaz, 
who had been captured by the forces of Juarez, and condemned by court-mar- 
tial. In the summer of 1874 Mr. Bliss went to New York, and for the next 
three years he was at work on " Johnson's Cyclopedia." After that he edited 
a short-lived weekly called The Literary Table, wrote a history of the 
Russo-Turkish War of 1877, and in 1879 went to South America as a corres- 
pondent of the New York Herald. From the time of his return, a year or 
two later, until his death he was in feeble health and did but little work, 
though he edited the New Haven News for a part of the year 1883. He 
was for two years president of the Philological Society, and was an enthusi- 
astic student of Oriental antiquities. 

E. S. and E. Sunderlin, brothers, moved from Poultney, Vt., to McKean 
county, Pa., in 1853, where they built large mills. In 1866 they came to Cory- 
don, kept a large store until 1873, and after that was burned began operating 
the saw-mill and handle factory, the most extensive in Corydon. 

The Village and its Business. — The grading of the B., N. Y. & P. Railroad 
was begun in 1881, and the road was opened in the following year. Strange 
as it may seem to the casual sojourner in the village of Corydon, it is a fact 



564 History ok Warren County. 

that the material growth of the village has much more than doubled since that 
event, and, indeed, it is said by good authorities that there was practically no 
village in the township to speak of. The oil excitement and the railroad have 
made it what it is in quick time. Before that for a number of years the only 
merchant in town was Jay White, excepting William McCollister, who had the 
same grocery business two years previous to the opening of the road that he has 
now. Mr. White had kept a store, as will be seen by reference to his bio- 
graphical sketch in other pages, since 1870, in a building since torn down, 
which stood on the corner opposite the hotel. E. S. and E. Sunderlin were 
trading here in 1870, as stated a few lines before. While the railroad was in 
process of construction, Nelson Mead purchased the site of the present office 
of Mr. White, and opened the store he still occupies. Next was opened, in 
1882, the hardware store of W. Rolland, who soon sold out to C. H. Whitaker, 
and Whitaker to E. Price & Co., and they to J. M. Turney, the present occu- 
pant. Then was opened the grocery of Clendenning & Hale, who sold out to 
A. F. Kilburn. The building is now used by P. B. Canfield & Son, druggists, 
who purchased the building of J. and S. C. Williams. C. H. Clawson came 
soon after and opened a store in the building now occupied by J. E. Reynolds. 
Mr. Clawson removed to his present quarters in October, 1885. On the first 
of October, 1884, Joseph Green bought the stock and rented the store build- 
ing of Jay White. In 1885 he built a store of his own, which he still occupies. 
In the fall of 1885 S. C. McClintock opened a furniture store in a building be- 
longing to Mr. White, and still occupies it. In the spring of 1886 E. Price 
and K. T. Jaquay opened a grocery under the firm name of Price & Jaquay, 
and are still conducting the business. 

A stave- mill was operated here three or four years by people from Frews- 
burg, N. Y., who quit the business about the time that the railroad was opened. 
The Jamestown Wood Pulp Company started here in 1881, and closed up their 
business after about three years of operation. In 1881, also, was started here a 
spoke factory, by Stedman & Aldrich, of Randolph, N. V. They did not have 
much business at first, but in 1882 Messrs. White & Jaquay purchased the in- 
terest of Mr. Aldrich. After two years they dissolved partnership, Mr. White 
taking the building and lot, which he still holds. The machinery and power 
were purchased by the Corydon Spoke Company, and under this arrangement 
the business is still prosecuted, the partners being Benjamin Crooks, F. M. 
Williams, and N. J. Whitcomb. In the spring of 1885 they added planing and 
matching machinery. The works are in the south part of the village. 

In 1 88 1 a handle factory was opened by Sunderlin & Payne, who still 
keep it in operation. The products of this factory at first were broom, fork, and 
rake handles, and dolls, but latterly ax helves, pick handles, etc., are produced 
in more abundance. 

F. J. Morrison, son of Abel Morrison, is now operating a well-to-do saw- 



CoRVDON Township. 565 

mill in the southern part of the village. Whitcomb & Knapp have been oper- 
ating a shingle- mill for some three years or more, which was built forty years 
ago and more. Mead & Son are operating two mills for the manufacture of 
railroad ties. T. J. & E. J. Reynolds also have two mills for the same pur- 
pose, and have been for a number of years engaged in this occupation. 

As stated in a previous paragraph, Dr. Benjamin Blodgett was the first 
physician in the township. The one of longest practice now in town, although 
living across the river, is Dr. Peter Hollister, who has practiced extensively in 
this part of the country for a quarter of a century or more. Dr. A. A. Baker, 
eclectic, has practiced here a little more than three years. 

Hale's Hotel was built by Jacob McCall not long after the formation of the 
township. Samuel Boyer kept it for some time, and was succeeded by Joseph 
McCoUister, who entertained the traveling public for many years with good 
satisfaction. The present proprietor, Joseph H. Hale, came into this house on 
the first day of October, 1885, and has entirely renovated, refitted, and rebuilt 
it. He has enlarged its capacit\- so that there are now forty- five beds in the 
house for guests. 

Dr. Benjamin Blodgett was probabl)-, from all that may be learned, the 
first postmaster in Corydon township. He was succeeded by many incum- 
bents, among them being Amos Patterson, Ellis Gamble, William Case (Boli- 
ver Case attended it for a time), Ellis Gamble, C. P. Bailey, Erwin Sunderlin, 
Jay White, and the present postmaster, Frank Wells. 

Educational and Ecclesiastical. — We have before stated that the first 
school-house was built and the first school taught by Sabra Blodgett, in the 
winter of 1827-28, the building being constructed 16 by 20 feet, of two-inch 
plank placed horizontally, and for want of nails dovetailed at the corners. In 
1 83 1 a more substantial structure was erected and paid for by subscription. 
Some years later another school was established in the lower part of the town. 
There are now two districts in the township, separated by a strip of timber. 
The present school-house in Corydon village — a good one — was built in 1883 
at an expense of about $2,500. There are two departments. The principal 
is Thomas Firth, and the assistant is Miss Emma Price. It is stated that the 
attendance is about ninety. 

Although the Methodist Episcopal denomination have had a church organ- 
ization here for many years — almost from the beginning of the history of the 
township — they worshiped in school-houses, and were under the care of min- 
isters from other parts of the county until recent years. The present edifice, 
the only one in town, was begun in the spring of 1883, and dedicated on the 
26th of August, 1886. It cost about $3,000. The present pastor is Rev. S. 
Dimick, though the construction of the church was commenced under the pas- 
torate of the Rev. D. M. Carpenter, who was followed by Rev. William Bran- 
son. Mr. Dimick resides at Kinzua. The church now has a membership of 



566 History of Warren County. 

about thirty. The trustees are : President, Joseph Green ; secretary, F. R. 
Case ; treasurer, Jay White ; and the Rev. William Branson and T. P. Jaquay. 
Mr. Dimick is the Sabbath-school superintendent, and M. H. Wilcox his 
assistant. 



CHAPTER L. 

HISTORY OF PITT.^FIELD TOWNSHIP. 

THE township of Pittsfield was formed from the old townships of Spring 
Creek and Brokenstraw. The report of the commissioners appointed by 
the court is dated June 5, 1847, but the order confirming the report is not on 
record. The township, as now constituted, is nearly a parallelogram in form, 
extending at greater distance north and south than east and west, and lies 
west of the center of the county, being south of P^reehold and Sugar Grove, 
west of Brokenstraw and Deerfield, north of Deerfield, and east of Eldred and 
Spring Creek. The township derived its name from Pittsfield, Mass., from 
which a number of the most prominent pioneers emigrated hither. Broken- 
straw Creek flows through the township and both Garland and Pittsfield vil- 
lages, in a general easterly direction, and with the Little Brokenstraw Creek, 
which flows into the Brokenstraw at Pittsfield village, from the northern part 
of the township, and several smaller tributaries of that stream, furnishes the 
natural drainage of this part of the county. 

Early Settlements. — Notwithstanding the comparative recency of its forma- 
tion, Pittsfield township was settled at a very early date. This is owing to the 
opportunities offered to the enterprising lumberman of early times by the 
heavy growth of timber hereabouts and the ease of transportation afforded by 
the Brokenstraw. The first settler on the territory now comprised within the 
limits of Pittsfield township was certainly Robert Andrews ; at least, he was the 
first one who settled here with an idea of remaining, and the first who did 
remain any length of time. Several years previous to the dawn of this century 
he came across the Ohio River from Wellsville, O., and thence to the mouth 
of Little Brokenstraw Creek, where he erected either the first or second saw- 
mill in Warren county, the first honor being contested by the Mead brothers, 
of Brokenstraw. As early as 1820 he removed to Steubenville, O., after sell- 
ing his mill property to two of his sons, James and Arthur. A few years later 
he returned as far as Spring Creek, where he died at an advanced age. He 
was a justice of the peace here for several years, and was a prominent man. 
His sons, Moses, Arthur, James, and Robert, the first named of whom now 



PiTTSFiELD Township. 567 



lives in Garland, were all prominent men in later days, though even the day 
of their strength began earl}'. They all have children in town now and are 
well represented. 

The following named men were settlers in Pittsfield, as it now is limited, 
previous to 1806, and were mentioned in the first tax list of the county, pre- 
pared in that year : 

Robert Bonner lived here from that time, or earlier, until his death, not far 
from the year 1840. He was a bachelor, and lived on a farm just east of the 
site of Garland. His brother James, at this time also a bachelor, lived near 
him at a later date, although at this time he was operating a saw-mill and 
grist-mill in Spring Creek. Both of the brothers were well educated, both 
were good business men, and both acquired a good property. James married 
many years after the time of which we are writing, and reared a family of 
three daughters and two sons. Both sons, John and James, and one daughter, 
are now residing in Pittsfield. James Bonner, sr., is said to have died some 
twenty-five years ago. 

Joseph Goodwin lived in 1806 at what is known as the Dugway, in this 
township, where some of his descendants are now living. 

Samuel Ford, a bachelor, lived a short distance east of Pittsfield village for 
a great many years, and until his death a number of years ago. He lived 
with his brother, Obed Ford, who survived him a number of years. The place 
is now in the hands of William Shutt, who married a daughter of Obed Ford. 
John Ford, now residing in Pittsfield, is a son of Obed Ford, and married Je- 
rusha, daughter of Mark C. Dalrymple, who, we shall soon see, was one of the 
most prominent men ever in this part of the county. 

William Adams lived near the mouth of Little Brokenstraw, and engaged 
quite extensively in lumbering. He moved away many years ago. 

Stout Chamberlain settled on the Little Brokenstraw about three miles 
above Pittsfield village. He was appropriately named, for he was a man of 
gigantic stature, and used his strength well in clearing his place, which is now 
occupied by Almyron Mclntyre. The apple trees which Stout Chamberlain 
set out are still in life, and bear fruit. Mr. Chamberlain was a man of great 
energy, but did not take much interest in public matters. He reared some- 
thing of a family here, but moved away previous to 1820. 

William Carpenter lived in the western part of what is now Pittsfield town- 
ship, previous to 1806, near the site of Garland, where he cleared and culti- 
vated quite a farm. He was a Revolutionary soldier, it is said, and was a man 
of rough, brusque manners, though not evil-hearted. He was very enterprising 
and industrious. He died, probably previous to 1820, and was succeeded on 
his farm for a time by his son George. There are none of the family now in 
town. 

Richard Cunningham lived, in 1806, on a farm about a mile above the 



568 History df Warren County. 



present residence of Hugh Long, in the western part of the township. He 
went away as early as 1815. 

James Justice settled on the Little Brokenstraw about a mile above Pitts- 
field village, on the farm now occupied by John Mead. He made quite a 
clearing, but went away as early as 18 10 or 18 12, and for a number of years 
the land ran to waste. John Justice was his son, and removed from this part 
of the country with his father. 

George Long was born in Martinsburg, Va., early enough to take an active 
part in the War of the Revolution, and to witness the surrender of Cornwallis 
at Yorktown. About the year 1796 he settled some six miles above the site 
of Garland, in Spring Creek, where he built and operated a saw-mill. About 
181 1 or 1812 he removed to the western part of the present township of Pitts- 
field, and built another saw-mill, where he spent the remainder of his life. He 
also owned about two hundred acres of land, and though he at first confined 
his attention principally to lumbering, he afterward cultivated a good part of 
his land. Hugh Long, who now lives in Pittsfield township, is the son of 
George and Isabel Long, and was born in what is now Spring Creek township 
on the 2d of February, 1802. He has lived in Pittsfield township ever since 
coming with his father, nearly eighty years ago. He reared a family of three 
daughters and two sons, all but one son of whom are living. Daniel Long 
resides with his father. 

John Long, a single man, and a brother of George Long, was here in 1806, 
or rather in Spring Creek, and afterward here for a short time, but did not 
remain a great length of time. 

John Miller, who married a daughter of Robert Andrews, had settled near 
his father-in-law, at the mouth of Little Brokenstraw. He was engaged quite 
extensively in the lumber trade, but removed to Ohio, probably as earl)- as 
1815. None of his descendants are now in Pittsfield. 

Daniel McQuay owned for several years previous to 1806 about 400 acres 
of land just west of the site of Pittsfield village. He was one of the best pilots 
on the river, and frequently went down the river on rafts and boats with lum- 
ber as far as New Orleans, walking back. He was one of the earliest settlers 
in town, and was probably on this place very soon after Robert Andrews came 
to the mouth of Little Brokenstraw. He reared quite a family, but died here 
before 1825, and his descendants, so far as known, have gone to other parts. 

Hugh McGuire was a settler before 1806 on a farm about three-fourths of 
a mile west of Pittsfield village. Like McOuay and many other early settlers, 
he combined farming and lumbering, and often piloted rafts of lumber down 
the river. He was a very hard-working man, and was prominent for the zeal 
with which he minded his own business, and refrained from interfering with 
the affairs of others. He was a soldier of the War of 18 12, and was stationed 
with the forces at Erie. His death occurred here probably thirty-three or 



PiTTSFiELD Township. 569 

thirty-five years ago. His two sons, James and H. I. Maguire (as the name 
is now spelled), and three daughters, Mrs. W. E. Stright, Mrs. Polly Langley, 
and Mrs. John Wilson, are now residing in Pittsfield township. 

William McClain was an early farmer, and to some extent a lumberman, 
who lived, about the beginning of this century, on a farm a mile west of Pitts- 
field village. He was a quiet, industrious man, with a large family, none of 
whom are now living in this township. John and George Long purchased his 
farm and property about 1815 or 18 16, immediately whereupon he moved 
down the river. 

Joseph Gray owned a saw-mill thus early on the site of Garland. Not 
long after the period of which we are writing, however, he removed to Irvin- 
ton, or its site, and later still went to Warren, where he died a short time pre- 
vious to 1825. His daughter, Eleanor, became the wife of Hugh Long in 
1826, and died in this township in 1847. 

Giles White was a farmer living about three-fourths of a mile east of Gar- 
land, where he died of the camp fever epidemic of 1813. He was a hard work- 
ing man, and was the right sort of a pioneer to improve the condition of the 
community, both materially and morally. He had a family of five sons — Dodd, 
William, Samuel, James, and Harry, all of whom remained until their deaths 
in this township, and the children of whom are yet in Pittsfield. 

Among the settlers who arrived in Pittsfield between the years 1806 and 
1 8 16, when another tax list was made out, the following were probably the 
most prominent : Stophel Gearhart settled on a part of the same farm, afterward 
added to the possessions of Hugh McGuire. He was a Dutchman, a married 
man, and the father of one child, named Polly. He went out of the county 
into the Oil Creek country at an early day. 

James Darling was a millwright, and came here from Statcn Island. His 
first work was the construction of the mill of George Long, in Pittsfield. He 
soon afterward went to Kinzua, and left no descendants in this township. 

Paul Huffman lived nearly a mile east of Pittsfield village, having an in- 
terest in a saw-mill near his farm. He remained on this place until his death 
not many years ago, and a number of his children are now living in Pittsfield 
and other parts of the State. His brother, Jacob Huffman, lived down the 
Brokenstraw in Brokenstraw township. 

Cookson Long, brother of Hugh, worked in his father's mill about this 
period and for some time afterward. About 1S59 or i860 he went to Michi- 
gan, where he died soon after. 

Samuel Moore lived a short distance west of Garland. He engaged suc- 
cessfully in farming until his death, only ten or fifteen years ago. He was a 
man of quiet and industr\-. One son, William, and several daughters now re- 
side in Eldred township. 

Robert Prather settled on the Brokenstraw a little more than a mile east of 



570 History of Warren County. 

the site of Garland, and erected a saw- mill on his place the same day that 
George Long began his mill in this township. Before many years Prather sold 
out to James and Harry White and went down the river. 

Thomas Page lived about three miles from Pittsfield village on the little 
Brokenstraw. He was a farmer and a brother-in-law of Daniel Horn. He 
died on this place twenty-five or thirty years ago, and the home farm is now 
in possession of his son Richard. 

Jesse Sims was a pilot on the river and was a locomotive genius. He 
stayed as long near the site of Garland as anywhere, and at the time of his 
death, some twenty years ago, lived in Spring Creek. 

John Tuttle lived in Sugar Grove, but had an interest in the Prather mill, 
and, is therefore mentioned in the tax list for Brokenstraw. He is mentioned 
in the history of that township. 

Pittsfield Village. — The village of Pittsfield owes its origin to a man who 
has not been named yet, for he was not a setttler at so early a date as we have 
been considering — Mark C. Dairy mple. He was a native of Connecticut and a 
brother of Clark Dalrymple, one of the first settlers of Sugar Grove. His 
daughter, Mrs. Julia Acocks, now residing in Pittsfield village, is authority for 
the statement that Mark C. Dalrymple took up the tract now occupied by the 
Dalrymple family of Sugar Grove, and allowed his brother Clark to have the 
land in consideration of his care of their father and mother, whom he had gone 
to Connecticut for and brought back with him. About 1 8 1 2 or 1 8 1 3 he bought 
a hundred-acre piece of land a mile east of Irvine, on which he built a large 
house for a hotel. He afterward rented this property to Luke Turner. Mean- 
time Mr. Dalrymple, who was nothing if not speculative, and whose enter- 
prising mind was eager to reach out in all directions for business, had purchased 
the farm including the present site of the Pittsfield House, and in 1829 moved 
here with his family. He confined his attention to the clearing and cultiva- 
tion of this farm until 1832, when he built the first (story and a half) hotel on 
the site of the present hotel, and began to entertain travelers for a considera- 
tion. On the 26th of November, 1835, James L. Acocks married Julia, daugh- 
ter of Mr. Dalrymple (she being then but a little more than fifteen years and 
four months of age), and for two years after their marriage he continued to 
engage in his trade of wagon-making in Youngsville. In 1837 Mr. Acocks 
bought the hotel property in Pittsfield and removed here. He kept the hotel 
until it burned in 1853. He then rebuilt it as it now stands and kept it until 
his death on the 5th of August, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Acocks had three sons — 
Oliver Perry, Thomas L., who died in the army in 1862, and N. L., who was 
born on the 14th of March, 1853, and now manages the hotel business for his 
mother. Since the death of her husband, with the exception of two years 
when she rented the property, Mrs. Acocks has kept the hotel. She has thus 
been either wholly or partly manager of a hotel for fifty years in succession. 



PiTTSFiELD Township. 571 



If by the erection of the hotel Mr. Dalrymple formed the nucleus of the 
future village of Pittsfield, Mr. Acocks gave it its shape and name. He was 
from Pittsfield, Mass., and succeeded in giving the post-office, which was estab- 
lished here at his solicitation and under his care as postmaster, the name of his 
birthplace. He and Mr. Dalrymple laid out the village into lots. For sixteen 
years after his appointment, which was soon after his arrival, Mr. Acocks con- 
tinued to act in the capacity of postmaster. 

Mark C. Dalrymple died on the 28th of April, 1873, aged eighty- four years 
and sixteen days. He had been twice married, and his first wife, Phebe, died 
on the i6th of September, 1841, aged forty-nine years ; his second wife, Eliza, 
died on the i6th of October, 1865, aged sixty-five years. David Dalrymple, 
father of Mark C, died on the 22d of August, 1840, aged seventy-eight years. 
He was a soldier of the Revolution, and lies buried in the cemetery at Pitts- 
field village. His wife, Jennette, died February 10, 1839, aged seventy-seven 
years. Mark Dalrymple bears the distinction of having been 'the first sheriff 
of Warren county, and of having been one of the most prominent and respected 
men in the county during his period. His son, David R. Dalrymple, is now a 
resident of Pittsfied village, and has been justice of the peace for a quarter of 
a century. His abilities, as well as his experience, qualify him completely for 
the office, or a higher one. 

Previous to the naming^of the post-office by Mr. Acocks, the village was 
universally known as " The Corners." 

When Mr. Dalrymple came to this town in 1829 there was no village here, 
to speak of There was only one house on the site of the business portion of 
the village, and that was of logs and was erected by Mr. Dalrymple near the 
middle of the present north and south street, and on the south side of the 
street that leads east and west. The north and south street was not then 
opened. There was no store nearer than Youngsville, and much of the trad- 
ing was done in Warren. At that time Robert Andrews, jr., was operating 
the mills at what is now Garland. There had been an old mill on the rise of 
ground north of the site of th^^ittsfield House, which had then but recently 
burned. About one and a half miles north of the site of Pittsfield village was 
a saw-mill owned and operated by Chester Bills. Another old mill between 
Pittsfield and Garland, as they now stand, belonged to George Long. Half a 
mile east of Pittsfield stood the McKinney mill, so called probably because it 
was owned by John McKinney, of Brokenstraw. A few years after this time 
the lumber business became prominent, beyond the power of conception of the 
younger portion of the population of to-day. Mrs. Acocks has often, she says, 
prepared breakfast for 150 raftsmen, during the high water season. 

The first store in Pittsfield village was opened and kept by James L. Acocks, 
not far from 1840, in the little building now standing at the rear of I. A. Whit- 
ney's store. After a number of years he sold out. In 1862 his son, O. P. 

37 



572 History of Warren County. 

Acocks, opened a store in the same building, enlarged, and continued there for 
nearly fifteen years. 

More than thirty years ago, Wetmore, Ludlow, Whitney & Robinson built 
the store building now occupied by Ayers & Stright. About 1858 or 1859 — 
according to Mrs. Acocks — they were followed by Ezra Chaffee, who, after a 
few years, built the store now occupied by I. A. Whitney. Soon after he sold 
his goods to his son, Clarence Chaffee, and his brother-in-law, Moody Watson, 
who kept store there several years. Ezra Chaffee then sold the building to 
Mr. Whitney. The extensive mills now owned by James, Darsie, Percy, and 
George McGrew, under the name of McGrew Brothers, were completed in 1856 
by A. H. Ludlow & Co., consisting of A. H. Ludlow, L. D. Wetmore, Elisha 
Robinson, and A. Kingsley. McGrew Brothers came to Pittsfield to engage 
in oil operations during the early oil excitement of twenty years ago or more, 
and have since then engaged in lumbering. 

L A. Whitney began to deal in general merchandise in this village in 1873, 
establishing the business himself. He moved into his present quarters in 1S82. 
His stock is valued at about $12,000. The drug store and trade in general 
merchandise, now conducted by S. S. Connely, was practically established by 
him in July, 1879, though he then succeeded V. V. Parmer. He now carries 
stock worth about $2,500. The trade in dry goods, groceries, and general 
merchandise, now conducted by B. J. Ayers and W. E. Stright, under the 
firm name of Ayers & Stright, was founded by Mr. Ayers in 1868. The pres- 
ent partnership was formed in the spring of 1882. 

Bucher, Maltby & Co. have been engaged in operating the saw and stave- 
mill, now in their possession, about six years, at this writing. 

The Post-office. — As before stated the post-office was established in Pitts- 
field village not far from the year 1 840, by the appointment of James L. Acocks 
as postmaster. He retained the position si.xteen years. He was succeeded 
by Leroy L. Lowry, of the mercantile firm of L. L. & N. A. Lowry, the mem- 
bers of which came from Jamestown about this time and traded here a number 
of years. The postmasters in the order of their service since then have been 
Ezra Chaffee, Clarence Chaffee, J. B. Ayers, and the present incumbent, I A. 
Whitney, who was appointed in the fall of 1885. 

Garland. — Joseph Gray was probably the first settler on the site of the 
village of Garland, as he built a saw-mill on the ground now occupied by that 
of Hill & Andrews. This was as early as 1800, and it was but a few years 
before William Carpenter succeeded him in the mill. It was a very small 
affair, and was not capable of turning out lumber fast. The bottom of the old 
dam is still visible in low water. About 1825 James Andrews, son of Robert 
Andrews, sr., came here, purchasing his property of H. J. Huidekoper. His 
house was built near the mill. He had a saw-mill across the creek from the 
Carpenter mill, which he kept in operation for a few years. About 1833 or 



PiTTSFiELD Township. 573 



1834 he exchanged his property here for property owned by his brothers, 
Moses and Robert, on Spring Creek, seven miles from the site of Garland, and 
they then removed to this place. They rebuilt the mill and kept it in opera- 
tion until the death of Robert Andrews, on the first day of March, 1850. His 
death occurred by drowning, near the mill. He was one of the twelve children 
of Robert Andrews, sr. Robert Andrews, sr., had two daughters and a son, 
John, by his first wife ; and four sons, James, Arthur, Robert, and Moses, and 
five daughters, by his second wife. 

The name Garland originated in a peculiar manner. An Irishman formerly 
lived on the site of the village, who emigrated from the city of MuUingar, in 
Ireland, and succeeded in imparting the name, in a much corrupted form, to 
the community to which he had moved. The little collection of mills and 
stores here was soon known in the surrounding country as "The Gar." When 
Rev. J. McMaster obtained the establishment of the post-office at this point 
he did not like the unclassical name of " The Gar," and after much thought 
and consultation determined to name it Gar-land, or Garland. 

The first store in Garland was opened about 1854 by Dunstan Patch, who 
sent his first stock of goods by river from Covington, Ky., by his son Simeon. 
Here Simeon built a rough structure on the site of the present Johnson House. 
The building afterward burned. Patch continued to trade here for a number 
of years, and was finally followed by Truman Pierce. W. B. Sterrett & Co. 
followed Pierce, and received an accession to their business of H. F. Andrews, 
who in time himself owned all the stock and the trade. The next store was 
built by William Langley, on the lot now occupied by O. D. Horn, some five 
years after the beginning of Pierce's trade. These two stores were for many 
years the only ones in the village. 

Hiram F. Andrews has been dealing in general merchandise in Garland since 
1865, when he went into a building which had been erected by Truman Pierce. 
This building was destroyed by fire, and about five years ago he built the 
structure which he now uses as a store, and also went into the trade in hard- 
ware. His partner in the general store is D. J. McMillan. 

The drug store of Morris & Neill was started in the fall of 1871 by C. S. 
Morris, who, at that time, erected the building which he still occupies. On 
the 1st of November, 1883, A. D. Neill was admitted to partnership with him. 
Mr. Morris also owns a circular saw-mill and is largely interested in the man- 
ufacture and sale of lumber. 

O. D. Horn, dealer in general merchandise, has kept a store in Garland 
nearly fourteen years at the time of this writing. He has been unusually suc- 
cessful in his trade. 

The first mill that was started in the village of Garland since the birth of 
the village was erected by Hiram F. Andrews, in 1871, the year of the open- 
ing of the Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley and Pittsburgh Railroad. There have 



574 History of Warren County. 

since then been several owners of this property. The present owners are 
Robert Hill and Hiram F. Andrews, under the firm style of Hill & Andrews. 
Its capacity is not far from 20,000 feet a day. 

The saw-mill of J. B. Moore and H. F. Andrews (Moore & Andrews), sit- 
uated about a mile below Garland, on the Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley and 
Pittsburgh Railroad, also has the capacity for sawing about 20,000 or 25,000 
feet of lumber a day. It was built by L. J. McNutt about 1880. 

The mill of the McGrew Brothers, at Pittsfield village, already mentioned, 
has the capacity for turning out about 30,000 feet a day. The present propri- 
etors bought the property of E. W. Ross, who was one of the most expert 
lumbermen in the northwestern part of the State. 

O. D. and D. D. Horn, under the style of Horn Brothers, own and operate 
a saw-mill near Garland of about the same capacity as that of Hill & Andrews. 
They have been connected with this mill since about 1 880. They are 
grandsons of Daniel Horn, an early settler in Spring Creek, and are sons of 
Hiram Horn, who previously owned the timbered lot on which the mill now 
stands. 

Z. Mickle owns and operates a saw-mill, of about 10,000 capacity, a mile 
and a half from Garland. He bought the mill some three years ago of James 
Upton, who acquired it of the builder, C. D. Scott, The mill was constructed 
about five years ago. 

Henry Kepple's saw-mill, at Torpedo, built about five years ago, has a 
capacity for sawing about 10,000 feet of lumber a day. 

The Post-office. — The first postmaster at Garland was Rev. J. McMaster, 
who was appointed about 1854 or 1855, but had the office at his house about 
a mile below the village. In 1856 Hiram F. Andrews was appointed, and held 
the position four years. He was succeeded by Horace Lyman, and Lyman 
soon after by Truman Pierce. William Langley then held the office and gave 
place for a short time to Truman Pierce, who in turn yielded the office to 
Langley under Grant's administration. C. S. Morris followed Langley and was 
followed by the present incumbent, D. J. McMillan, who owes his appointment 
to President Cleveland. 

The Johnson House was built in 1856, and James Johnson soon acquired it, 
and kept it until he died. Since then his heirs have owned it. S. Hill is the 
present proprietor. The hotel of William Hathaway was opened in about 
1882. 

Torpedo. — This is a small village of recent origin, situated in the western 
part of the township. The first mill built here was by John Garner & Sons, 
as early, probably, as 1845. The mill went down within ten or twelve years, 
and the site remained unoccupied by an active mill until about 1875 or 1876, 
when E. W. Ross, of Pittsfield village, and his son, James Ross, of Jamestown, 
N. Y., built a larger mill on the ground and operated it under the firm name 



PiTTSFiELD Township. 575 

of E. W. Ross & Son. It was operated by steam and had a capacity for saw- 
ing about 30,000 feet of lumber a day. After five or six years they sold to 
Henry McConnell, together with 100 acres of land. Mr. McConnell immedi- 
ately built the works over and constructed one hundred vats for a tannery. He 
and his partner, William Richardson, of Hornellsville, N. Y., under the name 
of McConnell & Richardson, now carry on the business, which has grown to 
extensive proportions. H. E. McConnell, son of Henry, has the only store in 
the place, which he opened at the time of the beginning of operations with the 
tannery. He has also recently been appointed the first postmaster of the place, 
and has a shingle-mill there. These interests, with Kepple's mill before men- 
tioned, constitute the principal business of the place. 

The name Torpedo was acquired in a manner more startling and not less 
unusual than that of Garland. In the winter of 1882-83, a torpedo or gl}'cer- 
ine wagon on its way from Titusville, and just ofi" the end of the bridge near 
the railroad track which it was to cross, was delayed long enough by the fall- 
ing of one of the horses, to be struck by a passenger train in almost full speed. 
It was tipped over and one of the horses carried by the engine several yards. 
The wagon happened to be in deep mud, which broke the shock, and an 
explosion, which would almost certainly killed every person on board the train, 
beside the driver of the torpedo wagon and others who had the hardihood to 
try to remove the wagon from the track in the face of the flying passenger 
train. This propitious result of the accident has been memorized by the 
endowment of the name Torpedo to the village. 

The only other post-office in the township is called Dugall, and was estab- 
lished about 1855 by the appointment of Oscar Erickson, who also owns and 
keeps a store at that place. The name of the vicinity was formerly for years 
" The Dugway," for an obvious reason. 

Schools and Cliiirclies. — There are now nine school buildings in the town- 
ship of Pittsfield, including the building in Garland village, which has three 
departments and an attendance numbering about 120 pupils, and the building 
at Pittsfield village, which has two departments and a smaller attendance. 

The first regularly organized religious society in the township was of the 
Presbyterian denomination, and centered at Garland. The most prominent of 
the early members of this church were Robert and Moses Andrews and their 
wives, James and Henry White and their wives, David Sanford and his wife, 
Jonathan Hamilton and his wife, and Jacob Young and his wife. They erected 
a church there about 1845. Previous to that time services were held in houses 
and barns. Many of the early congregations filled some barn to overflowing, 
young fellows being perched on the scaffolds and even on the big beam. The 
first pastor was the Rev. John McMaster, who was installed soon after the erec- 
tion of the edifice, and preached here and at Pittsfield for many years. The 
present pastor is the Rev. W. L. Breckenridge. 



576 History of Warren County. 

Previous to 1845 the Methodists had formed a class about Garland, of 
whom tlie leader was John McCray. His wife was also a member, in company 
with Mrs. Catharine Mandaville (grandmother of Hiram F. Andrews), Joseph 
Mead and wife, Samuel Sanford and others. They used to worship in the old 
school-house about a mile south of Garland, and after the completion of the 
Presbyterian Church frequently held meetings therein. About 1853 they built 
the house of worship which they still occupy. The present pastor is Rev. H. 
G. Hall. 

(For history of the Roman Catholic Churches in the county see History of 
Warren.) 

The Presbyterian Church at Pittsfield village was organized about 1852. 
The first meeting was held in the school-house at that place on the 27th of 
July, 1852, by Rev. John McMaster, who was the pastor of this church and 
that at Garland nearly or quite twenty years. The original members were, 
Paul Huft'man and Dorcas his wife, T. A. C. Everett and Julia his wife, William 
F. Dalrymple, Mrs. Catharine Long, Mrs. Ruth Ford, John P. Jones and Susan 
his wife, John Long, Mrs. Stephen Littlefield and Mrs. William B. Acocks. 
On the first of August following William F. Dalrymple and T. A. C. Everett 
were chosen and ordained ruling elders. The first and present church edifice 
was built of wood, at a cost of two thousand dollars, in 1854. Rev. John Mc- 
Master, Rev. John Gordon, and Rev. E. I. Davies are the only pastors who 
have had charge over this church. The membership of the church is now about 
thirty, and the value of the property about three thousand dollars. 

The Wesleyan Methodist Church at Pittsfield village was organized and 
their house of worship built about the year 1876. There is also a Swedish 
church here, built about five years ago. 



T' 



CHAPTER LI. 

HISTORY OF JIEAD TOWNSHIP. 

'HIS township was erected from portions of Sheffield, Kinzua and Pleasant 
X townships, the report of the commissioners being confirmed absolutely on 
the 7th of June, 1847. It lies east of the center of Warren county, and is 
bounded north by Allegheny River, separating it from Glade, east by Kinzua 
and a small part of Sheffield, south by Shefl^eld and Cherry Grove, and west 
by Pleasant. There are four post-oflnces in the township, each a nucleus of a 
more or less populous village or settlement, viz., Stoneham, Clarendon, North 
Clarendon, and Tiona. 



^"^k' 




Samuel Gkossenhurc; 



Mead Township. 577 



Settlement and Early Condition of the Toivnship. — The territory lying 
within the present boundary lines of this township was not generally inhabited 
by civilized man as early as many other portions of the county. Along the 
Allegheny River were a few early settlers, some of them squatters, who have 
left no impress of their settlement. The most prominent and permanent, as 
well as the earliest of the settlers, were three brothers, Jeremiah, Samuel, and 
James Morrison, who came from Jersey Shore, Pa., at least as early as 1800, 
and made clearings and built habitations on the south bank of the river, in the 
northern part of the township, on the site of the present Rogers mill. In the 
list of taxables for 1806 they were each taxed with a one- third interest in a 
saw-mill, which stood where the Rogers mill now stands. They have many 
descendants in Warren county at this day. 

But immigration did not penetrate into the depths of the wilderness for 
nearly forty years after the beginning of this century. When, in 1839, Sam- 
uel Grossenburg, of whom there is a biographical sketch in this volume, im- 
migrated hither from Warren, there were but four or five families living within 
the limits of the township as it is now bounded. Mr. Grossenburg's nearest 
neighbor was Joseph Haaser, his brother-in-law, who occupied the farm next 
north from that on which Mr. Grossenburg settled, and on which he recently 
died. About 1841 Haaser sold to Michael Itle, who remained here a number 
of years, dividing his time between lumbering and farming. 

His next neighbor was Alson Rogers, on the river near Glade, whose sons. 
Burton, Alson, and Lucien, live there now. In 1839 the old mill had gone to 
decay and had not been rebuilt. The site of Stoneham in 1839 was known as 
the Rink farm, from the fact that one Jacob Rink had been been living there, 
and had made quite a clearing and planted an orchard, one tree of which re- 
mains to this day. Rink had gone west a short time previous to 1839. ^^ ^'^^ 
Francis Yost were the first settlers — after the Morrison family — in this town- 
ship. Yost settled as early as 1827 on the farm now owned and occupied by Mrs. 
Grossenburg and the one next north. It was then a part of Kinzua township. 
About 1838 he went to Rock Island county, 111., where Rink had gone. In 
1839 a Mr. Wheeler owned and operated a saw-mill on the siteof Tiona, which 
he afterward sold out to Amasa Ransom. The mill of Clapp & Co. stands on 
the same site. The township derived its name from Darius Mead, who came 
here at the same time as Alson Rogers, with whom he acted in partnership. 
In 1839 the mail was carried through this part of the county from Warren to 
Ridgeway on horseback, and distributed along the route. It was in the year 
1832 that Francis Yost began to work on a portion of the Warren and Ridge- 
way turnpike, the first traversable road in the township. The mail was first 
carried in 1833 by Daniel T. Stanton. Previous to the opening of the turn- 
pike the only track for travel through the town was a footpath from Warren 
to Barnes in Sheffield, which led to the east of the turnpike and occasionally 
crossed its lines. 



578 History of Warren County. 

To lay before the reader a description affording a true idea of the strides 
made in settlement and improvement for the next thirty years, we cannot do 
better than to quote, substantially, from D. W. Brennan, of North Clarendon, 
whose residence in town began in 1868. Mr. Brennan was born in Dover, 
Morris county, N. J., on the 5th of April, 1825 ; married Sarah A. Cantrell, a 
native of Ireland, at Monticello, N. Y., where he was then living, on the 3d of 
June, 185 I, and in 1868 came to this township from Chemung county, N. Y. 
He removed into his present dwelling house in March, 1870. 

According to his statements the township had advanced very little in either 
settlement or improvement. There was a small tannery at Stoneham and a 
clearing of perhaps I GO acres. There was no settlement at the village of 
Clarendon. The clearings along the river were about as they were in 1839. 
Samuel Grossenburg had perhaps the most extensive clearing on his farm. 
The rest of the township was a dense wilderness; the pine trees had been taken 
away, but hemlock timber was still thickly distributed through the forests, and 
had attained a large size. There were no families between the river and Stone- 
ham, though there were nearly a dozen families about that place. Between 
Stoneham and the Grossenburg farm lived David Riddlesperger. About in 
the center of the present borough of Clarendon lived Thomas J. Place, Gross- 
enburg's nearest neighbor in that direction. Near the present Catholic Church 
Mr. Brennan made a small clearing and occupied a small house. Nelson EI- 
son resided in what is now the south part of the borough, which is still in the 
possession, as owners, of his heirs. About half a mile southwest of the pres- 
ent borough limits had settled a farmer by the name of C. M. Davis. There 
were no other buildings in that direction until the farm of C. K. Bean, in the 
north part of what is now Tiona, was reached. Mr. Bean was engaged both 
in agriculture and lumbering. Joseph Hall, now of Louisville, Ky., owned 
and operated a saw-mill at Tiona, and had considerable property there. He 
and his men were the only inhabitants of that part of the town. The com- 
munity was known as Halltown, the name Tiona having been a gift of the rail- 
road. Stoneham had then derived its name from Leroy Stoneham, an early 
settler there. Previous to 1868, while the railroad was in process of construc- 
tion, and until 1872, there had been a post-office for a short time in the cen- 
tral part of the present borough, which was known by the euphonious title of 
Pattonia, from Thomas Patton, a contractor on the road ; it was then changed 
to Clarendon, in honor of Thomas Clarendon, of New York city, the partner 
of F. H. Rockwell. About 1869 or 1870 a post-office was established at Stone- 
ham by the appointment of J. K. Palmer as postmaster. He was afterward 
succeeded by Willard W. White. The next post-office was established at 
Tiona, soon after 1870, John Wood being the governmental appointee. At 
the older village of Clarendon, about 1874 or 1875, F. H. Rockwell was ap- 
pointed the first postmaster. About 1880 Max Koch had a penny-post be- 



Mead Township. ' 579 



tween Clarendon and North Clarendon, which resulted in his appointment as 
the first postmaster of North Clarendon. His successors are as follows : N. M. 
Orr, H. E. Norris, and the present incumbent, A. H. Simpson, who was ap- 
pointed in June, 1885. 

Of the various mills and manufacturing industries in the township it may 
be said : The tannery at Stoneham was started about the year 1868, by Palmer, 
Hill & Co., who after a time failed. Charles Boardman owned the property 
for a brief period, and was followed by W. W. White. White & Co. now own 
and operate this mill. 

F. H. Rockwell started the tannery and saw-mill at Clarendon village about 
seven years ago. Brown Brothers & Co. started their saw-mill and planing- 
mill at North Clarendon about six or seven years ago. 

There are now five saw-mills in town, that of the Rogers Brothers, Burton 
Alson and Lucien (sketch of Alson Rogers, in other pages) ; that of Edward 
Armstrong in the north part of the township at the head of Dutchman's Run, 
which has been there seven years ; that of F. H. Rockwell at Clarendon ; that 
of Brown Brothers & Co., at North Clarendon, and that of Edward Clapp & 
Co., at Tiona. This mill was purchased from Hall by E. G. Wood, who sold 
to the present owners about 1870 or 1871. 

The Boroitgh of Clarendoti. — We have seen that the borough of Clarendon 
is of recent origin even as a settlement. It is purely a product of oil oper- 
ations and oil excitement, and has had a mushroom growth that would indi- 
cate in most villages a rapid decline and an early death. From its local sit- 
uation and the other interests that have been founded here, however, it is quite 
evident that this borough is destined to a longer career of prosperity than most 
oil towns. It may be that the oil excitement and the free circulation of cur- 
rency that accompanies the fever will be ephemeral and that the time will 
come when gloomy prophets will think they see their predictions on the road 
to verification ; but it is more than probable that the near future has for Clar- 
endon a more healthy growth and a more solid prosperity than has been its 
lot in the past. 

The borough was chartered in the spring of 1882, when the following offi- 
cers were chosen : W. P. Nutting, burgess, resigned and immediately succeeded 
by J. R. Clark ; councilmen, J. R. Clark, Dr. J. W. Heath, L. E. McNett, J. 
B. Davis, R. J. Thompson, and G. M. Hill ; clerk, F. M. Aiken, resigned and 
succeeded by John A. Wilson ; treasurer, L. E. McNett. 

A considerable part of the land in Clarendon borough is leased, the owners 
numbering but three or four. All of the land within the limits of the borough, 
and south of the Sheffield road, was leased by Cornelius Eleston, and reverts 
to his heirs. That north of the Sheffield road was originally owned by James 
Aiken, who sold out; James Barrett, who leased his property ; Martin Flana- 
gan, who sold out ; James Malone, who merely leased his right, and Thomas 
Grace, who yet owns the soil, having sold merely an oil right. 



S8o History of Warren County. 

To show how sudden has been the rise of Clarenden borough, a resident of 
the village has given the following description of the site as it was in 1878. 
The only business here then was the planing and saw-mill of Brown Brothers 
& Co. (this mill is not now running). The only residents on Main street were 
James Barrett, James Jackson, James Eagan, Henry Welch, Martin Flanagan, 
James Malone, Thomas Grace, Robert Thompson, John Burns, L. E. McNett, 
John Belz, and Stacy Coggswell. James Kelly lived on Erie street, on the 
south side of the railroad, and Albert Wood had just built a house near the 
tannery property. These were the only inhabitants of the village. The first 
impulse toward the growth of a village was probably received as many as ten 
years ago, when the first oil well in the vicinity was drilled on Dutchman's Run 
by Samuel Towles. 

When the Keystone House was built by J. W. Crawford in 1882 (since 
June, 1883, it has been kept by T. H. Willoughby), the oil excitement had 
reached about its highest pitch. The Narrow Gauge Railroad was not then 
open, and the Plank Road from North Clarendon to Garfield brought its toll- 
keepers in from $100 to $150 a day. All the hotels and boarding-houses 
were crowded with people, willing to pay the best of prices for meals and lodg- 
ing, while others often failed to find a suitable place whereon to lay their 
heads. Well No. 646 in Garfield, opened in March, 1882, was producing 
nearly 2,500 barrels a day. Oil well supply stores were opened, and had a 
flourishing trade. There are now in Clarendon borough four large stores 
which keep a stock of oil well supplies — the Jarecki Manufacturing Company, 
the store of L. Emery, jr., the Oil Well Supply Company (limited), a stock 
company, of which John Eaton is president, E. T. Howes, treasurer, and K. 
Chickering, secretary, and the supply company and general hardware store of 
Beecher & Copeland, which is a part of the business which this firm have 
established in Warren. 

The first store in what is now the borough of Clarendon was that of J. N. 
Thompson, which he kept about a year from 1880. G. M. Hill, baker, and 
dealer in groceries and provisions, located here in October, 1880, and was the 
first merchant to settle here from away. Soon after this, or about the same 
time, Asa Phillips established the Central drug store, as it is now called. The 
present proprietor, C. S. McCandless, purchased it of W. P. Turner in 1881. 
Next was started, in 1880, the dry goods store of Levi H. Hershfield, which 
was purchased by R. N. Hershfield, his brother, in July, 1885. Since then 
the following stores, named about in the order of their establishment, have 
been started and continued to the present: In 188;, drug store, established 
by Thomas Grifiith, now owned by Dr. D. P. Robbins and F. N. Chapin, the 
former of whom has had charge of it since October, 1881 ; the general store 
of T. S. Flynn. started by T. S. Flynn & Co., on the i6th of May, 1881 ; the 
shoe store of G. S. Rittmeier, founded in October, 1881 ; the news, stationery 



Mead Township. 581 



and variety store of DriscoU (J. H.) & Whitling (M. H.), the purchasers in No- 
vember, 1885, of the business which F. H. Cauley founded in 1881 ; the gro- 
cery of G. Brown, which he estabhshed in the spring of 1882 ; the business as 
merchant tailor of G. E. Ihlenfeld, started in August, 1882; the grocery and 
provision store of Boyd Brothers (H. P. and A. J.), which they started in Au- 
gust, 1882 ; the Palace drug store, established by W. H. Sanborn & Co. in the 
fall of 1882, and purchased in October, 1885, by Dr. J. C. Russell and M. E. 
Sanborn, who still conduct the trade under the name of Dr. J. C. Russell & 
Co.; the grocery and provision store of Thomas Painter, founded by him and 
his brother in August, 1883 ; the stoves and hardware store of H. Spitler, 
founded by him in June, 1883 ; the jewelry store of J. G. Lemmer, started in 
1883 ; the grocery of J. Stevenson, started two years ago or more; the dry 
goods store of I. Samuels, founded in the spring of 1885 ; the grocery and 
provision store of Goal (J. C.) & Weaver (Z. T.), established in August, 1885 ; 
the furnishing goods and clothing store founded by M. Harris, and now owned 
by his brother, Albert Harris, since September, 1885 ; the drug store which 
A. S. Knight founded in the fall of 1885 and still owns; the wholesale liquor 
store of James O. Allen, established by W. H. Crowell, who sold to the present 
proprietor in June, 1885 ; the trade in gentlemen's furnishing goods (we won't 
say gents'), started here in the fall of 1885 by M. Jackson & Brother, who own 
a similar business in Kane ; the trade as merchant tailor, conducted since 
April I, 1886, by C. Weil ; the tobacco store of James Morris, which has been 
under his management since April 12, 1886 ; the dry goods and fancy goods 
store of Henry L. Hershfield, which he founded in October, 1886; the furni- 
ture store opened on the 21st of October, 1886, by S. M. Rhodaberger ; and 
the confectionery and restaurant opened in November, 1886, by Mrs. W. J. 
Mullen. 

Hotels. — Besides the Keystone House, which has received mention, there 
are now in Clarendon borough the following hotels : The Clarendon Hotel, 
built at the beginning of Clarendon's history by Reed & O'Connor, improved 
in 1 88 1 by Captain W. H. Crowell, from Oil City, who was succeeded by T. 
W. Dempsey, and he in turn by the present landlord, K. Campbell ; the Henry 
House, built next after the last above named ; the Weaver House, built by Z. 
T. Weaver, and now kept by T, Mahoney ; and the hotel built by Carl Pru- 
dentz in 1883. 

The Opera House in Clarendon was built in 1881, at a cost of nearly 
$2,000, by Z. T. Weaver, T. S. Flynn, H. W. Brown and others, and has a 
seating capacity for about 400. The stock is now owned by T. S. Flynn and 
the estate of the Brown brothers. 

The IVhitiial Gas Company was organized in September, 18S4, as a mate- 
rial protest against the rise in the tariff resulting from the sale of a former 
company's stock to the Warren County Heat and Light Company. The mem- 



582 History of Warren County. 

bers of this company laid their own plant and claim to be the only company 
in the State which the Standard Oil Company cannot buy. It started on a 
basis of a $5,000 capital, which was doubled in a year. There are 500 share- 
holders. The first officers were H. C. Huntington, president; M. S. Booth, 
secretary ; T. S. Flynn, treasurer ; H. E. Norris, vice-president, and six 
directors. No member can hold more than ten shares, and each member has 
but one vote. No officer is empowered to sell the stock qf the company. 
The present officers are R. I. Shugart, president ; L. Murkett, vice-president ; 
J. W. Dunkle, secretary ; A. H. Simpson, treasurer ; H. Gandy, H. E. Wau- 
gaman, James Davis, T. S. Flynn, E. H. Bradley, and R. S. Gray, directors. 

The Fire Department, which now consists of two hose companies and a 
hook and ladder company, was organized in 188 1, by the election of A. R. 
Bahny, chief of the department. The companies have done remarkably good 
work since their organization, and by the bravery and zeal of their members 
have saved the borough thousands of dollars in property. 

Clarendon Village. — Three-fourths of a mile southwest of the depot is the 
location of the old town, which is owned entirely by F. H. Rockwell & Co. 
Some thirty-nine years ago a water mill was built near where the present 
steam mill stands, and for a number of years was owned and operated by 
Joseph Hall ; but in the course of time it was burned, and Hall sold the ad- 
joining land to a New York oil company about nineteen years ago. The oil 
fever failed to take permanent root in this section at that time, and no devel- 
opments were made. The first improvements worthy of note were begun in 
1 87 1 by F. H. Rockwell, of Honesdale, Pa., and Thomas Clarendon, of New 
York, under the firm name of Rockwell & Clarendon. During that summer 
the above firm erected a substantial saw-mill and tannery, built a number of 
residences for the families of their employees, and practically started the old 
town. 

Sehools and Chiaxhes. — The first school-house in the township was built 
not far from 1850, on what is now Main street in North Clarendon. It was 
roughly thrown together of logs, and was the work of Samuel Grossenburg, 
Michael Itle, " Sterry " Packard, and S. J. Severance. In 1854 school-house 
number three was built, Alson Rogers, S. J. Severance, S. Only, jr., N. S. 
Packard, Orren Hook, and Nash Abbott being directors. They were to pur- 
chase half an acre of land, for which they were not to pay to exceed twenty 
dollars, and were to pay not more than $240 for the school-house. Miss Mary 
Hodges was the first teacher, at the following wages : eight dollars a month, 
and eight dollars being allowed for her board and fuel for four months. In 
1855 school-house number two was built at an expense of $250. Sarah A. 
Shaw first taught in this building. Mary J. Brown taught the same year in 
number three. In 1856 school-house number one was built at an expense of 
$179. Sarah Jones taught the first school in this building. There are now 



Cherry Grove Township. 583 

six schools in the township, if we include three that are in Clarendon borough. 
The public school, having three departments, in the borough, was built in 
1879 by the township, and after the organization of the borough was pur- 
chased by it. 

There are seven churches in Mead township, one at Stoneham and the rest 
in Clarendon borough. (For the Roman Catholic Church, see history of War- 
ren). The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in September, 1885. 
The original members were Z. Salisbury and wife, A. H. Beighley and wife, 
E. A. Beighley, Ada Bean, Helen Howard, Mrs F. C. Campbell, Mrs. Morse, 
Flora Groat, Mary Ort, Catherine Spence, and others. The house of worship 
was erected — the Evangelical Church — in May, 1883, of wood, at an expense 
of fifteen hundred dollars, and the Methodists have held services therein ever 
since. The pastors of the Methodist Church have been as follows : C. W. 
Miner, Henry Reecer, A. B. Phillips. The present value of the church prop- 
erty is about $3,000. 

The Trinity Evangelical Church was organized in 1882, meetings being 
held at first in the old opera house under the direction of D. M. Baumgardner. 
His successors have been Revs. M. L. Weaver, from March, 1883, to April, 
1886, and C. H. Miller to the present. The first members were Solomon 
Funk and Ann, his wife, A. C. Houser, Elizabeth Houser, Elsa Houser, Cath- 
erine Wolf, J. W. Walter, Margaret Nail, Mary Nail, Jennie Farnsworth, Helen 
Van Gorder, Jacob Knopf, Anna Knopf The membership now numbers about 
eighty. Besides these churches and the Roman Catholic, of more recent for- 
mation, are the Episcopal Church, of which Rev. Joseph T. Wright is rector, 
meetings being held in Barn's hall ; the Congregational Church, Rev. Row- 
land, pastor, services being held once in two weeks ; and the Presbyterian 
Church, Rev. H. Webster, pastor, services being held Sunday mornings in the 
M. E. Church. 



CHAPTER LH. 

HISTORY OF CHERRY GROVE TOWNSHIP. 

CHERRY GROVE township was erected from the old township of Sheflield, 
on the 7th of December, 1847. Sheffield, Mead, and Cherry Grove were 
originally included in the old township of Kinzua. In the month of May, 
1832, Adam L. Pratt, now of Sheffield, and Richard Dunham, with his wife 
and infant child, crossed the Allegheny River at Shipman's Eddy, assisted by 
Matthew Morrison, and were met on the south side by John Inglesby, who 
had previously settled in the dense forests of Cherry Grove, but becoming dis- 



584 History of Warren County. 

heartened, had moved out again. He guided the party to his former home in 
Cherry Grove, which was about half a mile from the present residence of 
Montgomery Farnsworth, and on the site of Garfield. There they remained 
several weeks, while they repaired an old cabin on Dunham's land, about a 
mile to the north. In June they removed to this cabin, chopped and cleared 
ten acres, sowed it in wheat, and had an excellent crop in the ensuing season. 

The same year, 1832, a Mr. Gardner settled on what is now the Farns- 
worth place, and three brothers by the name of Coon, all young, unmarried 
men, settled about two miles west of Gardner. In the spring of 1833 Elijah 
Coon, the youngest of the three, was killed by a falling tree. A little previous 
to this time the parents of the Coon boys immigrated hither from Steuben 
county, N. Y., and occupied the improvements made by their sons. This was 
the beginning of the settlement of Cherry Grove. 

The township lies in the southern row of townships of Warren county, and 
is bounded north by Mead, Pleasant, and a corner of Watson, east by Sheffield, 
south by Forest county, and west by Limestone and Watson. It is not yet 
thickly settled, nor entirely, nor half cleared. The soil is good enough for 
farming purposes, but the rugged climate renders the seasons too short for 
agricultural achievements. It is frequently the case that sleighing lasts almost 
without intermission from November to the middle of April. A good portion 
of the present population now consists of Swedes and Danes, who come from 
a rugged climate, and therefore are better able to struggle with the Cherry 
Grove winters. 

In 1833 Richard Dunham left his farm in Cherry Grove and settled perma- 
nently in Sheffield. Silas Aber and H. Cooper, from New York State, settled 
in 1833 near the Farnsworth farm. They cleared a fine farm, by slow degrees. 
After the death of his wife Silas Aber returned to New York and left his 
property with his son, who remained on it until his deatii, in 1873. The prop- 
erty is now in the hands of his heirs. 

Josiah Farnsworth, a native of Vermont, when a young man went to the 
vicinity of Whitehall, N. Y., thence to Erie county in the same State, and soon 
after to Yankee Bush, in Conewango township in Warren county. Pa., and in 
August, 1835, settled in Cherry Grove, on the place now owned and occupied 
by his eldest son, Montgomery Farnsworth. This is about a mile east of Gar- 
field. Josiah Farnsworth had a family of nine children, eight of whom reached 
maturity. He died in December, 1857, aged about sixty-seven years. Two 
of his sons, John and Montgomery, now reside in Cherry Grove. 

Other settlers, who came previous to the formation of the township in 
1847, were as follows: 

Harrison Sweet came about 1840 and settled next west of the ['"arnsworth 
place, where he remained until his death, about 1853 or 1854. 

Ira S. Patterson came about 1845 and settled on the lot east of Josiah 



Cherry Grove Township. 585 

Farnsworth. He remained about five years and then went away. About 
1839 or 1840 Amos Young and his father, Jesse J. Young, settled for a time 
north of the Farnsworth place and near the present farm of E. M. Farnsworth. 
John M. Ford came soon after 1840 and settled on lot 687, in the eastern part 
of the township. About 1867 he went to Nebraska, soon came back to Shef- 
field, and later still went to Kansas. 

About 1837 Luther Whitcomb settled a short distance northeast of the 
site of Garfield. He now lives in Sheffield, where he went many years ago. 
He married a daughter of Thomas, brother of Josiah Farnsworth. 

With Luther Whitcomb came Thomas Farnsworth, his son Joseph, H. T. 
Houghton, and afterward Mrs. H. T. Houghton, and all settled on one lot 
near the site of Garfield. 

Josiah Farnsworth built the first saw-mill in the township, on his place, 
about 1853, and kept it in operation until his death. His eldest son operated 
it a year or two afterward, and then allowed it to go into decay. The mill 
now owned by John Farnsworth came into his hands in 1882. There are two 
other saw-mills now in town, both of recent construction, one owned by W. 
A. Ray and the other by L. B. Wood. 

Cherry Grove has exemplified the peculiarity of growth and decay incident 
to so many towns which have felt the thrill of petroleum excitement. In 1882 
George Demmick and his partner, Mr. Grace, while experimenting on the 
ground of Cherry Grove for oil, discovered that sparkling blood of the rocks 
in great quantities, and started the famous boom which led to the erection of a 
village almost in a day. Within two or three months people flocked to the 
site of Garfield (which was named from President Garfield), wells were drilled, 
shanties erected, dwellings built and stores and hotels raised, and a village of 
about 6,000 population palpitated on the old farm of Richard Dunham. There 
is now but one hotel, the Jamestown House, in the village. It was opened by 
Thomas Hill in 1882, and is now owned by John Farnsworth. There are 
only two stores, that of P. Wrin, who came in the spring of 1882, and that of 
Tiffany & Ewing, who bought out A. C. Myers, in June, 1885. Mr. Myers 
started about a month or six weeks after Mr. Wrin opened his store in 1882. 

As Cherry Grove was not organized until thirteen years after the passage 
of the school law of 1834, it was not troubled with the embarrassments and 
drawbacks of subscription schools that the older towns suffered. There are 
now three schools in the township, two in one building at Garfield, and one at 
r^arnsworth's. There is also a Union Church and a Roman Catholic Church, 
composed of Swedish and Danish congregations, at Garfield. 



History of Warren County. 

580 



CHAPTER LIII. 

HISTORY OF FARMINaTON TOWNSHIP. 

U bounded north by C^^;;^;-:^' "^^ ^^ Lp.i.s, its p.ndpa. i,.- 

Conewango, -^ 7/' ^t f , isby nature well adapted, and »hich at.a.ned 
dnstry is agneultnre, for which -l J ^„^;„^,, predominated, 

its prominence qu.te early. In earher ' "«' f „,,i,h the manu- 

and the forests sheltered many a saw »°^ f ■°-^= "^^^ j„.„ „„ ^ver .0 the 
factured products were taken .0 l^^^'^l^'l^^J^^^^Z „„d, ,he inhabitants 
market. But as soon as the "-''' "" '^er j^I,,, wealth concealed in 

;:\i.t;:;r ;::dT-:-:--^« - - -- — - 

"'"Z^S.,U..,..,s.-n ,s not P-^-^-.^-^^jtitTl'Irlh^and wHh 

habitant^of what . ;»« --'^^ rn^, ' o *^'i»«"".-. ^^ ^""^ 

reason supposed that Hugh Marsh '^ em ^.^.^ ^^^ 

records it is ascertained that he .mn..graedlut^^^^^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^_^^ _^^^ 

(see sketch of WilHam S Marsh -^^^J, d -ttl ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ 

.. of what^^s known as Ma ;h, or^ A^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ 

by Lorenzo D. Ph.Uips. J ^^ industrial, educational and rehg- 

early settlers, taking an active interest in ^^^ ^^,.^^ ^ 

ious improvement ?/f ^ ^^ ^.^ , e, Ih^^^ that have for centuries 
Quaker, and was gifted with all the admn a q ^^^^ ^^^_ 

been the distinguishing ^^^--^^^ ^'^ rbe Iticed by the reader in the 

nection with the ^est inte-s of t^^^^^^^^^^^^ will^be^not.ed ^>^^^ ^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ 

frequency with which -t will ^^ "^J^f^^ ^^^^^ 1829, aged sixty-five years, 
of this chapter. He died on the/6th ot ^^^T" ^ ^^^en she had attained 
and his wife survived him -^^'\*; f^ \°J^ ^^r ol 'sixteen children, whose 
the age of eighty-two years. '^^J^J^^J His brother John, who 

descendants are now numerous in ^^-^7; ^^T^^^, ^^ this township soon 
was born in New Jersey on the 9^^ ;^' '';j^; 'J^CZ ,^2. He had five 

:::l%;'7d::re':rn;'th:Z::':rbi.ants'„f this wilderness pre^ion. 





'<2^:2- 



Farmington Township. 587 



to the clearing of the forest primeval. In the early part of this century Jo- 
seph Marsh (born March 10, 1795 ; died February 14, 1881) started out to 
hunt for deer just off the Hne of his father's farm, leaving word that if he dis- 
covered any deer and needed help to take it he would shout, upon hearing 
which his father, John, was to come to his assistance. It was not long before 
Joseph saw a huge buck rubbing his neck against a tree. He fired and hit the 
buck, bringing him to the ground. Supposing his victim to be dead, young 
Marsh ran up to him, and putting his foot on the buck's neck, began cutting 
his throat with a dull knife. He had just succeeded in bringing blood, when 
the beast began to revive and to make the most desperate struggle to rise. In 
his frantic efforts he kicked every stitch of clothing from Marsh's body, and at 
last got upon his feet and stood in a defiant attitude. At this point the hunter 
shouted for help, and though before his father, with the dogs, reached him, 
the buck had beaten a hasty retreat, they found him and carried him home in 
triumph. 

Almost contemporaneously with the settlement of Hugh Marsh, Hugh 
Frew settled on what was afterward the Spencer Johnson place, just west of the 
site of Lander. Here he built a grist-mill in after years, but abandoned it at 
an early day and went to Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he became the 
founder of Frewsburg. 

Another early settler within the limits of Farmington township was John 
Portman, who, previous to 1806, took up two four hundred-acre tracts just 
north of the present farm of William S. Marsh. He was well known around 
here and at Sugar Grove, where he has descendants at this day. 

John Mahan, of Irish descent, came to what is now Farmington as early 
as 18 1 5, from Philadelphia, where his parents had then but recently died of 
the yellow fever. He boarded with the family of Hugh Marsh, and attended 
school here until he was old enough to take care of himself He then began 
business as an operative in the several saw-mills in this part of the county. 
He died on the 21st of May, 1882. His son, David Mahan, is now a citizen of 
Farmington. 

After the close of the War of 18 12 the population of this part of Warren 
county began to increase quite rapidly, and was composed more and more of 
that steady element which contributes to the permanent prosperity of a town. 
They were men and women who desired to establish homes in the wilderness, 
and were willing to toil, in order that they might enjoy the blessings of peace- 
ful and intelligent industry. Previous to the year 1822 the following persons 
had settled within the limits of Farmington, as those limits now run : 

Captain Garrett Burgett settled a short distance west of where the Center, 
or Lander post-office now is, and engaged extensively in farming and lumber- 
ing. He died on the i6th of October, 1862. He was the father of Peter Bur- 
nett, who lived at this period on the farm now occupied by his son, Ira Bur- 



gg History of Warren County. 



gett Peter Burgett was also a farmer, and a successful man. He was prom- 
fnent in township aftairs and was for some time a justice of the peace. He 
died on the 5th of May. 1874. His mother Hved until about .873, when she 
died at the advanced age of ninety-seven years and five months. 

Levi Chappel lived on the rise of ground east of Lander, and engaged m 
farming He was one of four sons of Noah Chappel. who also lived near Lan- 
der and who was a soldier of the Revolutionary War. The fires of " 76 
never died out in Noah Chappel's heart while it throbbed with life, and he 
loved with a soldier's zeal, the country which he had helped to create. He 
always had the stars and stripes floating over his house on Independence Day. 
He died on the 23d of March, i849. Andrew Chappel was another son of 
Noah and he had served in the War of i8i3. as had John Mahan Andrew 
Chappel died on the 29th of October, 1864, and his widow is stdl hvmg m 
F-irmin-ton. Another son of Noah, Alanson by name, hved south of Lander 
from the time of which we write (1821) until his death in 1879. The other 

son. Shubel, died in 1864. 

Alexander Chestney, a bachelor of a quiet and reserved disposition, lived 
for a time on the farm now owned by Nelson Philo, and afterward in the north- 
ern part of the township, on the farm now owned by Thomas M. Knapp. He 
died on the 15th of September. 1868. 

William Heaton owned and worked a farm just south of the farm of John 
Mahan, now owned by R. L. Gardiner. He settled in town quite early and 
once, in a time of scarcity, carried half a bushel of salt on his back from Pitts- 

burc^h to Farmington. 

Silas Rowland was living in 1822 in the •• Hollow." on the county road. 
He moved away very soon after this. His brother Carroll was a stone-mason 
here for a time. Another brother. Stephen, went from here to Butler county. 
about eighteen miles below Franklin. 

Levant Rathbun was a temporary settler of this period on the State road 
in the northern part of Farmington, but soon became a Baptist minister and 

removed to other fields. r , • 

William Shelden was one of the earliest and most prominent of the pioneers 
in Farmington township. He was born in 1766. and followed ugh Marsh 
closely to this country from the East. It is stated by some that he built the 
first saw-mill in the county, and was running at full speed previous to .803. 
It stood on Fairbank Creek on the farm now owned by Isaac Howard and 
wasbut a few rods from his house. His daughter Ruth married Joseph Marsl. 
and was the mother of William S. Marsh. William Shelden died (was killed 
by a rolling log) on the .5th of March, 1834. His wife, Parthene Sherman, 
who was born in 1770, became his wife in 1788, and died on the 23d of Feb- 
ruary 1844. Their son William was a blacksmith, and for years engaged .n 
his chosen trade near the home of his father, soon after whose death he went 
west. 



Farmington Township. 5^ 



Jonathan Thompson lived in 1822 on the place now owned by Frank Wil- 
cox in the northern part of the township. He moved away quite early. 

Spencer Johnson lived about half a mile north of Lander, on the farm now 
owned by his sons, Calvin and Isaac. He was a man of earnest purpose in 
life, a good and prominent citizen and a pattern in his domestic relations. He 
died on the 9th of July, 1865. 

Joseph Jenkins lived on the country road about midway between Lander 
and Russellburg, on the place now occupied by his son Theron. A short 
time previous to his death, which occurred on the 1st of August, 1862, he was 
stricken with total blindness. 

Ozam Kilbey lived about three-quarters of a mile south of Marsh's Corners. 
He married a sister of Joseph Marsh. He remained on this farm until some 
time between 1840 and 1850, when he removed to Indiana. 

Colonel Jeremiah C. Newman settled, sometime before 1822, in the eastern 
part of the town, on the the farm now divided between Paul Brown and Aaron 
Wright, his sons-in-law. He was drowned in Irvine's mill-pond on the 25th 
of February, 1866, when he had reached the age of sixty-eight years two. 
months and seven days. He was an uncle to William S. Marsh. His descend-- 
ants are now numerous in this township. 

Lewis Osborn, a shoemaker, lived on the farm next south of the place now 
owned by William S. Marsh, where he died in April, 1833. Descendants of 
Lewis Osborn still reside in Farmington. 

James G. Stanton lived in the eastern part of the township, in what is now 
called Stanton Settlement, where three of his sons, Alexander, John, and James, 
are now living. James G. Stanton died on the 4th of June, 1865. 

Esquire Phillips lived on the place now owned by Frank Wilcox, in the 
northeastern part of Farmington. He was a pensioner of the War of 1 8 1 2, 
and engaged industriously in farming and coopering. He was a former resi- 
dent of Bennington, Vt., and resided here until his death, not far from the 
year 1850. Levi, son of Esquire and Anna Phillips, was born in Bennington, 
Vt., on the 24th of June, 1795, and died just south of Marsh's Corners in 1883, 
leaving two daughters and one son on the old homestead. 

A short time previous to 1830 William Cady settled about on the site of 
Lander, where he resided until his death, on the 23d of October, 1848, when 
he was aged nearly seventy-four years. Not long after his arrival Aaron 
Scranton made the first large clearing exactly on the site of Lander, and gave 
to the place the name of " Scranton's Corners." He afterward moved south 
of this farm, where his death took place. Aaron Scranton, now living here, is 
his son, and he has other descendants in town. 

Early and Present Business Interests. — The first mill in what is now Farm- 
ington township, and, indeed, in this part of Warren county, that belonging to 
William Shelden, has already been mentioned. The little grist-mill of Hugh 



5 go History of Warren County. 

Frew, undoubtedly the first in town, has been mentioned. Among the other 
early mills was the saw-mill of John Marsh, built soon after the year 1 830, 
almost across the road from what is now the Marsh Cemetery. Another saw- 
mill -stood on the Johnson farm, and was kept in operation for some time by 
Shubel Chapel. A Mr. Gates afterward rebuilt it and operated it for a time. 
About 1835 Horatio Saddler built a short lived saw-mill in what is known as 
the Thompson Settlement. About the year 1853 Levi Phillips erected a saw- 
mill half a mile south of the county road. Previous to 1865 Melancthon, son 
of David Miles, built a flouring-mill in the south part of Lander village, which 
burned while Mr. Miles owned and operated it. On the north side of the vil- 
lage, about 1879, Benjamin Franklin suffered loss from the destruction by fire 01 
a saw-mill which he had but a short time previously erected. The saw-mills 
now in operation in Farmington are the saw-mill and planer built by its pres- 
ent owner, A. R. Mix, a little more than four years ago, in the south part of 
Lander village. Mr. Mix also grinds feed, meal, etc. He formerly owned a 
saw, shingle, and spoke-mill on Jackson Run, with his brother Horace, which 
was destroyed by fire ten or twelve years ago. Another saw-mill stands in 
the western part of the village, and is owned by John Eccles, who bought it 
of R. Stewart in the spring of 1885. Stewart had removed an old mill building 
to this site and rebuilt it in its present form. In the summer of 1885 James 
Dunham built a saw-mill in the southern part of the township, near the old 
mill (repaired and now operated by steam) of Joseph Fay. The cider mill 
now owned by Peter Mahan and James Arird, was formerly the property of 
Mahan brothers. There are now three creameries in town, one owned by Ira 
Burgett, in the western part of the village (opened in the summer of 1886); 
another by James Curry, in the southern part of the village, which, until the 
season of 1886, had been for about twelve years a cheese factory; and the third 
by R. Houghwot, of eicjht or ten years standing, in the eastern part of the 
township. 

The rest of the business of Farmington may be described as follows : 
There are three blacksmith's shops, one kept in operation by H. McKitrick, 
who has been here about fifteen years ; one by A. I. Strickland, who has been 
here not far from twelve years, and one by H. Mix, jr., who has been here 
about two years. There are two wagon-shops, one owned by W. S. Liver- 
more, who has been in the business in Lander for not less than twenty-five 
years, and one by E. G. Wilcox, who has been here about ten years. There are 
two cooper-shops in Lander, under the ownership and management of William 
S. Brown and Hatten Sweet respectively. E. F. Thompson has had a shoe- 
shop in Lander for man\- years, beginning as the successor of Daniel Thomp- 
son. 

R. E. Miller has been dealing in general merchandise in Lander since the 
fall of 1865, at which time he established the business. His brother, J. H. 



Farmington Township. 591 



Miller, was in partnership with him from the beginning until about five years 
ago. Mr. R. E. Miller was elected county treasurer in 1874, and served his term 
with the greatest satisfaction to his constituents. For some time previous to 
1865 Melancthon Miles was the principal merchant in Lander or Farmington. 

J. L. Thompson began to deal in general merchandise in Lander on the 1st 
day of February, 1884, succeeding J. H. Houghwot & Son. Their predeces- 
sors were Houghwot & Thompson. J. H. Houghwot had been in the mercan- 
tile business in the village for about twenty years, and had once been burned 
out. Mr. Thompson carries a fine stock of goods, valued at about $4,000. It 
was through his efforts that the telephone connection between Russellburg and 
Lander was effected in May, 1884, as he raised the money by his individual 
endeavors. The drug department of his store is owned by H. H. Cowles, M. 
D., who has practiced medicine in Farmington since the fall of 1877, Dr. 
Cowles is a native of Harbor Creek, Erie county, Pa., and received his medical 
education at New York city. He is of the eclectic school. 

Henry N. Frazine owns a harness-shop in Lander, and has owned it for 
ten years or more. He carries a good line of stock and is doing a good busi- 
ness. 

The first post-office in Farmington was on Jackson Run, about four miles 
south of Lander, and was called Jackson Run, but it was of short duration. 
The post-office was established at what is now Lander village soon after the 
formation of the township in 1853. The office was first called Beech Woods, 
and Rev. Obed Ovatt, a Baptist clergyman, was appointed the first postmaster. 
The name was soon changed to Farmington, and held that name until it was 
discovered that another ofl^ce in the State had a name so similar as to produce 
confusion, when the present name of Lander was adopted in honor of General 
Lander. Among the successors of the first incumbent were Ansell Franklin, 
Peter Burgett, S. W. Brown, M. D. (who kept the office for as long as twenty- 
five years, though during a portion of that time J. H. Houghwot was acting 
postmaster), and the present postmaster, J. L. Thompson, who was appointed 
in May, 1885. 

Schools and Churches. — The first school in what is now Farmington town- 
ship was taught in 1803 by John Marsh in his own dwelling in Beech Woods, 
the pupils being his own children, those of his brother, Hugh Marsh, and one 
or two others. The second school was taught in the same place by Isaiah 
Jones. In 1805 John and Hugh Marsh built the first school-house in Farm- 
ington, near the site of the present one in Marshtown. It was constructed of 
logs, with white greased papers for windows, a large fire-place four or five feet 
wide, and seats made of slabs with the convex side downward. There were 
no desks, except a narrow shelf fastened to the side of the house for the pur- 
pose of writing upon with the split goose-quills. 

The first religious organization in the township was of the Methodist Epis- 



592 History of Warren County. 

copal denomination. The church called the First Congregational Church of 
Farmington was first organized as a Presbyterian Church on the i ith day of 
February, 1 830, with thirteen members, who adopted the faith of the Buffalo 
Presbytery. The organization was effected by Rev. W. F. Houston. Aurey 
Ballard and Vetes Pond were elected deacons. Meetings were held at first in 
private houses and new barns, membership increasing by letter and profession 
until 1836, when the roll showed a membership of eighty-four. In October, 
1838, the Rev. Emery delivered a lecture, after which the church voted to dis- 
solve their relations with the Presbytery and unite with the Congregational 
Association. They soon afterward received a discharge from the Presbytery. 
In January, 1839, Deacon Pond was the first representative of the church at a 
meeting of the association, and in June of that year letters of confession and 
faith were approved. In the spring of 1843 the services of William Todd were 
secured for half the time, meetings being held in the school-house at Pond's 
Corners. Measures were now projected to build a house of worship, and by 
continued effort and much sacrifice, a house was completed and dedicated on 
the 14th of August, 1845. Up to 1878 meetings were regularly held, most of 
the time with preaching. At this time the numbers diminished, the members 
seemed to flag in interest and influence, and it was finally decided to remove 
to Farmington Center. The old church building was accordingly torn down 
and a new one erected, which was dedicated on the 20th of June, 1882, at 
which time and place the semi-annual meeting of the Western New York As- 
sociation was held. At this time the pastor was the Rev. J. B. Davidson, who 
has been followed by the following ministers : Rev. Emery, Rev. A. C. Kaye, 
and Rev. H. N. Cornish, the present pastor. The present membership is 
thirty-seven, and is nearly evenly divided between the sexes. C. B. Mix and 
N. Preston are deacons. The Sabbath-school has an average attendance of 
seventy-five scholars, Dr. H. H. Cowles being the superintendent. 

The Farmington Baptist Church was organized on the 21st of February, 
1 83 1, Elder Turner, moderator, preaching at the time. Following are names 
of the first members: William Heaton, Jacob Allen, Levi Hitchcock, Thomas 
Foster, Elizabeth Heaton, Olive Allen, Elizabeth Putnam, Louis Hitchcock, 
Bethana Foster, Bethiah Braley. Jacob Allen was the first deacon. The first 
house of worship was a log building, which stood about two and a half miles 
south of the village, near the present residence of R. G. Strickland. The church 
was recognized on the 24th of May, 183 1, when it was decided to build a 
framed edifice for worship nearer the village. This was not completed until 
1854, and stood at the junction of the main street leading south from the vil- 
lage and the street to the cemetery. After being ready for occupancy (except 
the seats) it was burned. Two years later the church rallied and built the 
present house in the south part of the village, which was dedicated September 
23, 1856. The following have served as pastors in the order named: Revs. 



Triumph Township. 593 



Gage, Alvord, Rathborn, Ovatt, Sparks, Stoddard, Hammond, Derby, Sharp, 
Merriman, Allen, Phellps, Foster, Harrington, Myers, Fisher, Seyse. The 
pulpit is supplied in union with the Congregational Church at present by Rev. 
H. N. Cornish, from Brokenstraw, N. Y. The present deacons are D. F. 
Strickland, Zurial Allen. The membership is fifty-two. The Sabbath-school 
is conducted in connection with the Congregational Church. A bequest from 
Mrs. Ross Marsh in 1879, approximating $700, placed this church on a sound 
financial basis, where it stands to-day.' 



CHAPTER LIV. 
HISTORY OF TRIUMPH TOWNSHIP. 

THE township of Triumph was formed from Deerfield on the 7th of March, 
1878, and is bounded as follows: North by Deerfield, east by Deerfield 
and the Allegheny River, separating it from Limstone, south by Venango 
county, and west by Southwest and Eldred. It is of irregular contour, and 
since the lumber has been taken from its surface is adapted principally to the 
production of farm vegetation and oil. So much of its early history was nec- 
essarily included in the history of Deerfield that but little is left for this chap- 
ter. Among the first settlers, who came in in about the order named, between 
the years 1828 and 1835, were the Gormans, James Culbertson, Charles Mc- 
Nair, Michael McGraw, Samuel Parshall, and Benjamin Clark. When Michael 
McGraw came here on the 17th of April, 1830, he found not more than half a 
dozen families in the present township. Michael McGraw was born in East 
Freedom, Blair county. Pa., in 1809, and was son of Peter and Catherine (Mc- 
Affee) McGraw. When he came here he settled on a tract of 400 acres, now 
occupied by his sons, J. A. and W. A. McGraw. (See sketch of Michael Mc- 
Graw in later pages.) About the first saw-mill in town was built by A. B. 
Funk about 1840. Mr. Funk was an extensive lumberman and operator in oil, 
and died but recently. There are three small settlements, hardly villages, 
in Triumph township ; Triumph, McGraw's, and Fagundus. Fagundus derives 
its name from Charles Fagundus, the first settler on its site, who died soon after 
i860. The other villages were the simple products of the oil excitement of 
more than twenty years ago. A. M. Gillam, the present merchant at Triumph 
village, came there in 1867 from West Hickory. A short time previous to his 
settlement he had a well here, which promised abundance and resulted in his 

' For the history of the churches, and for other interesting matter connected with the business in- 
terests of Farmington, the reader is indebted to the kindness of Mr. J. L. Thompson. 



594 History of Warren County. 

removal from West Hickory. When he came here A. J. Sink, Mr. Moore and 
others had opened small stores, and everything was in a state of incertitude 
and everybody was excited. The United States Hotel had just been com- 
pleted. In 1868 a destructive fire swept away these stores and the hotel. 
There were during this period many saloons and hotels and mixtures at Tri- 
umph, but they were ephemeral, and it would be difficult and uninteresting to 
attempt an enumeration. The floating population (and what little there was 
of a permanent population) amounted to some three thousand souls in Tri- 
umph village, where now are not more than one hundred and fifty. Among 
the first wells drilled were those of Captain Goodrich, Mr. Hart, A. M. Gillam. 
The village suffered almost total destruction from the fire of 1868, and again 
in about two years later. About 1870 there was a temporary abandonment 
of the place, lasting nearly two years. Samuel Wiggins had a drug-store in 
the village, however, for some time subsequent to about 1871. The second oil 
excitement, which owed its existence to Mr. Gillam, was greater in intensity 
than the first. The first fever had exhausted, apparently, the first twenty feet 
of rock, and the second was fed from the second twenty feet. Mr. Gillam is 
now drilling other wells and is quite confident of creating another and a healthy 
boom. About the time of the first excitement the National Hotel was built 
and kept by Messrs. Thompson, Fairchild, and others. It was torn down in 
1885, though it had long been out of use. The Pine Grove Hotel was also 
started, during the first excitement, by David Wiggins, who still lives in it, 
though it is no longer open to the public. The store now kept by Mr. Gillam 
was first opened by Mr. Moore, shortly after the fire of 1868, and after awhile 
was put into the hands of Andrew Husband, who had previously kept a gro- 
cery in the barn of Mr. Gillam. After him came as proprietors of this store 
Hawks, William Wiggins, Wiggins & Curtiss, A. R. Curtiss, and about 1880, 
A. M. Gillam. 

The store at McGraw's, now owned by A. Dunn, of Tidioute, was founded 
by Peter Stinwandle and Frank Foster a few years after the Triumph store was 
opened. The first post-office in the township was established about this time 
by the appointment of Peter Stinwandle, at McGraw's. He was succeeded by 
P. Masterson, William Hurry, and the present incumbent, E. C. Tullock, who 
was appointed by President Arthur. There was never a post-office at Tri- 
umph. There has been an office at Fagundus but a short time, the present 
postmaster there being W. P. Wagner, a merchant there, successor in the office 
of Joseph W. Jones. 

There are at present nine school-houses in Triumph township, but they 
are not all in use, as the present population will not fill them. At Funk's Mills 
is a Methodist Church, which was built about i860; at Fagundus is another, 
built about 1872; the Union Church at McGraw was erected in 1878. At 
Triumph village, during the early period of the oil fever, a union church was 




W .y?7f'^. 



'{fiOuJ.^.^^ 



Iri 



Triumph Township. 595 



built, though previous to that time the school-house was used for religious pur- 
poses, as it had been built with a view to its employment as a church. 

We cannot do better than close this chapter with a well-written poem from 
the facile pen of Mr. A. M. Gillam, who thus contributes to the literary enlight- 
enment of his community no less than to its material development. 

TRIUMPH — PAST. PRESENT AND FUTURE. 

All hail, old Triumph ! Thrice all hail ! 
Thou art like a ship without a sail ; 
Thy masts are broken, rudder gone ; 
Thy crews have vanished, one by one. 
Till scarce an anchor-watch is left 
Of those of whom thou art bereft. 
In olden times thine honored name 
Both far and near was known to fame ; 
For man, along thy rocky breast 
Deep holes had bored from base to crest, 
And with a suction pump did draw- 
Vast riches from thine oily maw. 
But now, alas ! thou'rt wrecked, old tug, 
; And in each vacant hole a p 

Is left. Thy golden stream is clogg'd. 
And people say thou'rt water-logg'd. 
And even I, thine old-time friend. 
Believed that thou had'st reached the end 
Of thy wonderful oil career"; 
Not thinking (as it doth appear 
In the sequel), that while weeping 
O'er thy death, thou wert but sleeping. 
Surface water could not fill thee. 
Consequently could not kill thee ; 
Thou art alive ; thy rocky vault 
No water holds excepting salt. 
The sandrock in its virginity, 
(So to speak), had an affinity 
For salt water. Ages ago. 
When earth was young, the ocean's flow 
Deposited on bar and beach 
The pebble sand, a porous leach. 
Through which the briny waters crept, 
And oil for ages past has slept 
Secure in nature's stony bed. 
But man's persistency, 'tis said. 
Stove in the rocky door, and woke 
The sleep of ages at a'stroke. 
Thy stately hills were forest-grown 
In that decade ; thy name unknown. 
Till vandal man, with axe and spade. 
Thy shady woodlands did invade. 
With avaricious thought intent 



596 History of Warren County. 

Thy old sandrock to circumvent. 

Thy veins were pierced ; the gushing oil 

Flowed out upon thy virgin soil ; 

As the struck whale, whose gory spout 

And bloody form stains the liquid route 

Through which he glides, with crimson gore. 

From wounds the cruel iron tore. 

So thou, man's comfort to promote, 

Doth, from thy hydra-headed throat 

Spew out upon the thirsty sands 

The contents of thine oily glands. 

A noted town, which seemed to suit 

All hands, including Tidioute, 

Was built, but hearts and pockets broke 

When that fair town went up in smoke. 

And then salt water was the bane 

Of the gay oil man. On the brain 

He had it. Also in the rock, 

(In imagination). The shock 

Was immense ! " He vamosed the ranch ;" 

Pulled up stake and left, root and branch. 

But yet thou wert not left alone, 

A few old fogies with backbone 

And some money, another raid 

Commenced upon the rock, which paid. 

The sand in feet was full five score 

And ten in depth. Never before 

Nor since, in all the regions round. 

Was another such sandrock found 

Like to the first. Another rush 

Was made, and every tree and bush 

Was leased, and oil in torrents poured 

From these old holes, that others bored. 

Judging the present by the past. 

This new excitement cannot last. 

Five hundred leeches soon must drain 

The life-blood from thy stony vein. 

The first excitement drained the head ; 

The ne\t thy low'er end was bled ; 

They thought their pumps were sucking higher. 

And so thy trunk was left entire. 

A man addicted to the weed 

A spear-head bought. With hungry greed 

He bit from either end a chew. 

And then deliberately threw 

The plug away. Such silly waste 

Is like the oil men's foolish haste. 

Again, grim want thy hills menace ; 

The wiry grass that grew apace, 

'Twixt rock and stump, is closely nipp'd ; 

Thy noble flocks and herds have skipp'd 



Watson Township. 597 



To pastures new. A lonely buck 

Remains to browse upon the truck 

That's left : and watch the creeping vine. 

The plantain and the dandelion 

Put forth their tender crimson shoots ; 

A mess of greens, for men or brutes. 

And now another leaf we'll turn, 

Man never gets too old to learn. 

Of Triumph's future we will sing. 

Her possibilities we'll bring 

To view ; and let the people judge, 

This kindling flame, or smoky smudge. 

For weal or woe ! !. 'Tis Triumph's good 

We seek, and her near neighborhood. 

Come gentle muse, inspire my song. 

That we may reach the skeptic throng 

Who take no stock in this debate 

Of Triumph's old conglomerate. 

'Tis not with water, that's distill'd 

By solar heat, this rock is fill'd. 

By gravitation's law it drops 

From top of well to base, nor stops 

The intervening rocks to spoil, 

Where nature brews and tanks her oil. 

The water scarce is from below ; 

It is a sort of undertow ; 

Deep in the rock its level finds. 

And through the stony chasm winds 

Its course along through slaty shells, 

A nemesis to pumping wells. 

Oh ! had I but a Chinese gong, 

A butler's voice, a smutz's tongue, 

With eloquent and oily phrase 

I'd portray Triuinph's means and ways ; 

Her seventy feet of virgin rock 

That ne'er has felt torpedo's shock ; 

I'd wake the echoes round about 

Repeating, 'tis not "drowned out." 

But only needs a plug below 

To guard against the undertow. 



CHAPTER LV. 
HISTORY OF WATSON TOWNSHIP. 

IN the year 1880, on the 4th of March, Limestone township was divided into 
about equal parts, and the northern half was organized into a separate 
township called " Watson," in honor of Hon. L. F. Watson, of Warren, who 
owned extensive tracts of timber lands in that section. 



598 History of Warren County. 

No oil developments have as yet been made in this township, but it is by 
no means condemned territory, as it has never been thoroughly tested, and 
what may be in store for it in the future as an oil field, can only be ascertained 
as the drill makes its way thoroughly through the township. 

The inhabitants at present are engaged in clearing lands, farming, and lum- 
bering. Some of the finest timber tracts in the county are to be found here, 
and there are eight steam saw-mills located in this township, with an aver- 
age capacity of twenty-five thousand feet of timber per day. At this rate 
the best timbered tracts will soon be stripped, and the attention of the inhabit- 
ants must of necessity be turned more exclusively to farming. The aggregate 
value of the saw-mills as assessed in this township is over $12, GOO. 

The schools of Watson township are good country schools. There are five 
school-houses valued in the aggregate at $2,000, and schools are at present 
held in each. These schools with number of scholars enrolled are as follows: 
Miller's school, 18 scholars enrolled; Cobham school, 22 scholars enrolled ; 
Luken's school, 15 scholars enrolled; Slater's school, 10 scholars enrolled; 
Baxter's school, 8 scholars enrolled ; making a total of seventy-three scholars. 

There are no churches in Watson township, but religious services are held 
in the various school-houses regularly under the control of the Evangelical 
Association. Rev. M. V. De Vaux has charge of this work at present. A 
public burial-ground is located near the Lukens school-house. 

Large tracts of the land in Watson township, as in Limestone, are owned 
by capitalists and others. Hon. L. F. Watson owns about 3,500 acres in this 
township. Grandin and Slater own about 2,000 acres. B. D. and J. Mowris 
own about 1,500 acres. B. F. Rynd owns about 1,100 acres. These large 
tracts, owned and controlled by single individuals, would naturally retard the 
settlement. A large part of Watson township is still an entire wilderness. 

The unseated lands of Watson township are valued at $51,590. There are 
about three hundred inhabitants in this township at the present time. Among 
the prominent citizens of Watson township are Jacob Conarro, Benjamin D. 
Mowris, William Lawrence, John H. Conarro, James McFarland, Samuel Mc- 
Farland, W. J. Slater, James Russell, John Rapp, Robert Slater, and John W. 
Wilkins. 

Sketches of the lives of a few of the above will be found below : 

Mowris, Peter, one of the earliest settlers in Watson township, was born 
in Ulster county, N. Y. He came with his wife to Warren county in 1843, 
and settled in Watson township, then called " Limestone." He died in 1880. 
His wife survived him six years. 

Mowris, B. D., son of Peter Mowris, was born in Ulster county, N. Y., in 
the year 1830. He came to Watson township with his father in 1843, where 
he still resides. His wife, Nellie (Cameron) Mowris, was born in Morayshire, 
Scotland, in 1850. 



Thomas Struthers. 599 



Conarro, Jacob, was born in Monmouth county, N. J., in 182 1, and came 
to Watson township in 1852. His wife, Harietta (Fredrick) Conarro, was born 
in Steuben county, N. Y., in 1832. 

McFarland, James, was born in Tyrone county, Ireland, in 1824, and came 
to Watson in 1855. His wife, Elizabeth (Lukens) McFarland, was born in 
Philadelphia in 1824. His father, Samuel McFarland, was a soldier in the 
War of 18 1 2. He belonged to the artillery, and was a participant in the bat- 
tle of New Orleans. 

Slater, W. J., was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1845, and came to Lime- 
stone, now Watson township, in 1858. His wife, Ordelia (Houser) Slater, was 
born in Limestone township in 1845. 

Russell, sr., James, was born in Butler county, Pa., in 1812, and came to 
Warren county in 1868. His wife, Rachael (Connely) Russell, was born in 
Youngsville, Pa., in 1821. His father, Samuel Russell, was born in Ireland in 
1776; he was a soldier in the War of 18 12, and came to Warren county in 



I 



CHAPTER LVI. 
BIOGRAPHICAL. 

STRUTHERS, THOMAS. The subject of this sketch was born in Trum- 
bull (now Mahoning) county, O., on the 6th day of June, 1803. His 
father, John Struthers, came of a Scotch family, and, imbued with the spirit of 
adventurous enterprise characteristic of that hardy race, removed with his 
father's family from the State of Maryland to Washington county, Pa., in 
1776. By reason of his skill as a practical land surveyor he rendered inval- 
uable assistance to the settlers then crowding into that region ; and by reason 
of his military prowess he rose to the command of a company of mounted 
rangers, who were commended for their courage and skill in protecting the 
government from the fierce onslaughts of the desperate and savage allies of 
the British during the Revolutionary War. He married a Miss Foster, of Irish 
extraction, and with a family of four children removed to Trumbull county, O., 
in 1798, where he settled on lands that he had previously selected during his 
excursions as an Indian hunter. He was thus one of the first settlers in the 
Connecticut Western Reserve, which from that time became rapidly peopled with 
immigrants from New England and Pennsylvania. Here he cleared and cul- 
tivated a large farm, built mills, and in company with Robert Montgomery, 
erected a small blast furnace, the product of which was cast into pots, kettles. 



6oo History of Warren County. 



caldrons, and such other articles as were demanded by the household neces- 
sities of the settlers. He afterward unfortunately met with disastrous business 
reverses. 

On this farm, some eighty-four years ago, Thomas Struthers was born and 
disciplined in the then undeveloped mysteries of agriculture. He obtained his 
early education in the common schools of the time; during intervals of farm 
work, prepared for and entered Jefferson College at the age of seventeen years, 
worked his own way through, and after graduation entered the law office of 
A. W. Foster, of Greensborough, Westmoreland county. Pa. In December, 
1828, one year and eleven months after his admission to the bar, he opened an 
office in Warren, Pa., which has ever since been his home, and, as we shall see, 
the object of his pride and bounty. He was partly induced to settle here by 
offers of agencies by owners of large tracts of disposable wild lands in north- 
western Pennsylvania, but chiefly by his belief that the best thing for a young 
man to do was to cast his lot among the pioneers of a new and promising 
country, and keep step with the march of improvements. There were only 
about five hundred voters in Warren county at that time. His success in the 
practice of his profession was active from the first, though he found his com- 
missions from the sale of land more profitable. His unwavering fidelity to his 
clients, his diligent efforts in their behalf, and the signal ability with which he 
discharged the duties imposed upon him, soon established for him a most grat- 
ifying reputation. He was from the beginning so successful in disposing of 
lands and turning the tide of immigration in this direction, that he was encour- 
aged to purchase large tracts on time, and pay for them by the proceeds of 
resales, at a moderate advance. The greatest difficulty with which he had to 
contend in this work was the utter want of railroad or other facilities by which 
to reach these lands. " Here " it has been well said, " was a broad expanse of 
almost unbroken forest lands, partly in the State of New York and partly in 
the State of Pennsylvania ; probably one hundred and fifty miles north and 
south by two hundred and fifty or three hundred miles east and west ; not 
penetrated even by good wagon roads ; and in some directions one hundred 
and fifty miles without any roads, and this, too, in the direct line between New 
York city and the West, and Philadelphia and Lake Erie. The State of Penn- 
sylvania had left it intact by her line of canals and railroads on the south, whilst 
the Erie Canal passed around to the north." His attention was thus directed 
to the incipient movements on foot for the construction of railroads through 
one part or another of this wilderness. Whilst he preferred a road from Phil- 
adelphia, by the route now occupied by the Philadelphia and Erie (originally the 
Sunbury and Erie) railway, and a branch by the Catawissa and Lehigh Valley 
to New York, he found the projectors of the New York and Erie road first in 
the field, and hastened to give them all the encouragement he could, attended 
many of their primary meetings held along the proposed line, aided them in 



Thomas Struthers. 



getting the necessary right of way through Pennsylvania, and in other ways 
evinced his interest in the scheme. 

In 1836 efforts were first made to estabhsh a hne between Philadelphia and 
the great lakes, and Mr. Struthers, as a delegate from Warren county, attended 
the first convention held at Williamsport. Here was developed the scheme 
for the Sunbury and Erie road, and Mr. Struthers, with others, appointed to 
lay the subject before the Legislature and induce, if possible, that body to 
adopt the appropriate measures. A bill was accordingly introduced early in 
the session of 1836-37, but the members of the Legislature, from their igno- 
rance of the character of the northwestern part of Pennsylvania and of the trade 
of the lakes, looked upon the scheme as altogether absurd and chimerical. The 
committee thought it best, therefore, not to urge precipitate action on the meas- 
ure, but gradually to educate and interest the southern and eastern members 
in the geography and unbounded resources of that region, and the importance 
of the lake trade, and thus win their approval. By virtue of his zeal and of 
his more intimate knowledge of the country, Mr. Struthers was requested by 
the Philadelphia gentlemen who had been chosen to act with him, to pilot 
the measure through to its enactment. After months of untiring work he suc- 
ceeded in obtaining the passage of the bill, though he did not dare bring it to 
a vote until April, 1837. 

In the subsequent organization of the company Mr. Struthers was chosen 
one of the directors, the others being of Philadelphia and east of the mountains, 
while the accomplished financier, Nicholas Biddle, was made president. After 
elaborate surveys made in 1838-39, the location of the line and the beginning 
of the work of grading in 1840, operations were suspended by the recurrence 
of the financial panic of 1837, the consequent failure of the United States 
Bank and its associates, and the long train of failures that followed in the wake 
of these disasters. In 1847 the Philadelphians abandoned the scheme and 
transferred their efforts to the Pennsylvania road. This project was not dead, 
however, and Mr. Struthers, with sublime faith and perseverance, despite a 
host of discouraging circumstances, obtained a revival of the company and 
its works in 185 i. Philadelphia returned to her allegiance and subscriptions 
came in from all along the line. To prevent the subscriptions from the west 
from being conveyed to the east, Mr. Struthers placed himself at the head of 
a company associated at Warren, while a similar company was formed at Erie. 
These parties took contracts covering eighty-six miles of the western division, 
receiving the municipal bonds of their several localities and stock of the com- 
pany for their principal pay, taking only a very small percentage in money. 
They also rendered aid to the eastern division. The financial operations of 
the Warren party were managed altogether by Mr. Struthers, to whose energy 
it is largely due that, while the prosecution of the work on "the remainder of 
the line was suspended nearly two years for lack of means, this party went 



6o2 History of Warren County. 

steadily forward with their labors, trusting to events for that part of their pay 
which they were to receive in money — a misplaced confidence, as the subject 
of our notice realized in a loss of more than all the profits of the contract. 
However, under a new arrangement he took an individual contract for the com- 
pletion of a portion of the work, and carried it through. The road was finally 
completed in 1862. 

In the mean time, early in the decade of years that ended with i860, Mr. 
Struthers became interested with General Wilson in constructing the first rail- 
road in California, from Sacramento to Folsom, or Negro Bar. When he took 
hold of the enterprise it was unendowed. By his superior tact and financial abil- 
ity, he procured in Boston the rails and equipment complete for forty miles of 
road, to be delivered in San Francisco, without money or other securities than 
the bonds of the company, and his own and Wilson's guarantee. Soon after 
this he embarked with others in the enterprise of building street railways in the 
city of Cincinnati, and obtained from the city council a grant for about half the 
city, after which he sold out his interest. It was about this time, too, that in 
company with others, under the supposed protection of an act of the Iowa Leg- 
islature, procured for the purpose, he undertook the improvement of the Des 
Moines River for steam navigation. No sooner had they located their dams, 
and several towns and cities on the donated lands, then their grant was repu-, 
dialed by the Legislature. 

After the completion of the Sunbury and Erie Road, Mr. Struthers procured 
the passage of a law incorporating the Oil Creek Railroad Company, with 
powers to build a line from the Sunbury and Erie Railroad in Warren or Erie 
county to Titusville, and down Oil Creek and Allegheny River to Franklin. 
In the year 1862 he organized the company, located the road from Corry to 
Titusville, a distance of twenty-eight miles, and in one hundred and twenty 
working days the road was completed, without subsidies from any source, and 
almost without stock. Finding it almost impossible to inspire the people along 
the route with confidence in the project, he and his associate, Dr. Streator, 
took nearly all the stock themselves and built and equipped the road upon its 
own bonds. The project developed into a remarkable success. He remained 
the president of the road and chief financial agent until 1866, realizing large 
profits from its earnings, when he sold his interest, and with his entire family 
passed a year and a half traveling through Europe, Asia, and Egypt. Pre- 
vious to his departure, however, he made arrangements for the completion of 
the Cross-Cut Railroad, which he and Dean Richmond had organized for the 
purpose of connecting the Oil Creek and New York Central Railroads. After 
his return from the Old World, and as late as 1870, he, in conjunction with John 
Stambaugh, John Tod and others, completed the Liberty and Vienna Railroad. 
Again he was remarkably successful; this road was afterward sold to the At- 
lantic and Great Western, and Ashtabula, Youngstown and Pittsburgh Railroad 



Thomas Struthers. 603 



Companies. Mr. Struthers was also one of the projectors of the Youngstown 
and Canfield Railroad, connecting the Lawrence Railroad with the Kyle and 
Foster Coal Mines, in which he owned a large interest. Notwithstanding the 
multitude of his business undertakings, the care of an extensive law practice, his 
dealings in land, and his various public enterprises, Mr. Struthers had not for- 
gotten the place of his birth. In 1863 he purchased the farm on which he was 
born, and four years later, in company with several associates whom he had 
induced to join him, he erected upon it a large blast furnace and built up the 
prosperous village of Struthers, on the Lawrence Railroad. In the same year, 
1867, he purchased an interest for himself and son in a flourishing machine- 
shop and foundry in Warren, which he extensively enlarged and had incorpo- 
rated under the name of the "Brown & Struthers Iron Works." In August, 
1875, he bought up the entire property of the corporation and founded the 
firm of Struthers, Wells & Co. 

During the period of his management of the Oil Creek Railroad, he estab- 
lished the Corry National Bank, becoming and for years continuing its presi- 
dent. 

Mr. Struthers has always been an earnest and active politician of the Whig 
and Republican persuasion, and a tried friend of the protective tariff system. 
He represented his district in the State Legislature in the sessions of 1857 and 
1858 with distinguished ability, and was a prominent member of the conven- 
tion of 1872—73 to revise and amend the constitution of the State, serving on 
important committees. He spent much time and money in aid of the Union 
cause during the war with the South, filling quotas, etc., and furnished two 
substitutes, though not subject to service himself 

His course in the Legislature so inspired his fellow-members in that body 
with confidence in his abilities and integrity, that at the close of his term many 
of them insisted on his becoming their candidate for State treasurer, to which 
he was reluctantly constrained to consent. During the canvass for the nomina- 
tion the' following tribute to his worth, one of many published throughout the 
State, appeared in a paper more than a hundred miles from the district he rep- 
resented : 

" Among the Republican gentlemen named as candidates for the responsi- 
ble office of State treasurer, the Hon. Thomas Struthers, of Warren county, 
stands conspicuous. His sterling integrity, business capacity, and the efficient 
services he has rendered to the political cause upheld by the great Republican 
party, render him, in our opinion, by far the most suitable and available can- 
didate. The West, we think, is now entitled to the office, more especially 
when one so capable and trustworthy is presented. During the sessions of 
1857 and 1858, Mr. S. represented in the State Legislature, first the counties 
of Warren, Venango, and Mercer, and afterwards Warren and Crawford. Those 
who served with him during two sessions can testify to the important charac- 
ter of his services to the State and to his party. '■^•' 



6o4 History of Warren County. 

" We agree with the Reading Journal when it says to the members of the 
present Legislature, let us for once have a State treasurer upon whom we can 
look without suspicion or distrust ; in whose past life and freedom from evil 
financial associations the people can have some guaranty of future honesty. 
There are such men before the people. Give us one of them if only for this 
once. Give us a man of pure and spotless honesty, not one whose name has 
been dragged in the mire. Give us a man whom we can hold up before the 
people as a servant worthy of their confidence, as a servant of the kind in whom 
they will be well pleased." 

Neither his business nor private inclinations permitted him to give the can- 
vass the attention necessary to obtain the nomination. He had no political 
aspirations. To aid in developing the resources of the country by public im- 
provements, was ever his highest ambition and greatest pride. 

The work for which he will be longest remembered is the magnificent 
structure known as the Struthers Library Building, which was built for the 
borough by Mr. Struthers in the winter of 1883, at an expense of about $90,000 
in addition to the site, which was furnished by the citizens. It is described in 
the history of Warren in this work. 

Mr. Struthers's " predominant mental characteristic," says one who has for 
many years been closely associated with him by the ties of friendship and busi- 
ness connection, " is concentrativeness. He would always become totally 
absorbed in the project or enterprise in hand, and pursue it with an avidity 
and pertinacity that admitted of no diversion or interruption. His mental re- 
sources in extricating himself from embarrassment, and in combining agencies 
to accomplish his purpose, have always proven sufficient for all drafts upon 
them and seem inexhaustible, and his power for attracting both men and cap- 
ital and enlisting them in his adventures, is wonderful. His temperament is 
over-sanguine, producing too favorable estimates of future results, and would 
often have led him into serious diflSculties, except for his indomitable will and 
perseverance. He never surrendered, and consequently was always victorious, 
or made a draw game of it. 

" He has always shown himself emphatically to be what Carlyle said of Crom- 
well, 'an earnest man.' Whatever his hand has found to do he has done with 
his might. Bold, apparently to rashness, and hopeful to enthusiasm, whatever 
he has undertaken he has carried through with an earnestness and energy that 
surmounted all obstacles. These elements in his composition induced him 
sometimes to venture too much, perhaps, and take risks which the timid pru- 
dence of less resolute men would have avoided. I le would buy, on time, far 
beyond his income from other sources to pay, trusting to sell at an advance 
before the liability matured. Yet no protests came. He would spread more 
canvass and run farther out to sea than larger crafts dare venture, yet his frail 
bark, through calm or storm, always made the voyage bravely, and returned 




''iy TIB acv Sr^ JSwIoV* 




Thomas Struthers. — John Curwen, M. D. 605 

to port safely. His industry has ever been as indefatigable as his will indom- 
itable. Had he not enjoyed perfect health and great powers of endurance, he 
would often have overtaxed his energies and broken down. 

" Although his travels and associations with the business world have been 
such as to subject him to frequent and strong temptations, his habits have ever 
been temperate and free from dissipation of any kind. He, indeed, attributes 
much of the vigor, both physical and intellectual, which he enjoys at his pres- 
ent advanced age, to the fact that several years ago he abjured the use of spir- 
ituous liquors altogether. He seldom indulges even in a glass of beer. He 
says its use defiles the stomach, vitiates the appetite, destroys the sensitive or- 
gans, and results in intellectual stupidity, physical grossness and deformity, 
and total unfitness for business or society. The medicated wines generally in 
use he considers equally obnoxious and to be avoided. 

" But paramount among his virtues it may be affirmed that he is an honest 
man. In his immense and complicated business transactions, no one was ever 
found to charge him successfully with a dishonest or dishonorable act. Nat- 
urally a little credulous, although usually cautious, he has sometimes been 
overreached and involved in litigation. But he has lived through more than 
forty years of trials without a tarnish upon the escutcheon of his manhood, or 
a stain on his integrity as a citizen. During all that time he has been the 
recognized leader, and often the originator of measures calculated to benefit the 
county and borough in which he has lived, and still enjoys the confidence and 
esteem of the present, as of the past generation." 

In December, 1831, Mr. Struthers married Miss Eunice Eddy, of Warren, 
Pa., and reared two children. Hisson, Thomas E.,died in 1872. His daugh- 
ter, Ann Eliza, was married to Captain George R. Wetmore, a soldier of the 
war for the Union, and a prominent manufacturer and influential business 
man. She died in 1880 leaving one son, who is Mr. Struthers's only lineal 
descendant. 



CURWEN, M. D., JOHN, is a native of Lower Merion township, Mont- 
gomery county, Pa.; received his collegiate education at Yale College, and 
his medical education at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia. 
Shortly after graduation he was appointed assistant physician of the Pennsyl- 
vania Hospital for the Insane in Philadelphia, under the charge of Dr. Thomas 
S. Kirkbride, and remained there until the fall of 1849. After a year spent in 
the city of Philadelphia, attending the hospitals and general practice, he was 
elected in February, 185 i, superintendent of the Pennsylvania State Lunatic 
Hospital at Harrisburg, where he remained until February 11, 1881. Shortly 
after leaving that institution he was elected physician in chief and superintend- 
ent of the State Hospital for the Insane at Warren, Pa., and assumed charge 
of the institution on July 7, 1881. He was one of the original members of the 



6o6 History of Warren County. 

Medical Society of Dauphin county, Pa., and is also a member of the Medical 
Society of Warren County, Pa. 

He has been a member of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsyl- 
vania since 1866; was president in 1868, and has been chairman of a number 
of committees of that society, having reference to the care of the insane, viz., 
the committee to memoriaHze the Legislature in favor of a hospital for the in- 
sane for the northern district of the State, now located at Danville ; the com- 
mittee to memorialize the Legislature in favor of the law regulating the admis- 
sion into hospital for the insane, passed in 1869 ; to memorialize the Legisla- 
ture in favor of a hospital for insane criminals ; to memorialize the Legislature 
in favor of the hospital for the northwestern district of the State, now located 
at Warren, Pa.; to memorialize the Legislature in favor of a hospital for the 
southeastern district of the State. 

The hospital now located at Norristown was established as the result of 
that movement, but not as the memorialists had intended. He has been a 
member of the American Medical Association for about twenty years, and has 
read papers before that body on the care of the insane. 

He has been a member of the Association of Medical Superintendents of 
American Institutions for the Insane since 185 i, and its secretary since 1858. 
He is also an honorary member of the British Medico- Psychological Associa- 
tion, and of the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia. 

He was one of the commissioners for the erection of the State Hospital for 
the Insane at Danville, Pa., and also for the erection of the State Hospital for 
the Insane at Warren, Pa., and was also one of the commission appointed by 
the Legislature to inquire into the condition of insane criminals in Pennsyl- 
vania. He has been for many years one of the trustees of Lafayette College, 
Easton, Pa. 

In 1850 he prepared a manual for attendants in hospitals for the insane. 
His principal writings have been the reports of the hospitals of which he has 
been the superintendent ; of the commissions on which he has served ; various 
papers and reports to the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania, em- 
bodied in their proceedings, and papers read before other societies, or printed 
in medical journals. He prepared also a history of the Association of Medical 
Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane ; a history of the 
original thirteen members of that association, with photographs of each mem- 
ber, and a biographical sketch of Thomas S. Kirkbride, M. D. 



WATSON, LEWIS FINDLAY, was born in Crawford county, Pa., on the 
14th day of April, 1 8 19. His parents, John Watson and Rebecca 
Bradley, were natives of the State of Delaware, and descended from a Scotch- 
Irish ancestry. The early education of the subject of this sketch was such as 
the educational advantages of Crawford and surrounding counties afforded 



Lewis Fixdlay Watson. 607 

during his boyhood. At the age of thirteen he entered a store at Titusville in 
the capacity of clerk, and remained in that occupation there and at Franklin 
and Warren until 1837, his residence in the latter place having commenced in 
in 1835. At the close of his last engagement, in 1837, ^^ entered the pro- 
thonotary's and register and recorder's office in Warren, where he remained 
until 1838, shortly after which he commenced a course of study at the Warren 
Academy, then under charge of Mr. Rasselas Brown, who subsequently be- 
came president judge of this judicial district. 

Upon leaving the academy, Mr. Watson entered upon mercantile pursuits 
in the borough of Warren, in partnership with Archibald Tanner and S. T. 
Nelson, under the style of Nelson, Watson & Co. At the termination of this 
co-partnership, in 1841, he continued his mercantile pursuits, sometimes on his 
own account, and sometimes with others, until i860, when, closing this busi- 
ness, he turned his attention more directly to the manufacture and marketing 
of lumber. In the autumn of 1859, in company with his brother John and 
Archibald Tanner, he engaged in the development of the petroleum business by 
drilling wells on his brother's farm at Titusville, Pa. In the spring of i860 
this firm opened what was known as the Fountain Oil Well, the first flowing 
well in that district, and probably the first in the country. 

Since the date of the above-mentioned discovery Mr. Watson has, at inter- 
vals, engaged in the production of petroleum, and has continuously engaged 
also in extensive operations in pine timber lands, and in the manufacture and 
sale of lumber up to the present time. 

Enterprises of more public importance have at various times occupied his 
attention. In 1864 he was one of the original stockholders of the First Na- 
tional Bank of Warren, and for several years acted as its vice-president. In 
1870 he organized the Warren Savings Bank, of which he was the first presi- 
dent, a position which he continues to hold. 

In 1 86 1 he organized the Conewango Valley Railroad Company, now 
known as the Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley and Pittsburgh, and was elected its 
first president. It was mainly through his efforts that the Conewango Valley 
road was constructed. In 1877 he purchased a large tract of land in Cass 
county. Dak., and at once commenced the cultivation of wheat and other agri- 
cultural products. At the present date he has over two thousand acres under 
cultivation. 

Since the organization of the Republican party Mr. Watson has at all times 
supported the political principles which have distinguished that great body — 
principles that have more firmly cemented the bonds of the Union ; which 
have protected the American laborer from competition with the degraded la- 
borers of foreign nations, and which have established and sustained the conserv- 
ative financial policy that has secured so much prosperity to the country, and 
insures the extinguishment of the public debt without distress to the people. 



6o8 History ok Warren County. 

Although not a politician by profession or practice, his unswerving loyalty to 
his party, his known patriotism, his energy, perspicacity, and success in the 
various enterprises which he had undertaken, led, in 1874, to the unanimous 
recommendation of Mr. Watson, by the Republicans of Warren county to the 
district convention, as a candidate for representative to Congress. At the 
meeting of the district convention Mr. Watson's name as a candidate was with- 
drawn at his own request, to effect an unanimous nomination of Hon. C. B. 
Curtis, the sitting member of the House from the Twenty-seventh Pennsyl- 
vania Congressional District, for a second term. Unfortunately Mr. Curtis was 
defeated at the polls by his Democratic competitor, by a small majority. 

Two years thereafter, in 1876, Mr. Watson was nominated by the Repub- 
lican convention, held at Franklin, as a candidate for representative to the 
Forty-fifth Congress from the above district, and he was elected by the over- 
whelming majority of 3,547, against Wm. L. Scott, the Democratic nominee. 
notwithstanding the election of a Democrat for the preceding term of 1874-76' 
In 1880 he was again elected to Congress. His congressional duties were per- 
formed with the same assiduity and zeal that he displayed in private affairs- 

In the Forty-fifth Congress he introduced a bill to regulate inter- state 
commerce and to prohibit unjust discrimination by common carriers. This 
bill aimed to correct one of the crying evils of the times. 

In the House it elicited discussion which its importance merited, and it was 
was widely commented upon by the leading newspapers of the country in a 
manner which indicated the deep interest felt in the proposed reformatory leg- 
islation by the people at large. The bill passed the House, with some unim- 
portant amendments, by a large majority, but reached the Senate too late for 
action during that session of Congress. 

That its passage through the House, by a large majority, should be ascribed 
to the energetic and skillful efforts of Mr. Watson, is apparent from the fact 
that a similar bill, introduced in the Forty-sixth Congress, did not reach a vote 
in either the House or the Senate. 

In 1842 Mr. Watson married Elvira VV. McDowell, whose death occurred 
in 1849. No children of this marriage survive. In 1856 he married Miss 
Caroline F,., daughter of Hon. N. B. Eldred, of Wayne county. Pa. Of the 
children born of this marriage Annie Bartlett alone survives. 

At the date of this publication Mr. Watson continues actively engaged in 
the various business pursuits which have absorbed so many years of his life — 
banking, the manufacture of lumber, operations in pine timber lands, the pro- 
duction of petroleum, and grain growing. 

While increasing his lumber interests, he has gradually become, probably, 
the largest land owner in the county of Warren, and latterly he has acquired 
extensive timber tracts on the Pacific slope. 

These various and absorbing pursuits have not diminished his concern in 



Lewis Findlay Watson. — David Beaty. 609 

public affairs, nor have they dulled his lively interest in the successes, or less- 
ened his sympathy in the misfortunes of his neighbors, and his large and ever- 
increasing circle of acquaintances. On the contrary, he contemplates the va- 
rious political schisms of the time with all the ardor of earlier days, but 
with a judgment and wisdom ripened by wide and varied experience. 

Happy in his own domestic life and successes, he is ever ready to contrib- 
ute to the happiness of the less fortunate, by his quiet sympathy in their dis- 
tress, or by extending the hand of unostentatious charity — the greatest of all 
the virtues — which adorns alike the prince and peasant, the private as well as 
the more conspicuous public citizen who may wear her mantle. 



BEATY, DAVID, was born in Beaver county. Pa., on the 26th day of Oc- 
tober, 181 1. His paternal ancestry is derived from Scotland. His grand- 
father, William Beaty, emigrated from Scotland to Newburg, on the Hudson, 
in New York State, and thence removed to Beaver county, in this State, nearly 
eighty years ago. He had a family of three daughters and four sons, of the 
latter of whom William, jr., the eldest, was the father of David Beaty. Will- 
iam, the younger, was born in Newburg, N. Y., in 1764; could distinctly re- 
member having seen Washington; served in the War of 18 12, being stationed 
at Erie to protect the country from an apprehended invasion of the enemy, 
and died at his home in Beaver county on the 5th of June, 1859. He was a 
farmer by occupation, a Democrat of the old school, and a consistent member 
of the Presbyterian Church. His wife, Mary, had four brothers and three sis- 
ters, the children of David Clark, of Irish birth and parentage. He was a 
giant in stature, measuring six feet two and one-half inches in his stockings. 
He died in Beaver county about the year 1822. Mary (Clark) Beaty died in 
the summer of 1868, of palsy. 

William and Mary Beaty reared a family of seven sons and six daughters. 
Of this family of thirteen children, David Beaty was the sixth. Just previous 
to his nineteenth birthday David Beaty came to Chautauqua county, N. Y., 
where he remained at work on farms for four years, removing, at the expira- 
tion of that time, to Tionesta, Warren county. Pa. There he engaged in lum- 
bering in the forests for a period of five years, when he went to West Hickory, 
near Tidioute, and was married November 16, 1843, to Abigail Mead, young- 
est daughter of Joseph Mead ; uniting the labors of a farmer with those of 
his former vocation. At the beginning of the oil excitement, more than 
twenty years ago, he commenced his operations in petroleum on Oil Creek, 
eight miles south of Titusville. This occupation gradually assumed larger 
proportions, and in time absorbed Mr. Beaty's entire time and attention. The 
material result, however, has been most gratifying. The boy who left home 
with one dollar and seventy-five cents in his pocket, and with venturesome 
daring, walked 1 30 miles to the destination which he had selected as the field 



6io History of Warren County. 

for his labors, was bound to succeed, and has succeeded beyond his original 
calculations. After erecting and furnishing the buildings in which he now 
lives, Mr. Beaty removed hither from West Hickory on the llth of March, 
1873. Hisjhome farm consists of 170^^ acres, besides which he now owns 
sixty acres in one lot above here, lOO acres on Hatch Run, etc., making more 
than 500 acres that he owns in Warren county, and nearly four thousand acres 
in Dakota. Mr. Beaty is a stalwart member of the Democratic party, and a 
member of the Presbyterian Church of Warren. 

Joseph Mead was born in Northumberland county. Pa., June 25, 1772; 
came to where Meadville now stands, when it was a wilderness, with his eldest 
brother, David Mead. Joseph was sixteen years old at that time. They had 
some narrow escapes. Their father, Darius Mead, was taken prisoner by the 
Indians and killed about thirty miles from Franklin. Joseph remained there 
one year ; returned to Northumberland, and went to school ; acquired as 
good [an education as he could possibly; was married in 1794 to Hannah 
Boone, a relative of Daniel Boone, of Kentucky ; emigrated to near Youngs- 
ville, Warren county, in 1799 with his brother Darius, and their families- 
They built the first grist and saw-mill in the county. Joseph afterward came 
to reside three miles below Warren, on the Allegheny River, and died there in 
1846. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Beaty consists of three sons — O. W., David 
W., and Albert B., the last named of whom died on the 20th of September, 
185 I. The other two are still residing in Warren county. 



WETMORE, L. D., was born in Pine Grove township, Warren county. Pa., 
on the 18th day of October, 1818. He is the son of Hon. Lansing Wet- 
more, a sketch of whose life is written in this work, and the grandson of Par- 
sons Wetmore, an early settler in Whitestown, whose wife was a daughter of 
Hugh White, the first settler west of the Dutch settlements in the Mohawk 
Valley in the State of New York. Hugh White earned the distinction of being 
the founder of Whitestown, N. Y., as his son Hugh became the founder of 
Cohoes, N. Y. The family came originally from the vicinity of Hartford, Conn. 
L. D. Wetmore received his earlier education in the district schools of War- 
ren, and afterward attended the academy at the same place. He was gradu- 
ated from Union College in the class of 1841, after which he began to study 
law in Warren. He was admitted to practice in 1845, and at once commenced 
the practice of his profession in Warren, his labors being interrupted for a time 
in 1843 ^"d 1844, when he taught in the academy at Smethport for two sea- 
sons. From that time on he has conducted a large and successful practice in 
Warren, and is now at the head of the firm of Wetmore, Noyes & Hinckley. 
Mr. Wetmore's prominence in this and adjoining counties is sufficiently attested 
by the fact that in the fall of 1870 he was elected president judge of the Sixth 




^. 



L. D. Wetmore. 6ii 



Judicial District, composed of the counties of Erie, Warren, and Elk, and that 
during a term of ten years he performed the functions of that office with the 
most creditable promptness and efficiency. For some time previous to the 
death of his brother, C. C. Wetmore, in April, 1867, he was interested with 
him in an extensive lumber business. After that painful accident, as described 
in other pages of this volume. Judge Wetmore was obliged to assume sole 
charge over the business, and from that time to the present he has engaged 
heavily in the manufacture and sale of lumber, with results which disclose his 
sagacity and capacity for managing afifairs. In politics Judge Wetmore is a 
Republican, and though not an office seeker was clothed for a time with the 
judicial ermine, as stated, and has been called upon to take a part in the ardu- 
ous and not less important burdens of local office. Previous to his election to 
the bench he was president of the First National Bank of Warren, a position 
which he resumed on his retirement from the political office, and which he now 
holds. His judicial ability has been even better appreciated since the expira- 
tion of his term than while he was in office. Like his father, he has always 
been remarkable for the affability of his manner and his social disposition in 
all the relations of life. His decisions were almost always correct, notwith- 
standing the fact that he was engaged in private business enterprises that would 
alone have fully taxed the energies of most men. He studied all the questions 
that came before him for decision with the thoroughness of a student in love 
with his task, and refused to neglect the minutest duties of his position. 

The following is the correspondence on the termination of his official life in 
Erie county : 

Erie, Pa., April 29, 1874. 
To THE Honorable L. D. Wetmore, 

Dear Sir : — As your connection with the bar of Erie county as president 
judge has ceased, the undersigned, its members, desire to give an expression of 
their respect for you, officially and personally, at a supper at such time as it 
may suit your convenience to meet us. 

We are unwilling that your connection with us as president judge of our 
county should cease without some demonstration, feeling that while it should be 
a pleasant occasion to us, it is due to you for the ability, impartiality and fidel- 
ity with which you discharged the duties of the office as well as a grateful ex- 
pression of our remembrance of the agreeable intercourse we have had with 
you as our late president judge, signally marked out as it was by gentlemanly 
and courteous bearing, and patient consideration of our efforts before you. 
With great respect we are your friends and obedient servants. 

John H. Walker, 
Elijah Babbit, 
James C. Marshall, 
and some forty members of the Erie bar. 



6i2 History of Warren County. 

Warren, Pa., June 8, 1874. 

Gcntleiiicn : — Your favor was duly received and my absence has delayed a 
reply. 

To have performed the duties of judge in a manner to meet the approval of 
the members of your bar is to me a source of great satisfaction. 

Your learning, ability and urbanity greatly aided me in my labors on the 
bench. 

The upright, fearless, and learned lawyer is as much a minister of justice 
as the court to which he speaks, said Justin Grier, on his retirement from the 
bench of the Supreme Court of the United States. 

The fact so truly stated by Judge Grier has been appreciated by me in my 
official intercourse with you. 

I would be pleased to accept your invitation but am unable at present to 
state a time when it would be convenient for me to meet you. Thanking you 
for the flattering compliment of your letter, I remain 
Very respectfully yours, 

L. D. Wetmore. 

To Hon. John H. Walker, Hon. Elijah Babbit, Hon. James C. Mar- 
SH.\LL and others. 

At a meeting of the court in Warren on the first Monday in January, 1881, 
the following resolutions, offered by a committee appointed by the bar, were 
adopted : 

Whereas, The term of office of Lansing D. Wetmore, president judge of 
the 37th Judicial District has expired, and he is about to retire from the bench, 
therefore be it 

Resolved, That we, the members of the bar of Warren county, express to 
Judge Wetmore our great respect and esteem for him personally, and our 
high appreciation of his able, learned, and impartial administration of justice 
in the county. 

Resolved, That as a judge he has been calm and impartial in investigation, 
independent without pride of opinion, just but merciful in judgment, earnestly 
striving to judge according to the law. 

He has ever sincerely sought to establish truth and do impartial justice, 
and by his considerate politeness and courtesy towards all he has merited our 
special gratitude, and shown himself a kind and cultured gentleman, as well as 
a just and learned judge. 

The pure and perfect gem of judicial authority which was committed to his 
keeping ten years ago he transmits to his successor, still a diamond, not a 
stone, with its brilliancy undimmed, its lustre unimpaired. 

Resolved, That the sincere and hearty good wishes of this bar follow Judge 
Wetmore into private life, and we hope and expect to see his ripe years and 
manhood crowned with even greener honors than those he to-day lays down. 



L. D. Wetmore. — Charles W. Stone. 613 

With all his labors he is governed by a philosophy of good will and enjoys 
life as it passes. He has an exquisite taste in literary matters, and among 
those who are acquainted with his attainments is regarded as a just and dis- 
criminating critic. He was one of the original contributors to the first fund, and 
is now one of the trustees of the Struthers Library Building. Moreover, he is 
liberal and ready to promote by generous contributions all beneficent public 
institutions, and with the aid of his wife is constantly engaged in the dispensa- 
tion of many and well-directed private charities 

Judge Wetmore has been twice married. His first wife was IVIiss B. 
Wetherby, of Warren, who died in 1856, four years after their marriage, leaving 
one child, now the wife of Lieutenant J. P. Jefterson, a graduate from West 
Point. In March. 1858, Judge Wetmore married Maria C. Shattuck, of Gro- 
ton, Mass. They have three children, l^dward D., Frederick S., and Albert 
L. Wetmore. 



STONE, CHARLES W., was born in Groton, Middlesex county, Mass., on 
the 29th day of June, 1843, and was the eldest of the three sons of War- 
ren F. and I\Iary (Williams) Stone. His mother was of Welsh extraction, and 
her ancestors had settled in this country during the early years of its history. 
His father, who was of English descent, and whose ancestors were related to 
General Nathaniel Green, of Revolutionary fame and were pre-Revolutionary 
inhabitants of Massachusetts, was a carpenter by trade, and though of feeble 
health, was distinguished by a strong, clear, and active mind. The year prior 
to his death, in his forty-second year, he was a member of the Legislature of 
Massachusetts. He had a keen appreciation of culture, and to his tendency 
to intellectual occupation, and his early words of inspiring encouragement, is 
due much of the success that has waited on his son, the subject of this sketch. 
The boyhood and youth of C. W. Stone were passed on a farm with his grand- 
father, with the exception of one year, during which he worked at the trade 
of his father. At an age when most boys have no thought for the morrow, he 
conceived an ambition for a liberal education, and determined to obtain it, 
notwithstanding the somewhat straitened circumstances of the family, and his 
own delicate health. He prepared for a collegiate course at Lawrence Acad- 
emy, and in i860 was sufficiently advanced to enter the sophomore class at 
Williams College. In order to supplement his limited means, he taught in a 
private family, sawed wood, and did other " chores " during college terms, and, 
free from debt, was graduated in 1863 in the section of first ten in a class of 
fifty. Soon after his graduation he became principal of the Union school at 
Warren, Pa., and in March, 1865, relinquished that position to accept that of 
superintendent of common schools of Warren county. In the fall of the same 
year he was chosen principal of the academy at Erie, but this situation he re- 
signed in November, 1865, and went to Mississippi in company with F. M. 



6i4 History of Warren County. 

Abbott and Colonel A. P. Shattuck, both of whom afterward became promi- 
nent cotton planters in that State. At the close of December, 1866, he re- 
turned to the north, and having been admitted to practice law in the courts of 
Warren county, on the first day of January, 1867, entered into partnership 
with his present partner, Judge Rasselas Brown. This partnership has now 
continued longer without interruption than any other law partnership in War- 
ren county. In 1868 he was elected school director and served nine years; 
the last three as president of the board. He was also for three years a mem- 
ber of the borough council. 

So soon were Mr. Stone's abilities known and appreciated, that as early as 
the fall of 1869 he was elected to the House of Representatives of Pennsyl- 
vania, from the district composed of Warren and Venango counties. Unlike 
too many men in public life, he did not look upon the position as an honor 
merely, a sinecure, but a trust which demanded the best of his talents and en- 
deavors. He was a prominent figure in his first session in the Legislature. 
.A movement, led by Senator Lowry, of Erie, in the Upper House, and Rep- 
resentative Ames, of Titusville, in the Lower House, was initiated for the 
formation of a new county to comprise Eldred, Southwest and half of Spring 
Creek townships in this county and portions of Venango and Crawford coun- 
ties. Mr. Stone and J. D. Mcjunkin, from the Venango district, opposed the 
measure, and Mr. Stone made a powerful speech against it, which materially 
aided to produce its defeat. The effort was complimented throughout the 
State in the press, even the opposition bearing witness to its force and effect. 
The struggle was a very severe, laborious, and exhaustive one to Mr. Stone, 
but it was the occasion of his re-nomination and re-election in the fall of 1870, 
without an opposing nominee, the Democratic party paying him the high com- 
pliment of not putting an opposing candidate in the field. The honor was 
well deserved, for the division of Warren county would have deprived it of 
some of the richest portions of its territory, and would have injured Warren 
by making Titusville the county seat of a new and rival county. Although at 
the beginning it seemed destined to be regarded as a local question, it engen- 
dered such a fight as to assume the proportions of a State question. The 
odds against which Mr. Stone and his confrere contended may be partly appre- 
ciated when it is stated that the victorious party were led by two young men 
in their first term against political veterans. 

An important feature of his labors in the session of 1871 was the part he 
took in a measure to protect the harbor of Erie. In consequence of a com- 
munication from the United States secretary of war to Governor Geary, rela- 
tive to depredations said to have been committed upon the Peninsula protect- 
ing and forming the harbor at Erie, and thus endangering the harbor, a com- 
mittee of five was appointed to investigate, and Mr. Stone was made chairman. 
The committee made two elaborate reports, which undoubtedly operated to 



Charles W. Stone. 615 



save the harbor from destruction, and restore the Marine Hospital (now the 
Soldier's Home) property to the State. 

At the expiration of the second term in the House of Representatives Mr. 
Stone returned with renewed energy to the practice of law, from which he had 
been drawn by the press of public duties. But he was not long permitted to 
enjoy his retirement. In 1876 he was chosen to a seat in the State Senate, 
and took his place in the beginning of 1877. In that body he served as chair- 
man of the general judiciary committee, and while taking a leading part in all its 
deliberations was recognized as the special champion of the interests of the oil- 
producing sections of the State, and, as in the Lower House, was esteemed 
very clear, able, and impressive in debate. Perhaps his ablest effort was his 
speech in support of the free pipe bill, in the winter of 1878. The bill was 
then defeated, but has since been passed and is now in force. In 1878 he was 
brought forward as the best candidate for the position of lieutenant-governor 
of the State. The opposition in the convention was but nominal, the vote 
standing 182 against 59, and in the subsequent election he was chosen by a 
majority of 23,250 votes. He served with distinguished ability from January, 
1879, to January, 1883, the entire term. The importance of this office, which 
is of recent institution in Pennsylvania, is at once apparent from the following 
section of Article IV, of the new constitution of the State : 

"Sect. 13. In case of the death, conviction, or impeachment, failure to 
qualify, resignation, or other disability of the governor, the powers, duties, and 
emoluments of the office, for the remainder of the term, or until the disability 
be removed, shall devolve upon the lieutenant-governor." It also provides 
that he shall be o- officio president of the Senate and member of the board of 
pardons. It fell to him to preside over the joint assembly during the protracted 
contest for election of United States Senator, which resulted in the selection of 
John I. Mitchell, and though he was called upon to make more rulings than 
were ever before or since made in a similar assembly, not one of his rulings, 
either in the Senate or joint assembly, was ever reversed or even appealed 
from, a statement which cannot be made concerning any other lieutenant-gov- 
ernor in the history of the State. During that contest Mr. Stone had the gen- 
eral support of the press of northern and northwestern Pennsylvania for the 
senatorship, but he declined to enter the field. 

It is a custom for the Senate, at the close of each term of its presiding offi- 
cer, to extend him a vote of thanks. This vote may have meaning and it may 
not, but there can be no mistaking the sentiment that impelled the Senate, at 
the close of Mr. Stone's term, in 1883, by the co-operation of every member 
of both parties, to present to him a gold watch of superior workmanship, bear- 
ing the following inscription : 

" Presented to the Hon. Charles Warren Stone, lieutenant-governor of 
Pennsylvania, January 16, 1883, by the members of the State Senate for the 



6i6 History of Warren County. 

sessions of 1879, 1881, and 1883, as a testimonial of their high regard and great 
esteem for him as a public officer, and for the impartial and faithful perform- 
ance of his duties as president of the Senate." To the heavy gold chain, which 
was presented with the watch, is attached, as a charm, a miniature gavel with 
diamond settings. The presentation address was made by Senator John Stew- 
art, since the independant candidate for governor, to which Mr. Stone feelingly 
replied. 

In 1883 Mr. Stone was one of the three commissioners that located the 
United States public buildings at Erie. In 1884 he received the unanimous 
support of the delegates from Warren county for the congressional nomination 
for this district, though he made no canvass in the other counties. In 1886 he 
was strongly urged from Warren and Erie counties to go into the fight, but 
declined, in January, 1887, however, he was appointed by Governor Beaver 
as secretary of the Commonwealth, a position which he fills at this writing. 

Notwithstanding his activity in political affairs, Mr. Stone has borne his 
share of the labor and received his share of the honor in business and social 
life. His standing as a lawyer is attested by the fact that he is presi- 
dent of the Bar Association of Warren county. In recent years he has 
engaged to a considerable extent in lumbering and oil operations in the Clar- 
endon field and elsewhere. Although in rather more than comfortable circum- 
stances, he has not accumulated so much property as he is commonly accred- 
ited with, having made it a rule, as well as possessing the inclination, to spend all 
that is necessary for his own enjoyment, or that of others, as he " goes along." 
He is a member of the State Historical Society, and since its origin has been 
prominently identified with the Warren Library Association. His ability 
as an orator is recognized throughout the State, and he is in demand, not only 
during political campaigns, but on Independence Day celebrations, and like oc- 
casions. 

On the 30th of January, 1868, Mr. Stone married Elizabeth, daughter of 
Thomas Moorhead, of Erie, Pa. They have six children — Grace Mary, 
Annie Isabel, Ralph Warren, Elizabeth Moorhead, John Lyon, and Clara 
Rebecca. He has two brothers, both residing in the city of Bradford, Pa. 
One, R. B. Stone, is a prominent lawyer; the other, George F. Stone, is city 
superintendent of schools. 



SCOFIELD, GLENN! W.,' son of Darius and Sallie (Glenny) Scofield, 
was born at Dewittvillc, Chautauqua county, N. Y., March 11, 18 17. In 
early life he had such educational advantages as are usually furnished in the 
common schools. When about fourteen years of age he quit school to learn 
printing, and worked at this trade, off and on, for about three years. At sev- 
enteen he went back to his books and entered upon a course of classical study. 

' li.xtiact from " Karnes's Historical and Biographical Sketches of Congress." 



1 




X^^-y\^v^i Uf, Ji-ff^^cJi 



Glenni W. Scofield. 617 



In September, 1836, he entered Hamilton College, New York, as a freshman, 
and graduated from this institution with fair rank of scholarship in 1840. 
Many years thereafter the college conferred upon him the title of LL.D. 
The two years immediately following his graduation he spent in teaching; the 
first in Fauquier county, Va., and the second as principal of the academy in 
McKean county, Pa. While teaching he studied law, and in December, 1842, 
was admitted to the bar, and at once entered upon the practice of his profes- 
sion at Warren, Pa. 

November 20, 1845, he was married to Laura M. Tanner, daughter of 
Archibald Tanner, of Warren. They have three children — two daughters, 
Ellie G. and Mary M., and one son, Archibald T. — all of whom now reside 
with their parents. 

Except when interrupted by his several terms of public service, his whole 
time has been devoted to his profession. 

In 1846 he was appointed district attorney by Governor Shunk, which 
place he held for about two years. In 1849 he was elected to the Legislature 
of his State, and re-elected in 1850. While a member of this body he was 
esteemed one of its most effective debaters, and was chairman of the judiciary 
committee. His speech in favor of an elective judiciary was quite widely 
circulated at the time, and attracted considerable attention throughout the 
State. Although during his term of service in the Legislature he acted with 
the Democratic party, as he had uniformly done before, and as he did for some 
years after, he was always an anti-slavery man. During his college life he was 
a member of an abolition society, formed by a number of young men in the 
institution, and never relinquished his early convictions in hostility to slavery. 
In accordance with these convictions and while still acting with the Demo- 
cratic party, he advocated the Wilmot proviso, opposed the fugitive slave 
law and the repeal of the Missouri compromise, and took the anti-slavery side 
of all kindred questions. 

When a Republican party was formed in 1856 he immediately severed his 
old party connections and in a public address united his political fortunes with 
the new party of freedom and progress. In the autumn of that year he was 
nominated by the Republicans for the State Senate, and in a district, before 
largely Democratic, was elected by a majority of twelve hundred. He occu- 
pied this position three years, and ably sustained the reputation which he had 
gained as a debater in the lower branch of the Legislature. While in the 
Senate he introduced and advocated bills to exempt the homestead from sale 
for debt, and to abrogate the laws excluding witnesses from testifying on 
account of religious belief Neither of these bills passed, but Mr. Scofield's 
speeches in their favor, which were reported and printed, prove that they 
should have passed. His bills were voted down, but his arguments were not 
answered. He was more successful in his etibrts in connection with other 



6i8 History of Warren County. 



western members to procure State aid for the construction of the Philadel- 
phia and Erie Railroad. 

For a short time in 1861, b}^ the appointment of Governor Curtin, he was 
president judge of the district composed of the counties of Mercer, \'enango, 
Clarion, and Jefterson. 

In 1862 he was elected a member of the Thirty-eighth Congress and re- 
elected to the Thirty-ninth, Fortieth, Forty-first, Forty-second, and Forty- 
third Congresses ; the last time by the State at large. During this twelve 
years' term in Congress he served on committees on elections, appropriations, 
Indian affairs, and for six years as chairman of the committee of naval affairs. 

March 31, 1878, he was appointed by President Hayes register of the 
United States treasury, which office he held until May 20, 1 881, and then 
resigned to accept a judgeship on the United States Court of Claims, to which 
he had been commissioned by President Garfield. 

As a debater in Congress, Mr. Scofield has been much admired for his 
analytical, terse, and logical style. Without striving to be amusing, he not 
unfrequently enlivens his argument b\' pungent satire dnd humorous illustra- 
tions ; but the general character of his cftbrts is that of clear statement and 
close reasoning. He seems to aim only at conviction. The following extract 
from a speech delivered in reply to Hon. James Brooks, of New York, in Jan- 
uary, 1865, in the House of Representatives, is a fair specimen of his style of 
address and power of discussion: 

" It has been often said of late that history repeats itself Of course it can- 
not be literally true ; but the gentleman reiterates it, and then proceeds to 
search for the prototype of the terrible drama now being enacted on this con- 
tinent, and affects to find it in the Revolution of 1776. Having settled this 
point to his own satisfaction, he proceeds to assign to the living actors their 
historic parts. The rebels take the position of the colonial revolutionists, the 
Government of the United States re-enacts the part of George III and his min- 
isters, while for himself and the Opposition debaters of this House he selects 
the honorable role of Chatham, Fox, Burke, and other champions of colonial 
rights in the British Parliament. Let us examine this. It is true that the 
colonists rebelled against the Government of Great Britain, and the slave- 
holders rebelled against the Government of the United States ; but here the 
likeness ends. Between the circumstances that might provoke or justify 
rebellion in the two cases there is no resemblance. The Government from 
which the colonies separated was three thousand miles beyond the seas. They 
could not even communicate with it in those days in less than two or three 
months. In that Government they had no representation, and their wants 
and wishes no authoritative voice. Nor was it the form of government most 
acceptable to the colonists. They preferred a republic. The rapidly increas- 
ing population and the geographical extent and position of the colonies de- 



Glenni W. Scofield. 619 



manded nationality. Sooner or later it must come. The tea tax and other 
trifling grievances only hurried on an event that was sure to occur from the 
influences of geography and population alone. How is it in these respects 
with the present rebellion ? The Government against which the slaveholders 
rebelled was not a foreign one ; it was as much theirs as ours. They were fully 
represented in it. There was scarcely a law, indeed I think there was not a 
single law upon the statute-book, to which they had not given their assent. It 
was the Government they helped to make, and it was made as they wanted it. 
They had ever had their share of control and patronage in it, and more than 
their share, for they boasted with much truth that cotton was king. Nor is 
there any geographical reasons in their favor. It is conceded, even by the 
rebels themselves, that a division of the territory lying compactly between the 
Lakes, and the Gulf, the Atlantic and the Mississippi, into two nations would 
be a great misfortune to both. If it were the Pacific States demanding separ- 
ation, bad as that would be, there would be some sense in it ; but for this ter- 
ritory you cannot even find a dividing line. When you attempt to run one, 
the rivers and mountains cross your purpose. Both the land and the water 
oppose division. There is no disunion outside the wicked hearts of these dis- 
loyal men. I can see no resemblance, then, between our patriot fathers, who 
toiled through a seven years' war to establish this beneficent Government, and 
the traitors who drenched the land in blood in an attempt — I trust in God a 
vain one — to destroy it. 

"Again, sir, in what respect do the apologists of the present rebellion in this 
House resemble the advocates of our great Revolution in the British Parlia- 
ment? Conceding they are their equals in statesmanship, learning, eloquence, 
and wit, I submit that they fall far below them in the merit of their respective 
causes. Chatham defended the cause of the colonists as set forth in the Dec- 
laration of Independence that ' all men are created equal, endowed by their 
Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the 
pursuit of happiness ' — the honorable gentlemen from New York pleads for 
slavery, the auction block, the coffle, the lash. With slavery he cures all 
national troubles. He begs for harmony among ourselves. How shall we 
be united ? ' Restore slavery,' says he. He is opposed to war. How then 
shall rebels in arms be subdued? ' Revive the traffic in blood.' He is op- 
posed to taxes. How then shall our exhausted Treasury be replenished ? 
' Raise more children for the market' Slavery, more slavery, still more 
slavery, is the only prescription of the Opposition doctors. If we are to look 
for the representatives of these great men on this side of the Atlantic I would 
not select them from among those who, born and raised in the free States, 
with all their moral and educational advantages, had not yet quite virtue 
enough when the struggle came to be patriots, nor quite courage enough to be 
rebels, but I would rather select them from such men as Johnson, of Ten- 



620 History of Warren County. 

essee, or Davis, of Maryland, who, born and educated amid the influences of 
slavery, still stood up for the Union cause, at first almost alone. But, sir, the 
representatives of these men are to be found now as they were then on the 
other side of the Atlantic, the leaders of the liberal party in the British Parlia- 
ment. 

"There is another party that figures largely in the history of the revolution- 
ary struggle that the gentleman entirely omitted to name. He gave them no 
place in his cast of parts. The omission may be attributed to either modesty 
or forgetfulness. Prior to the Revolution the members of this party had filled 
all the places of honor and profit in the colonies, and when the war came 
they heartily espoused the cause of the king, though they did not generally 
join his armies. Their principal business was to magnify disaster, depreciate 
success, denounce the currency, complain of the taxes, and denounce and 
dodge arbitrary arrests. To the patriot cause they were ever prophets of evil. 
Failure was their word. The past was a failure, the future would be. In the 
beginning of the war this party was in the majority in some of the colonies, 
and constituted a large minority in all, but as the war progressed their num- 
bers constantly diminished. Many of the leaders were from time to time sent 
beyond the ' lines ' and their estates confiscated. Most of these settled in 
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, right handy to the place where the gentle- 
man informs us he was born. The members of this party were called tories, 
and if this war is but a repetition of the war of the Revolution, as the gentle- 
man intimates, who are their present representatives ? 

"Again exclaims the gentleman, 'You cannot subjugate eight millions 
people.' I know not which most to condemn in this expression (I speak it 
of course without personal application), its insinuation of falsehood or its con- 
fession of cowardice. The United States does not propose to subjugate any 
portion of its people, but only to exact obedience to law from all. It is this 
misrepresentation of the purpose of the (jo\'ernment that still keeps alive the 
dying flames of the rebellion. I can go further with perfect truth, and say 
it was this misrepresentation that lighted those flames at first. The slave- 
holders were told that it was the purpose of this Administration to destroy 
their personal and political rights ; next they were reminded that they were 
proud, brave, chivalric men, and then tauntingly asked if they were going to 
submit. They were thus fairly coaxed and goaded into rebellion. Except for 
this misrepresentation the Union people would have been in a large majority 
in all the slave States, and despite it they are in a majority in more than half 
of them to-day if they could be heard. But they are gagged, bound hand and 
foot by a despotism so cruel and so mean, so thorough and so efficient, that 
even the gentleman from New York has no fault to find with it. The country 
is too much engaged now with the immediate actors in the drama to look be- 
hind the screens for the authors and prompters of the play. But when these 



Glenni W. Scofield. — Archibald Tanner. 621 

actors have disappeared from the stage, gone down to graves never to be 
honored, or wandering among strangers never to be loved ; in the peaceful 
future, when inquisition shall be made for the contrivers, instigators, aiders, 
and abettors of this great crime, the two classes so often coupled in denuncia- 
tion in this Hall, the abolitionists of the North and the fire-eaters of the South, 
will be scarcely noticed, but the quiet historian will 'point his slow, unmoving 
finger' at those northern leaders who for fifteen years have deceived the South 
and betrayed the North. They will stand alone. The large minority that now 
gathers around them, moved thereto more in hopes to escape the severe hard- 
ships of the war than from any love of them or their position, will have melted 
away from their support like dissolving ice beneath their feet, and well will it 
be for their posterity if they can manage then, like Byron's wrecks, to sink into 

the 

" Depths with bubbling groan, 
Without a grave, uiiknelled. uncoffined, and unknown." 

Subjugate the South ! No, sir; it is the purpose as it is the duty of the- 
Government to liberate the South, to drive out the usurpers, and to restore to 
the deluded and betrayed masses the blessings of a free Republic." 



TANNER, ARCHIBALD. Soon after the death of Archibald Tanner, 
which occurred February 15, 1861, the following obituary notice, written 
by the Hon. S. P. Johnson, was published in the Warren Mail : 

The subject of this notice was to Warren its oldest inhabitant, its best 
friend, its most enterprising citizen. Here he spent his youthful vigor, his 
ripened manhood and his feebler age. Around us everywhere are visible 
mementos of his public spirit and private virtues. With all our pleasing recol- 
lections of the past his memory is commingled. Every mind is stored with 
reminiscences of his genial and eccentric humor. Every eye is moist at his 
seemingly sudden exit. His loss is equally a private grief and a public 
calamity. 

The religious, the political, the commercial, and social circle have each a 
vacant seat and no one able and willing to wear his falling mantle and fill 
them. But the tear which this bereavement exacts is dried by the knowledge 
that the good which he has done will live after him, and the conviction that 
our loss is, to him, eternal gain. 

Archibald Tanner, son of Tryal Tanner, was born in Litchfield, county. 
Conn., February 3, 1786 — emigrated with his parents to Trumbull county, 
O., in the year 1802 — commenced his business life at his majority by boating 
produce down the Ohio River, and came to Warren in 18 16 with a small stock 
of goods and groceries, brought by keel-boat up the river. He had been loca- 
ted for a few previous months in Franklin. With this small stock, his earthly 
substance then, he commenced a career of commercial success. This he 
achieved single-handed, where many others failed, in a poor and sparsely set- 



622 History of Warren County. 

tied country, without aid from relatives or patronizing friends. His integrity- 
gained him universal confidence, while his capacity and close attention to 
business secured him a large measure of success. He prospered and enlarged 
his business for many successive years, until he was recognized at home and 
abroad, as the capitalist and business man of Warren. 

The latter part of his active commercial life was spent in company with 
Robert Falconer, esq., and the well-known firm of Tanner & Falconer is yet 
remembered by all middle-aged descendants of the early settlers, with feelings 
of sincere respect. Two more honorable dealers never did business in Warren. 

In December, 1819, Mr. Tanner married the daughter of Colonel Alexan- 
der McDowell, of Franklin, one of her earliest and most prominent citizens. 
His married life was short. In 1825 he was left a widower with two infant 
daughters, only one of whom, wife of Hon. Glenni W. Scofield, survives him. 
Not forgetting his obligations as a citizen nor relaxing his business energies, 
he added to their burdens the double duties of a widowed parental vigilance. 

His political proclivities may be summed up by saying, he was an Adams 
man while Adams and Jackson headed the parties of the country, subsequently 
a Whig during the life of that party, and lastly a Republican in full com- 
munion. 

In politics, as in all things, he was an earnest man, acting boldly upon his 
convictions of right and duty. When in a discouraging minority, he pur- 
chased a press and established at his own expense the first newspaper ever 
printed in the county, to maintain the political doctrines he thought right. 

In 1819—20 he was treasurer of the county, and for many years prior to 
1829 — the advent of Jackson's administration — he held the office of deputy 
postmaster in Warren, with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the 
people. 

But his most prominent characteristics were local pride and public spirit. 
He led in every enterprise that aimed to promote the interest of the town and 
county in which he lived. Coming to Warren when it was an ungrubbed 
plateau, accessible only by the river channel and the Indian trail, he was fore- 
most in all improvements, both useful and ornamental. To roads, turnpikes, 
boats, and bridges, and all other means of progress, he was the largest con- 
tributor and most active friend. In building he had no compeer in the early 
history of Warren. The first steamboat that ever navigated the Allegheny 
River, in 1830, was a monument to his enterprise and self-sacrificing spirit. 

His last undertaking was the development of the rock-oil fields of Pennsyl- 
vania. At Titusville, in company with lion. L. F. Watson, he sunk the first 
Jlotaiiig well. 

In his early life he devoted a portion of his leisure time to mechanical im- 
provements. His inventions, though useful in their day, have been superseded 
by changes in business and later discoveries. One of his patents bears the 
signature of James Madison and another of J. Q. Adams. 



Archibald Tanner. 623 



Nor was he less a friend to the moral and religious advancement of society. 
He was one of the pioneers of Presbyterianism in Warren. Having united with 
that church at its first organization in 1831, he became its chief supporter. 
In 1832 he was much the largest contributor to the erection of its church 
building, and for a quarter of a century thereafter, to the support of stated 
preaching therein. His religion was the result of an earnest, vital conviction 
of its truth, and was never laid aside or forgotten in the excitements of the 
hour. 

His conscientiousness was largely developed and ever present, prompting 
him in questions of doubtful morality. Although possessing certain idiosyn- 
crasies of character that occasioned him to differ with many others in his views 
of right and wrong, he never could be betrayed into an act that was dishonest 
or dishonorable. While he was an advocate for the doctrine of expediency, 
few men lived so blameless a life in a moral point of view. 

In intellectual capacity Mr. Tanner occupied a prominent position among 
intelligent business men. His was an original intellect, possessing large self- 
sustaining resources, ingenious, inventive, eccentric, with a strong appreciation 
of the ridiculous, a ready adaptation to the details of business and a pride of 
peculiarity in the mode of accomplishing his purpose. In his later life, his 
water works, his fence building, his cemetery project and the various enter- 
prises which he either originated or patronized for the development of the 
country and improvement in the arts, were evidences of these characteristic 
peculiarities of taste and talent. 

His perceptions were quick, and his mental action upon every subject pre- 
sented, direct and pertinent, overleaping all circumlocution. His conclusions 
were rather instincts than rational deductions. His views of men and things 
were often quaint and quizzical, and so abrupt that many of his sayings have 
passed into proverbs and became the common property of the people. 

In judgment he was not infallible, and he often embarked in projects that 
proved unfortunate pecuniary speculations. Such were his printing, steam- 
boat, turnpike, railroad, bridge, and bank experiences, prompted always by 
public and patriotic motives, but disastrous in their financial results. To his 
friends he was always true, to his enemies persistently hostile. To his friends 
he always made himself useful and reliable, while he was at times exacting 
and censorious ; to his enemies he was uncompromising and defiant, but never 
cruel. 

To his relations he was always kind and often generous, even to involving 
himself in heavy losses on their account. True to his benevolent impulses, to 
the last, in his will, he releases all obligations to his estate for such advances. 

He was the poor man's friend, if he would work. To the wants of the 
needy and unfortunate his heart always responded in acts of substantial aid. 
Industrious and energetic himself, he had no toleration for idleness or dissipa- 
tion. 



624 History of Warren County. 



In his temper he was self-willed and somewhat hasty, exhibiting at times 
a degree of petulance and passion that was doubtless largely attributable to 
his sensitive and very excitable nervous temperament. But underneath all 
his foibles lay a manly and open heart, sincerely devoted to truth, honesty, 
and the public good. His courage, moral and physical, no one ever doubted. 
It had been often tested. He dared to do right in all emergencies, even 
against the swell of popular sentiment. 

He had long been a member of the Masonic order and adhered to it as a 
benevolent institution. 

With this brief but candid review of his character and history by one who 
knew him long and well, we must now part with our old friend Tanner, not to 
forget him, but to commemorate his virtues and perpetuate his good name. 

P'or integrity and firmness of purpose, for industry and energy in its exe- 
cution, for public enterprise and private charity, for an untarnished morality 
and a consistent piety, his life was a model well worthy the study and imita- 
tion of those who have a lifetime yet to live, and desire to attain his high 
position in the estimation of mankind. 



M'; 



1':RRITT, HON. CHARLES C. The first of Judge Merritt's ancestors 
to immigrate to America was his grandfather, George Merritt, a native 
of England, who, in his younger days, settled near Hartford, Conn., about 1767 
or 1768. He was thus placed in the center of a "rebellious" territory, and 
became, during his first ten years, thoroughly initiated into all the grand mys- 
teries of American patriotism. He imbibed the sentiments of his adopted 
countrymen, and was one of the first to take up arms in defense of oppressed 
rights when the War of the Revolution burst like a storm cloud upon the de- 
voted heads of the " Rebel Americans." He bore an active part in that fa- 
mous struggle. In times of peace he was a farmer He was the father of five 
sons and two daughters. Thomas, the father of the subject of this sketch, was 
the youngest of these sons, and was born on the 1st day of November, 1790. 
He received a common school education in Hartford, and at the age of about 
twenty-one years removed to Chautauqua county, N. Y., near Forestville, by 
the way of Buffalo, at a time when the only tavern in that city was a double 
log house, and when there was no road to Forestville. He therefore found his 
way from Buffalo to his destination by the lake shore. He engaged in farming 
near Forestville until as late as 1850, when he removed to Deerfield township, 
Warren county. Pa. In 1864 he removed to Strawberry Point, Iowa, where 
he died on the 12th of November, 1874. He was a thorough-going Whig 
from the time he became a voter until the dissolution of that great party, and 
the organization of the Republican party. F"rom that time until his death he 
voted with the Republicans. He was an out-spoken anti-slavery man. 

At the age of twenty years he married Sally, daughter of Jeremiah Wright, 



Hon. Charles C. Merritt. 625 

of Chantauqua county, N. Y., who died in 1834, leaving a family of seven 
sons and three daughters. In 1836 Thomas Merritt married, for his second 
wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Hepzibah Jewett, of Chautauqua 
county, by whom he had five sons and three daughters. She died in 1847. 

Charles C. Merritt, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest son of Thomas 
and Elizabeth Merritt, and was born in the township of Hanover, near the 
village of Forestville, N. Y., on the 3d of April, 1837. He passed his boy- 
hood, until his thirteenth year, at the place of his birth in attendance upon the 
common schools, and in 1850 accompanied his father's family to Deerfield 
township, in this county. There he continued his attendance at school for six 
months each year, including several terms at the school at Tidioute, until he 
reached the age of twenty years. From 1857 to i860 he engaged in farming 
and lumbering on his own account, and during the oil excitement, until 1862, 
he operated in oil. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company F, 
One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, from which 
he was promoted in the following January to the office of orderly sergeant, and 
was afterward commissioned captain. He was wounded at the first battle of 
Fredericksburg, and again at Gettysburg. He participated in the battles of 
Cold Harbor, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, and Antietam. On the i6th of June, 
1864, he was captured at Petersburg, from which time he was for ten months 
and sfeven days a prisoner at Andersonville and at Florence, S. C. He was 
exchanged in the latter part of March, 1865, after suffering the indescribable 
horrors of starvation and prison life, which could be sustained only by 
"muscles of iron and a heart of steel." Immediately after his exchange he 
returned to Warren county and engaged in farming and lumbering in South- 
west township. This occupation he continued with uninterrupted success until 
the spring of 1886, when he began to operate in oil, in which he is still en- 
gaged. 

Judge Merritt has ever taken a very active interest in politics, his sincerity 
and disinterestedness having been abundantly manifested by the part he bore in 
the war for the preservation of the Union. He is an uncompromising member 
of the Republican party. His fellow townsmen have honored him with repeated 
elections to nearly every ofiice within their gift. He served fifteen years as 
justice of the peace, nine years as road commissioner, and nine years as school 
commissioner. In the fall of 1885 he ran for his first term in a county office, 
and was elected associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas for a term of five 
years, beginning with January i, 1886. For this position he has been partic- 
ularly well trained by his long experience as justice of the peace. 

Judge Merritt is a member of the church of the United Brethren in Grand 
Valley, and has for twenty years been one of its trustees. He has ever been 
a liberal contributor to the support of all churches, believing that the influence 
of a sincere religion is the most elevating and ennobling that can be shed upon 



626 History of Warren County. 

any community. He has not been sparing, either, in his practical aid to those 
who have been more unfortunate than himself, especially when he believes 
them to be deserving. One most remarkable fact should not be omitted, viz., 
that neither he nor any member of the Merritt family, within the memory of 
li\'ing man, have ever used intoxicating liquors in any form, and only one 
member, a boy, has used tobacco for a short time. This is remarkable in view 
of the general and respectable use of these intoxicants and narcotics, and un- 
doubtedly explains, in part at least, the rugged health of the family. In the 
face of all these facts, Judge Merritt's success is not in opposition to any natural 
law, but strictly in conformity to nature. It is the reward of continuous and 
well directed industry, probity, and intelligence. Moreover, Judge Merritt has 
never been known to desert a friend. This is one secret of his popularity and 
of his political success. He is prominent for the one fact that when he espouses 
the cause of a friend he "stays by him." He is at the same time fair toward 
his opponents, and consistent in his own position. 

On the 17th day of July, 1857, Charles C. Merritt married Esther L., 
daughter of Robert and Lovisa Hunter, of Southwest township, who has blessed 
him with six children, all daughters, three of whom are living — Lovisa, wife 
of Robert Meabon, lives in Michigan ; Lorinda, after attending the State Nor- 
mal school at Edinboro, Pa., and engaging with conspicuous success in teach- 
ing, now resides with her parents, as does Grace, the youngest. 

Such are the salient particulars of a life crowned with virtue and culminat- 
ing with a well-developed character. The mere dates are of little value ; the 
achievements are worthy to be studied and emulated. The secret of success, 
of usefulness, is revealed in this brief sketch. Judge Merritt has always been 
what Carlyle has called " an earnest man." This earnestness is what made 
him a good soldier, and a still better citizen in times of peace, and exemplifies 
the saying that "peace hath her victories no less renowned than war." 



M 



cKINNEY, PETER, was born in Lawrenceville, N. J., on the 17th day 
of April, 1817. He was a son of Patrick and Sarah (Brown) McKinney. 
Patrick was a native of Ireland, and emigrated to New York in 1792. He 
was a brother of John McKinney, who settled in Brokenstraw in 1795. Pat- 
rick settled and married in New Jersey. He died about 1820, leaving a family 
of three children — Mary, Peter, and Elizabeth. Peter is the only one now 
living. He married in 1840 Sarah Ann White, who was born in Pittsfield in 
1820. They reared a family of eight children, five of whom are now living, 
as follows: Elizabeth, Amanda, Almeda, Orris F., and Stella, while Olive, 
Lena, and Genevieve are deceased. Sarah Ann McKinney was a daughter of 
James and Eunice White. Mr. McKinney, who is one of the most prominent 
citizens of the county, has been called upon to officiate in the following public 
positions : deputy sheriff, constable, town commissioner, school director, and 



Peter McKinney. — Joshua Turner Currie. 627 

assessor. He began lumbering and farming at an early day, and by his in- 
dustry, economy, correct habits and fair dealing has achieved a conspicuous 
degree of success. He is now a retired capitalist. His son. Orris F., married 
Emily Grennell, by whom he has had one son and one daughter. Mrs. Pat- 
rick McKinney settled in Pittsfield with her family in 1824, where, ten years 
later, Peter embarked in the lumber trade. He died on the 22d day of De- 
cember, at his old homestead in the township of Pittsfield ; was sick two 
months and fifteen days ; buried in Garland Cemetery. 



CURRIE, JOSHUA TURNER, was born in Stanbridge, county of Mis- 
sisquoi, P. Q., on the 6th day of September, 18 15. His father, Francis 
Currie, was a captain of militia in Stanbridge at that time, when the title was 
a term of positive and complimentary distinction. Francis Currie, whose par- 
ents were from Scotland, was born near Albany, N. Y., on the 1st of August, 
1785, passed his life as a farmer, and died at Stanbridge on the 7th of October, 
1846. His wife, Polly Turner, was born in Vermont on the 23d of June, 1788, 
and died at Stanbridge in June, 1872. They reared a family of seven sons 
and one daughter, of whom Joshua Turner is the second son. Only three of 
these children are now living, the other two being H. M. Currie, who resides 
in Michigan, and George Earl, whose home is in Dayton, Ky., but who is en- 
gaged in business in Cincinnati and Louisville. He was a colonel in the last war. 
The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm on which he was born in 
Stanbridge, Province of Quebec, until May, 1837, when he removed to Rus- 
sellburg, Warren county. Pa., and for some six months assisted his elder brother 
and uncle in the manufacture of lumber. In the winter of 1837-38, deeming 
his education unfinished, he attended the academy at Warren, when Hon. 
Rasselas Brown was principal, and in the fall of 1838 returned to the place of 
his birth. At the end of one year he came back to Russellburg, engaging as 
clerk in the store of A. G. Lane. From the fall of 1840 to the fall of 1842 
he was Mr. Lane's partner, but at the latter date disposed of his interest in the 
business, and removed to Youngsville, where he began the work of mill build- 
ing. He had never served his time as a mechanic, but was naturally gifted 
with mechanical ingenuity, and performed his contracts with such scrupulous 
punctuality and accuracy, that he soon had more work than he was able to do. 
He introduced a patented water wheel of superior construction, which brought 
him in generous returns. He followed this business for thirty years, putting 
power in nearly all the mills in the vicinity, and entirely rebuilding many of 
them — sixty-three in number. One prominent secret of his success is his re- 
markable executive ability. He has always depended on himself as much as 
possible, leaving little to be done by his subordinates that required responsible 
duties or skill. He has ever been willing to accommodate his patrons, also, 
and for years previous to the war received his payment more in interest bear- 



628 History of Warren County. 

ing notes than in cash, and was always paid. In 1864 and 1865 he made con- 
siderable in investments in real estate, since which time he has also been act- 
ive in brokerage, purchasing notes, etc. In this way he has by industry and 
sagacity, by perseverance and economy, by honesty and fidelity, amassed a 
competence, although at the beginning he had nothing for capital but his 
character and determination. His landed property now consists of si.xtccn and 
a half acres in Youngsville borough, and fifty-six acres in Brokenstraw town- 
ship, in another lot. Its principal value is in its location. 

Mr. Currie is a lifelong Democrat. Although he has taken an active and 
keen interest in political matters, he has never sought, and seldom held office. 
In his religious views he is independent. He is at the same time advanced 
and conservative. His opinions do not coincide wholly with any religious 
creed, but he gives much time and thought to the conflicting theories respect- 
ing man's origin and destiny, and finds his ideas becoming clearer with ad- 
vancing years. His faith is bottomed on no metaphysical hypothesis, but on 
upright conduct. 

He married Jane, daughter of Samuel Irwin, of Venango county, on the 
4th of February, 1 846, who through all the wasting years has blessed his life 
with the consolations of an intimate and self-sacrificing companionship. At 
the time of his marriage he first settled on the place which is still his home. 
The members of his household in the past have been, in addition to himself 
and his wife, Martha McDowell, who came to live with them when she was 
seven years of age, and is now the wife of Nelson Mead, of Corydon ; and John 
L. Currie, who lived with them from the time he was five years of age until 
his marriage at the age of twenty-three years. He now lives on a farm in 
Brokenstraw township. 



I 



DAVIS, ALPHEUSJ., was born in Reading, Steuben county, N.Y. He is the 
fourth son of Greeley and Lucy (Dow) Davis. His mother was born at Wat- 
kins, Steuben county, N. Y., on the 10th of October, 1792, and died at Tionesta 
Forest county. Pa., in 1868. His father was a native of Saratoga county, N. 
Y., the date of his birth being August 4th, 1787, and of his death at Pleasant- 
ville, Venango county, Pa., June isth, 1863. They were married at Reading, 
N. Y., in 181 1. During the war of 1812 Greeley Davis enlisted in the Amer- 
ican army, was stationed principally at Ticonderoga, and for his meritorious 
services received a soldier's land warrant. A partial record of his children 
would read somewhat as follows: Lot B., born in 1812, twice married, first to 
Susan Cencipaugh, secondly to Julia Hudson, and resides at Watkins, N. V. ; 
John D., born in 1814, died after the family removed to Warren, Pa.; Barnum, 
married Manda Wright, died in Illinois ; Alpheus J.; Mary, born in 1822, mar- 
ried Flavins j. Benedict, and resides at Pleasantville, Pa.; Meredith and Mi- 
randa, twins, born in 1824, the former twice married, first to Amanda Bcnley, 





^^t_,^cy^x^ 



Alpheus J. Davis. — Willis B. Benedict. 629 

secondly to Anna Evans, and now resides in Clearfield county, Pa.; the latter 
married Daniel Whitney, and resides in Buffalo, N. Y.; Priscilla Ann married 
James H. Clark, and resides in New York city ; Frances married Marshall 
Couch, died in 1858 ; Samuel married Adeline Henderson, and resides at York, 
Neb.; Luther married Mary Houston, and resides in Warren county. 111.; 
Ephraim married Elizabeth Dale, and resides at Tionesta, Pa. 

Alpheus J. Davis received his education at Reading and at Warren, Pa., to 
which place the Davis family moved in 1833. At fifteen years of age, leaving 
his older brothers to assist on the farm, he was apprenticed to a clothier, and 
served three years. Then, wishing to continue his education, he passed the 
next three years at school in Warren. Afterward he engaged in the lumber 
business, and continued to be most actively and extensively connected with 
that interest through all his side issues of other business operations. He 
served a j'ear as constable of Warren borough with such fidelity that the 
people earnestly importuned him to serve longer, but the pressure of his pri- 
vate affairs, and his dislike for public office constrained him to refuse. In 1858 
he opened a flour and feed store, in which he remained two years. Meantime 
he was appointed the first express agent of Warren county, and he held that 
office with signal credit until his resignation in 1 861, in favor of his friend, L. 
D. Crandall. He had always been successful in business enterprises, selling 
out readily at good opportunities. Upon tlie first development of petroleum 
he built on Oil Creek a refinery with a capacity for sixty barrels per diem, 
which, after successfully managing for three years, he sold, and returned to the 
lumber business. From 1876 to 1883 he owned the largest drug store in 
Warren. 

Although a strong Democrat, he has never taken any active part in political 
matters, preferring rather to assist in advancing the material interests of his 
own town. He is a member of several town and county associations, and has 
performed the duties which have devolved upon him with credit to himself 
and advantage to others. He contributes liberally to the support of the Pres- 
byterian Church, of which his wife is a member. 

In 1852 he married Nancy J. Miles, daughter of Robert Miles, a sketch of 
whose life appears in this work. They have two children, Jessie Miles, wife of 
Dr. A. C. McAlpine, of Warren, and Annie Grace, now residing with her 
parents. 



BENEDICT, WILLIS B., was born in the village of Enterprise, township 
of Southwest, on the 19th day of February, 1838. He comes of an an- 
cient English family, the first emigrant from which to this country, Thomas 
Benedict, settled in Massachusetts Bay in 1638, removing from there to Con- 
necticut. He died at Norwalk in 1690, where many of his descendants are 
now living. The great-grandfather of the subject of our sketch, named Thomas 



630 History of Warren County. 

Benedict, bore an active part as a soldier throughout the War of the Revolu- 
tion, and was afterward a pensioner, as was also another great-grandfather, 
James Spencer. W. B. Benedict's grandfather, Jare Benedict, was the first of 
the family to settle in Southwest. He was born in December, 1787, in West 
Stockbridge, Mass. His father emigrated from Massachusetts to Onondaga 
county, N. Y., whence, in the winter of 1833, Jare Benedict removed to South- 
west, bringing his family and worldly effects with him in sleighs. His wife 
Annis, daughter of James Spencer mentioned above, was born in West Stock- 
bridge, Mass., in 1791, and died in Southwest township on the 9th of August, 
1858. When they came to this township, in 1833, their children, Elbridge 
G., Selden Spencer, Major F., and Harriet, afterward wife of George C. Pettit, 
of Fabius, N. Y., were all born. Jare Benedict, at once upon his arrival in 
Warren county, formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Selden Spencer, 
for the purpose of engaging in the manufacture and sale of lumber. They 
purchased large tracts of lands covered with a dense growth of pine timber of the 
best quality, and erected what was in those days a fine saw-mill on Pine Creek, 
at what is now the site of Enterprise village, on the ruins of the first mill ever 
built in this part of the county. Mr. Benedict continued in a most successful 
prosecution of the lumber business until his death, on the 19th of July, 1844, 
when he had reached the age of fifty-six years, si.x months and twenty-eight 
days. He was a noted man in his day, both for his superior sagacity and 
energy in the management of his private affairs, and for his unbounded public 
spirit. He was an acknowledged leader in all matters relating to the welfare 
of his town and county. He was a staunch but intelligent Democrat. To his 
enterprise and industry are due the laying out and opening of many of the 
roads in this vicinity. He and all his family were members of the Baptist de- 
nomination. Before coming to Pennsylvania he and his brother Aaron, al- 
most unaided, built a Baptist house of worship in Fabius, N. Y., which is still 
standing. His only surviving son. Major F. Benedict, resides in Titusville. 
Major F. and Selden S. Benedict succeeded to their father's estate. 

Selden Spencer Benedict was born in Fabius, Onondaga county, N. Y., on 
the 27th day of March, 18 17, and was consequently sixteen years of age when 
he came to Southwest with his father's family. In July, 1836, he married 
Mary H., daughter of the celebrated Dr. John Heffron, of Erieville, Madison 
county, N. Y., where she was born on the 2 2d of March, 18 17. Her father 
was a graduate from Dartmouth College, and a surgeon in the War of 18 12. 
Selden S. Benedict and wife reared a family of five children: Willis B., the 
eldest ; Eugenia, now the wife of W. J. Booth, of Titusville, Pa. ; Francis 
Wayland, who died November 22, 1865, aged twenty-two years; M. Laverne, 
who became the wife of Dr. John Chick, removed with him to Kansas City, 
Mo., and after his death, in 1881, removed to Titusville, where she now resides ; 
besides a son, born next after Wayland, who died in infancy. Selden Benedict 



i 



Willis B. Benedict. 631 



succeeded not only to a share of his father's property, but inherited his energy 
and public spirit. He was esteemed for his open-handed charity and liberality; 
was a member of the Democratic party until 1856, when he joined the ranks 
of the Republicans, during that period of general osmosis between political par- 
ties ; and was a member and supporter of the Baptist Church in his own town. 
In 1865 Major F., his brother, retired from business and settled in Titusville, 
after which he conducted the business in his own name until his death, on the 
6th of February, 1873. His wife died on the 23d day of May, 1879. 

Willis B. Benedict passed his boyhood in attendance upon the district 
schools of Southwest township, after which he underwent a thorough training 
at the Waterford Academy in Erie county. In 1856 he had the benefit of a 
course of study in Duff's Commercial College of Pittsburgh, the first and about 
the best institution of the kind west of the Allegheny Mountains. Thus 
equipped for the serious business of life, he returned to Enterprise and busied 
himself in aiding his father, until the oil development of 1859, when he added 
the production of oil to the manufacture of lumber. He commenced the pro- 
duction of petroleum in the fall of 1859, when he drilled a well in Rouseville, 
Venango county. From that time to the present writing Mr. Benedict has 
united the two industries — that of operating in oil and that of manufacturing 
lumber — with a degree of success. He has drilled many hundreds of wells, 
and still owns large tracts of timber and oil lands. He was, unfortunately, a 
victim of the great oil fire, which caused the death of Henry R. Rouse, on the 
17th of April, 1861, and himself escaped only with serious injuries. 

Though not ambitious for political eminence, Mr. Benedict's ability for 
management, and his personal influence, has made him, of necessity, active in 
public affairs. He is in principle a Republican, and while a firm and unyield- 
ing one, is not an "offensive" partisan. In 1862 he was elected treasurer of 
Warren county, and during his administration demonstrated his fitness for 
the position. He was elected to a seat in the State Legislature in the fall of 
1880, and served with credit to himself and his constituents. He is a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Enterprise, and contributes liberally to 
its support. 

Mr. Benedict has been thrice married. His first wife, Mary, daughter of 
Elisha Sprague, of Fabius, N. Y. — (an early friend of his father) — he married 
on the 1 8th of September, i860. She died in July, 1872, leaving one daugh- 
ter, Myra E., who was born on the 30th of December, 1868, and is now living 
with her father. In June, 1874, he was united in marriage with his second 
wife, Jennie, daughter of Judge Richard Irwin, of Franklin, Venango county. 
She died in April, 1877, leaving one child, Selden S., born on the 23d of June, 
1875, and also at home. On the 25th of July, 1878, he married Edna J. 
Ruland, then of Shamburg, Pa., though formerly of Batavia, N. Y., who is his 
present wife. By her he has had four children — Willis B., born on the i6th 



632 History of Warren County. 



of March, 1880; Wayland R., born on the 19th of January, 1882; Harry H., 
born on the 4th of January, 1884; and Robert H., born on the 8th of March, 
1886. 

MARSH, WILLIAM S. Joseph Marsh, the father of William S. Marsh, 
was born of Quaker parentage in Woodbury, county of Middlesex, N. 
J., on the loth of March, 1795. When he was five years of age his father, 
John Marsh, left his old home in New Jersey, and started for the wilds of 
Northwestern Pennsylvania. He transported his family and goods in carts, 
drawn by oxen. They wended their way slowly along through rough and hilly 
roads until they reached Franklin, on the Allegheny River, where they unloaded 
their goods and placed them in keel-boats together with carts, as there was no 
road up the river to Warren, their destination Their cattle were driven over 
the hills and through the woods to Warren, where their goods and carts were 
disembarked from the boats, and they proceeded as before until they reached 
the end of their journey, in what was known as Beechwoods, later Pine Grove, 
now Farmington township, on the 15th day of October, 1800. Mr. Marsh's 
brother, Hugh, had preceded him thither two years before. He settled on a 
piece of land now embraced within the limits of the " Marsh burying-ground." 
His house stood in the fields (east) about eighty rods from the route of the 
present highway. He had married Phebe Allen on the 26th of August, 1790, 
and in 1800 followed his brother Hugh to this county. Another brother, 
Charles, came a number of years later. Joseph Marsh became in time one of 
the leading men of the township. He held many of the township offices, and 
was justice of the peace for fifteen years and until about 1856. His record as 
a justice is a remarkably good one. It was his aim to persuade all litigants to 
adjust their difficulties peaceably if possible. In nearly every case which was 
pushed to a judgment before him, however, his decisions were supported by 
the appellate courts. He was a man of few words, was very deliberate in his 
opinions, could hardly be provoked to anger, practiced the utmost lenity toward 
those who were his debtors, never could say " no " to anybody who asked 
him for favors, and in his domestic life was irreproachable. His carefulness is 
exemplified by the fact that it was his lifelong habit to make notes of all the 
occurrences of interest in the vicinity of his home. I le was twice married. 
His first wife was Ruth, daughter of William and Parthena Sheldon, of Farm- 
ington. He married her on the 28th of December, 1820. She died on May 
7, 1844, after becoming the mother of ton children, born and named as fol- 
lows: Parthena, born on the 15th of October, 1821, died February 15, 1838; 
Phebe, born May 4, 1823, died August 28, 1826; Miriam L., born June i, 
1824, died December 28, 1841 ; William S., the subject of this sketch; Nancy 
P., born May 22, 1828, died March 15, 1844; John A., born April 4, 1832, 
died September 22, 1881 ; Phebe A., born June 23, 1834, married Fdwin Wat- 
kins, died February 23, i860; Joseph L., born July 5, 1837, died December 




I 



iyfu^i^ /ii^^^i^ 



rnj'-by SBBMs Sins 2f,^-iSr^. 



William S. Marsh. — Alson Rogers. 633 



I, 1838; Rachel Jane, born November 30, 1839. died March 26, 1844- and 
bdvvm Sheldon, born July 18, 1842, died March 18, 1844. 

Joseph Marsh married his second wife, Mrs, Betsey Trask, in 1844 Bv 
her he had three children, Martha and Agnes, now deceased, and Joseph Al- 
bro, now hvmg in Russellburg. Joseph Marsh died on the 14th of February 
1 88 1, aged eighty-five years, eleven months, and four days 

William S. Marsh, the fourth child of Joseph and Ruth (Sheldon) Marsh 
was born m Farmington township on the 9th day of July, 1826 and there 
received all the education that could be obtained without attendance upon the 
higher institutions of learning. He lived on his father's farm until he was mar- 
ried on the 6th of March, ,850, to Rosaville R, daughter of Hiram Knapp of 
Farmington, then Fine Grove. His wife is still living. Previous to their mar- 
riage he had purchased fifty acres of land included in his present farm and 
immediately after the marriage he built a house and moved into it He has 
engaged from that time to the present in general farming, making something 
of a specialty, however, of dairying. The original dimensions of his farm he 
has increased to one hundred and fifty acres, which contains as good land as 
can be found in the surrounding county. In addition to his farming he has 
also acquired skill as a carpenter, but has d- ne comparatively nothing at the 
trade since 1876. In 1870 he moved their first dwelling house back from the 
road and erected on its old site the house which they now occupy 

Mr. Marsh supports the views of the Republican party, and takes a 
lively interest in the vicissitudes of that party in State and national aftairs 
though in local matters he is accustomed to vote for whom he considers the 
best man for the oflice, irrespective of party. He has been placed in many of 
the township offices by his townsmen, but has declined to take offices which 
have been offered him of late. He has served three terms as justice of the 
peace, two consecutive terms beginning with 1856, and after missing one term 
was elected the third time. At the expiration of the third term he was invited 
to accept the office once more, but declined it. His discharge of the duties of 
that responsible position seems to be of the same pattern as that of his father 
His decisions on questions of law and justice are deliberate and indicative of a 
far-seeing common sense, and on appeal have generally been sustained 

Mr. and Mrs. Marsh have had four children, three of whom are livin- 
The eldest, W. Edgar, was born on the isth of January, 1851, and is now'a 
practicing attorney at Corry. Pa.; Joseph Sherman was born June 17 1857 
and died November 14. 1861 ; Frederick Sherman was born April 29' 1862' 
and IS now in the drug trade in Jamestown, N. Y.; and Carrie A. was born on 
the 23d of December, 1868, and is now residing with her parents. 

ROGERS, ALSON, eldest son of Dr. Joseph and Cornelia Waldron Rogers 
was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., on the i6th of November 1807' 
Being left an orphan at the age of seven years, he was taken by his grandpar- 



634 History of Warren County. 

ents to Vermont, where he Hved on a farm until 1830. He then removed to 
Warner, Pa., and went into business for himself In March, 1835, he married 
Miss Kezia P. Sill, daughter of the late Nathaniel Sill, of Pleasant township. 
He settled in Mead township three miles above Warren on the Allegheny 
River, and engaged mainly in the lumbering business, in which he continued 
successfully until his death, April 11, 1876. His wife and seven children sur- 
vive him. 

Mr. Rogers was kind and hospitable in his social relations, plain and unas- 
suming in manner, and one of the substantial and useful early settlers of War- 
ren county. He possessed in a marked degree that untiring perseverance, in- 
dustry, and economy which deserve and command success ; while his strict in- 
tegrity, high moral character, and firmness in his convictions of right, won for 
him the respect and esteem of his fellowmen. 



BLODGET, DR. A. C. Western New York and Northwestern Pennsyl- 
vania received a large influx of settlers from Oneida county, N. Y., in 
the earlier years of this century — men with the prophetic instinct and un- 
daunted mettle to look through the struggles and hardships which characterize 
life in a new country to the wealth that flows from newly-developed resources, 
and to brave the former for the acquisition of the latter. Of such a stamp was 
Cyrenus Blodget, the father of Dr. Blodget, of Youngsville. He was born 
in Whitestown, Oneida county, N. Y., on the 6th of October, 1792 ; served in 
the second war with Great Britain, participating in the battle of Black Rock, 
and other engagements along the Niagara frontier ; settled in Busti, Chautau- 
tau county, N. Y., about 1816; toiled unremittingly in clearing and cultivat- 
ing a farm of respectable proportions, and died in September, 1862. His 
father, Solomon Blodget, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, an early set- 
tler in Whitestown, N. Y., and died in Ontario county in that State. 

Cyrenus Blodget married Celia, daughter of Gardner Clark, of Petersburg, 
Rensselaer county, N. Y., about the year 1816. She was born on the ist of 
June, 1799, and died in March, 1858, leaving three children — Mary Angeline, 
now the wife of Dr. E. S. Stewart, of Ellicottville, N. Y.; Alden Diver, who 
died in September, 1862; and Alanson Clark Blodget, of whom we are writ- 
ing. 

A. C. Blodget was born on the 26th of October, 1821, in Busti, N. Y., 
where he received such education as could be obtained in the common schools, 
and the academy at Jamestown, N. Y. Believing his tastes and abilities 
adapted him for the life and work of a physician, he determined to fit himself 
for the practice of that learned profession, and began his medical studies with 
Dr. IC. S. Stewart in 1 840, subsequently attending lectures at the Geneva 
Medical College in Geneva, Ontario county, N. Y., from which he was grad- 
uated in 1846. Previous to that time he had commenced practice in Wrights- 



Dr. a. C. Blodget. — Erastus Barnes. 635 

ville, Warren county, as early as 1843. Upon his graduation from the medical 
college, however, he sought a more promising field, and removed to Youngs- 
ville in the fall of 1847. He soon acquired a good practice, which has con- 
tinuously grown to such an extent as to occupy his almost undivided attention 
for many years. Until within a year or two he has been the attending physi- 
cian and surgeon for the Rouse Hospital since its establishment. He was not 
engaged very largely in any other business, excepting that about twenty-five 
years ago he operated a little in oil, and put down two wells in Tidioute, which 
were worked with profit, and abandoned when they declined. For the last 
fifteen years he has owned and managed a farm of about eighty acres, hiring 
it worked according to special directions. Though never conspicuous as a 
politician, he has always been ready to aid in securing the best men for offices 
of trust and responsibility. His sympathies were at first with the Whig party, 
and have been with the Republican party since its birth, before the last war. 
He has been honored with several town offices, and served one term as county 
commissioner, but prefers the practice of his profession to the duties of public 
office. 

He has been twice married, first to Mary E. Littlefield, on the 19th of No- 
vember, 1852. She is now deceased. He was united in marriage with his 
present wife, Venie C. Culbertson, on the 8th of August, 1876. He is the 
father of three children, two sons by his first wife, one of whom, Frank H., is 
now residing in Youngsville, the other, Lynn, having died in infancy, and one 
daughter, Lucelia, by his present wife. The former was born on the 5th of 
December, 1854, and the latter on the 28th of March, 1878. 



BARNES, ERASTUS. The subject of this sketch was born at Italy Hill, 
Yates county, N. Y., in the year 181 1, his father being Timothy Bai-nes, 
who with his family left New York State in 1828, and settled on the south 
branch of Tionesta Creek in Sheffield township, Warren county, then a wilder- 
ness. Here a mill was erected which still stands, a landmark in the now thriv- 
ing community. Land was acquired, business accumulated, and soon all the 
evidences of a prosperous career began. Grown to manhood, Erastus, who 
had become manager of the business, married Eliza Eddy, a daughter of Zach- 
ariah Eddy, of Warren. Their children were Rose, now Mrs. Frank T. Blair ; 
Timothy E., late treasurer of Warren county, now deceased, who married Miss 
Ada Houghton ; Letitia, who married George Horton ; and Catharine, the 
wife of H. H. Ham. Mr. Barnes, becoming a man of note in the county, was 
selected one of the county commissioners ; and the Rouse fund coming to the 
county at this time, enabled Mr. Barnes and his associates to enact those wise 
measures which the county now so highly prizes. The commissionership was 
his only political office. He lives full of years, honored and respected by all 
who know him. 

41 



636 History of Warren County. 



M^ 



ILES, ROBERT, one of the first and most prominent merchants and 
capitalists of Warren county, was born in Northumberland county. Pa., 
on the 2d of April, 1793. His parents, Robert and Katharine (Watts) Miles, 
were both Pennsylvanians, and when Robert, jr., was but three years of age 
the family passed through Warren on their way to Sugar Grove, their future 
home. Here his father performed the duties of an early settler on a tract of 
land which, had it been a rectangle, would measure nearly three miles square. 
Robert was the sixth of seven children, and like the others, was educated by 
private tuition till, at the proper age, he was obliged to do his share of work 
upon the large farms which his father had put into cultivation in 1797. It is 
thus established that the family were among the first to settle in Warren 
county. He continued upon the home farm until the death of his father, when 
he engaged in the lumber trade, and remained actively and extensively con- 
nected with that interest until within a few years of his death. He was a vol- 
unteer soldier in the War of 1812. In 1830 he was elected prothonotary of 
the courts of Warren county, being the fourth person to hold that office after 
its separate establishment in Warren county. The infinite variety of his tal- 
ents impelled to enlarge perpetually his business interests. He was identified 
very considerably with mercantile and real estate transactions, most of them 
involving large amounts. He was one of the first to perceive the probable 
effect of the discovery of petroleum on business operations, and engaged with 
ardor in its production. About the year 1859 he erected a refinery a short 
distance below Warren, and kept it in operation for a number of years. His 
business tact and sound judgment were so prominent characteristics of his 
mind as to cause the advantageous issue of nearly all his investments. His 
connection with Warren as a resident of that borough began with the year 
1830, when he removed from Pine Grove, the place in which he began the 
manufacture of lumber. 

In politics Robert Miles was a zealous and an influential advocate of the 
principles of the Whig and Republican parties. In religion he evinced his faith 
by attaching himself early to the Presbyterian Church. He was very patriotic 
and public spirited, and to his efforts much of the prosperity of Warren county 
is to be ascribed. In business he was active and laborious to a degree that 
would have broken down a more feeble constitution. He was deliberate in 
forming an opinion, but his decisions were practically irreversible. He was a 
great reader, and was well versed in general literature, in history and in the 
chronicles of passing events. It was his habit to preserve carefully a record of 
all his business transactions. A spirit of benevolence pervaded his character 
and impelled him to give with great liberality to the support or assistance of 
those who needed and deserved help. He died on the nth of May, 1877, 
aged eighty-four years. 

Robert Miles married Sally Smith, of Enfield, (Jonn., on the i6th of Jan- 



Robert Miles. — James Roy. 637 

uary, 18 17, and by sustaining him in his early efforts and crowning his latter 
days with comfort, slie amply justified the wisdom of his choice. She sur- 
vived him until the 30th of August, 1882, when she had reached the ripe age 
of eighty-eight years. They had a family of two sons and four daughters, all 
of whom lived to years of manhood and womanhood. Their names are as 
follows : Harriet, now Mrs. E. N. Rogers, of Union, Pa.; John, formerly an 
attorney of Warren, where he died in 1855 ; Catharine, now Mrs. C. D. Rog- 
ers, of Jamestown, N. Y.; Dwight, who resides at Osceola Mills, Polk county, 
Wis.; Nancy, now Mrs. A. J. Davis, of Warren ; and Sarah, who became the 
wife of Dwight Allen, of Jamestown, N. Y., where she died in 1853. 



ROY, JAMES, who was born in Phelpstown, Ontario county, N. Y., on the 
14th day of September, 1822, is descended from a family bearing his pat- 
ronymic in Scotland. His grandfather, Cole Roy, came from that country^ 
about 1788 or 1789, and settled in Phelpstown, where he died about 1825. 
His son, Andrew, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Scot- 
land about 1785, and was the youngest member of a family of five sons and a 
daughter. He engaged in farming near Phelpstown, N. Y., until his death in 
1829. His wife, Margaret, was a native of eastern Pennsylvania, and was 
married to him as early as 1810. He took an active part in the second war 
with Great Britain, serving at Black Rock, and along the Niagara frontier. 
One of his brothers, Charles Roy, was killed in action at Fort Erie. Andrew 
and Margaret Roy had a family of three daughters and two sons, of whom 
James is next to the youngest, and the youngest of the sons. 

Mr. Roy received the rudimentary portion of his education in Phelpstown, 
but in 1836 he came to Elk township in this county, and attended school for a 
time after his settlement there. Before he had reached the age of twenty-one 
years he began engaging in agricultural and lumbering pursuits, clearing land in 
Elk township and shipping lumber down the river. From this early beginning 
until as late as 1883 Mr. Roy continued this twofold business, and from a 
seemingly unpropitious start, with little means and few friends, he wrought 
out by patient labor and sagacious management, a well-deserved fortune. In 
1883 he discontinued lumbering, and besides the cultivation of his old farm and 
other land which he has accumulated in the years that are past, he has devoted 
himself assiduously to operations in oil. In all the business transactions of a 
long life he has manifested a mingled conservatism and energy which are sure 
prognostics of success. His landed interests in Warren county comprise about 
fifteen hundred acres, though the acres he has owned and disposed of may not 
be reckoned. 

Mr. Roy has not been a political aspirant ; nevertheless he has accepted 
several township offices, and in 1880 was elected county commissioner of War- 
ren county. During the war he supported the nominees of the Republican 



638 History of Warren County. 

party ; voted for Horace Greeley in 1872 ; and is now a member of the Green- 
back party. 

On the loth of September, 1851, he married Sophia, daughter of William 
and Maria Shattuck, who were originally from Massachusetts, and later became 
prominent in Elk township. Mrs. Roy died on the 19th of July, 1867. She 
left seven children, all of whom are now living. The eldest, Helen Maria, was 
born on the 28th of May, 1853 ; Margaret, born June 3, 1856, is the wife of 
Glennie Meade, of Warren ; Franc, born June 17, 1858, is the wife of Jesse F. 
Baker, of Des Moines, la.; James, born March 27, i860, married Saloma 
Smith, of Warren; John was born March 20, 1862; Blanche was born Septem- 
ber 24, 1863, and Josephine Adella was born March 7, 1865. 



GRANDIN, SAMUEL, the subject of this sketch, is a grandson of one 
Samuel Grandin, who was born in 1700 on one of the islands along the 
coast of France. He came to this country, settled in New Jersey, and passed 
nearly all his life there, but died in 1787 on an island near New York harbor. 
He was well-to-do, and gave his large family of children a good education. 
Three of his sons were educated, one for the practice of law, one for the min- 
istry, and the other for a mercantile life. John Grandin, father of the subject 
of this notice, was for a time in the mercantile business, but at a later day 
taught school, until failing health compelled him to retire. His family lived in 
Morris county, N. J., but he died in Pleasantville, V^enango county, Pa., more 
than forty-five years ago, aged sixty-seven years. His wife, whom he married 
in New Jersey, was a native of Sussex county in that State. They had seven 
children, of whom three were sons and four daughters. Only two of these are 
now living, namely, the subject of this sketch, and Daniel Grandin, of James- 
town, N. Y. 

Samuel Grandin was born in Sussex county, N. J., on the 15th day of Oc- 
tober, 1800. His educational advantages were very limited, the schools were 
not good, and he did not attend them after his eighth or tenth year. He then 
learned the trade of a tailor, which he afterward followed for twenty consecu- 
tive years. In 1822 he came to Pleasantville, Venango county. Pa., where he 
remained until 1840. In that year he removed to Tidioute in this county, re- 
linquished his trade, and began selling goods. He also built mills and engaged 
in the lumber trade, rafting large quantities down the river. He continued 
this business until his retirement from active business pursuits shortly after the 
year i860. In 1867 he built the dwelling house which he still occupies. By 
virtue of his sagacity and industry he amassed a fortune, his capital at the be- 
ginning being, as he has been heard to say, " a pair of shears and a lap-board." 
He has never been a politician, nor an office seeker. Although urged to ac- 
cept office, he has persistently refused, leaving that duty or pleasure to those 
who sought it. lie votes, independently of party distinctions, for the best 




^^^) <^^>^.^ 



Samuel Grandin. — Nathaniel Bailey Eldred. 639 



man. His religious belief is that all men are at last saved, that they should 
do their best here and not wait until after death. He is a member of the Uni- 
versalist Church, and contributes liberally to its support. He has ever been 
found at the head of any enterprise which looks to the advancement of the in- 
terests of the county or of Tidioute borough, taking especial pride in her edu- 
cational institutions, and generously aiding them with his means. 

Personally he is of a sociable disposition, though his hatred for sham will 
not permit him to disguise his feelings when it is manifested to him. He is 
generous to a fault, and has never been able to refuse help to any one in need. 
He has lost large amounts of money by indorsing notes for the accommodation 
of friends who allowed him to stand the consequences of his own kindness. 
In public affairs he is much more discriminating, wisely giving where his bene- 
factions would do the most good. 

On the 4th of October, 1832, he married Sarah Ann Henry, of Venango 
county, who was born October 12, 1807, and died May 11, 1852. They reared 
a family of five sons and two daughters, as follows : Morris Worts Grandin, 
born October 10, 1833, died September 5, 1834; Stephen Girard, born April 
14. 1835, died by drowning July 24, 1851 ; John Livingston, born December 
20, 1836, now a member of the firm of Grandin Brothers, of Tidioute; Will- 
iam J., born August 26, 1838, now of the same firm; Elijah Bishop, born No- 
vember 23, 1840, also a member of this firm ; Maria Jane, born February 21, 
1843, now the widow of Adnah Neyhart, of Ithaca, N. Y., and living with her 
father; and Emma Ann, born June 29, 1849, died in Jamestown, N. Y., Au- 
gust 17, 1867. 



ELDRED, NATHANIEL BAILEY, the first president judge appointed 
from the bar of Wayne county, was born at Dolsontown, Orange county, 
N. Y., January 12, 1795. His early education was such as the local schools 
afforded, supplemented by a diligent reading of all books that fell into his 
hands. While yet a boy he formed the purpose of becoming a lawyer, and 
about the year 181 1 he went to Milford, then the county seat of Wayne, to 
begin the work of preparation. 

He first entered the office of Dan Dimmick, one of the leading lawyers of 
the county, and subsequently completed his studies under the direction of 
Edward Mott, deputy attorney-general for the county. Before his course of 
legal study was finished the county was divided, and Milford became the county 
seat of Pike. 

January 27, 18 17, he was admitted to the bar of Wayne. He continued, 
however, to reside at Milford until after the death of Andrew M. Dorrance,' 
the senior of the two lawyers then practicing at the county seat of Wayne, in 
April, 18 18. Thereupon he took up his residence and commenced practice in 
Bethany, which remained his home for the greater part of the next half cen- 
tury. 



640 History of Warren County. 



In thus commencing life, Mr. Eldred was favored with no advantages 
except those bestowed by nature. Those however were sufficient to win rapid 
advancement, especially in a community which recognized no conventional 
standards or artificial distinctions. His mental constitution was a rare combi- 
nation of sturdy personal qualities, quick intelligence, keen powers of observa- 
tion, generous impulses, rigid integrity, and a ready adaptability to surrounding 
conditions. He rapidly gained the appreciation and confidence of the people 
of the county, both as a lawyer and a man, and in 1822, four years after he 
had come among them, a stranger, he was elected to the Legislature. In the 
following year he was re-elected. 

Under the system of rotation in the district that prevailed, the nominees 
were selected from Pike county for the next two years. When it again fell to 
Wayne to secure the candidate, Mr. Eldred was re-elected for two terms more. 
His fourth year's service completed, he declined a subsequent nomination. 
Later when the system of public improvements constructed by the State was 
put in operation, he accepted the position of canal commissioner, but declined a 
second term. He was also a member of the board of commissioners appointed 
by the State — Hon. John Ross and Hon. David Scott being his associates — 
to treat with a like board appointed by the State of New Jersey in relation to 
the navigation and control of the Delaware River, and aided materially in 
the adjustment of all questions connected with this subject. In 1844 he was 
chosen a presidential elector and cast his vote for James K. Polk. In the 
spring of 1853 he received from President Pierce the appointment of naval 
officer at the Philadelphia custom-house, a position which he held for four 
years. 

But it was in the field of his profession rather than in politics that his chief 
distinction was won. During a practice of nearly twenty years, in competition 
with such men as Amzi and Thomas Fuller, George Wolf, Dan Dimmick, Ed- 
ward Mott, Garrick Mallcry, Oristus Collins, John N. Conyngham, and other 
noted practitioners of that day, he rose to a high position at the bar, and for 
nearly twenty years more he held a seat on the bench. By an act passed April 
8, 1833, the counties of Potter, McKean, Warren, and Jefterson were erected 
into the Eighteenth Judicial District, from and after September i, 1835, ^""^ 
the governor was required to appoint a president judge for the district. When 
the time for making the appointment arrived Governor Wolf, who had often 
met Mr. Eldred at the bar, and recognized his fitness for the position, com- 
missioned him president judge of the new district. In 1839 the death of Judge 
Slupper made a vacancy on the bench of the Sixth District, composed of Erie, 
Crawford, and Venango counties, and Governor Porter commissioned Judge 
Eldred as president judge of that district. 

In 1843 Judge Blythe, of the Twelfth District, composed of Dauphin, Leb- 
anon, and Schuylkill counties, resigned to accept the office of collector of cus- 



Nathaniel Bailey Eldred. 641 

toms of Philadelphia, and Governor Porter thereupon commissioned Judge 
Eldred as his successor. 

In 1849 the counties of Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Carbon were erected 
into the Twenty-second District, and Judge Eldred, desiring a return to his old 
home in Bethany, Governor Johnson commissioned him president judge of the 
district. In 1851 the judiciary having been made elective by the constitu- 
tional amendment adopted the preceding year, many of Judge Eldred's friends 
throughout the State proposed his nomination for judge of the Supreme Court. 
He declined however to become a candidate, preferring to remain on the bench 
where his home was situated ; and the desire to retain him was so general in 
the district that he received the support of both parties, and was elected with- 
out opposition. In April, 1853, the position of naval officer at Philadelphia 
being tendered him by President Pierce, he decided to accept it and resigned 
the judgeship. This closed his judicial labors, and, substantially, his profes- 
sional career. 

On quitting the position of naval officer Judge Eldred returned to his home 
in Bethany. The remainder of his life was passed in comparative retirement. 
The advancing years were beginning to make their approach felt ; he had be- 
gun to suffer in health ; and though frequently consulted in important cases, he 
declined to resume active professional employment. The decade following 
was spent mainly amid the tranquil pursuits and interests of rural life, and he 
passed the limit of three score and ten, loved and honored by all. He died 
January 27, 1867, just half a century from the day of his admission to the 
Wayne county bar, at the place which had witnessed the beginning of his 
career, and had for more than a generation been his home. 

Judge Eldred was twice married. His first wife was a daughter of Dan 
Dimmick, his earliest preceptor in his profesion. She died in 1824. His 
second wife, who survived him, was a daughter of Dr. Samuel Dimmick, of 
Bloomingburg, Sullivan county, N. Y. He left three daughters and a son. 
The latter, Charles F. Eldred, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 
1861. 

In casting his lot among the people of Wayne connty. Judge Eldred iden- 
tified himself with them in purpose and action. He made their general 
interests his own and strove by every means in his power to promote them. 
In private and public life he was active in aiding the progress and development 
of the county, both as to material interests and educational advancement. By 
nature and by habit of thought and life he was essentially a man of the people, 
and no man in Wayne county ever had a stronger hold on the popular heart. 
The people of the county appreciated his services, and at all times gave him 
an unwavering support. During the first decade of his residence among them, 
the only office in their gift which he would consent to accept was bestowed 
upon him again and again. They viewed his elevation to the bench with a 



642 History of Warren County. 

feeling akin to personal satisfaction and pride. When his life closed, most of 
the generation which had witnessed his success and usefulness had preceded 
him to the grave ; yet his fame, though it had become largely a tradition, was 
so enduring that his death was felt and mourned as a loss of no common mag- 
nitude. 

As an advocate Judge Eldred was clear in argument, earnest and persua- 
sive, resting on the broad basis of equity, appealing largely to the natural 
preception of right, and arousing an aversion to every form of meanness, 
oppression, and wrong. He was a jurist of more than ordinary rank. On the 
bench, however, he was little given to legal subtleties and refinements, or to 
the habit of measuring questions of right by narrow technical rules. He 
regarded the judicial function as designed for practical administration of jus- 
tice, and his decisions aimed at a fair and equitable adjustment of the difficul- 
ties between the parties. He was well read in his profession, and possessed a 
legal mind of high order; but a controlling sense of justice that responded 
instinctively to all questions respecting rights as between man and man, pre- 
dominated over the strictly professional view of a case, and his conclusions, 
even when not in strict conformity with technical rules and precedents, rested 
on a firm and obvious basis of equity. 

The essential justice of his purpose was so apparent as to command the 
respect of the bar, even when error was alleged in his rulings on questions of 
law. The people, without measuring his judicial action by professional tests, 
accepted its results as in the main just and equitable ; they recognized his 
strong common sense, and clear judgment, and had abiding faith in his judicial 
integrity. They gave him their confidence because they knew him to be up- 
right, impartial, and devoted to the administration of justice in its broadest 
and noblest sense. 

It will not be out of place to preserve anecdotes illustrating some of Judge 
Eldred's characteristics. While he was on the Dauphin county bench a case 
of assault and battery was tried. The evidence showed that while the defend- 
ant and his wife were walking on the streets of Harrisburg, a rowdy used 
some grossly insulting language toward the wife, whereupon the husband 
knocked him down. Judge Eldred's charge to the jury was substantially in 
the following terms : " Gentlemen of the jury, the defendant is indicted for an 
assault and battery on the prosecutor. You have learned from the evidence 
the character of the offense. In law, any rude, angry or violent touching of 
the person of another is an assault and battery, and is not justified by any 
provocation in words only. But if I was walking with my wife, and a rowdy 
insulted her, I'd knock him down if I was big enough. Swear a constable." 
The verdict may readily be conjectured. 

Another instance is related showing his readiness and fertility in resources. 
On reaching the county seat at which the first term of court was to be held. 



[ 



Nathaniel Bailey Eldred. — Michael McGraw. 643 

on his appointment to one of the western districts, his commission was not to 
be found, having been forgotten on leaving home, or lost on the way. It hap- 
pened that the sheriff of the county had just been commissioned, and was to 
begin his official duties at that term of court. Judge Eldred at once decided 
on a line of action. Sending for the new sheriff, he told him that the practice 
of reading commissions in court on assuming office was a relic of the cere- 
monial established under a monarchy, and unsuited to the simplicity of re- 
publican institutions, and that he should dispense with it in the courts of his 
district; that the sheriff and himself having been duly sworn, nothing further 
was required of them, and they should enter on their duties in a quiet, 
unostentatious manner. Accordingly the new judge and sheriff went into 
court together the next morning, took their r-espective places, and proceeded 
to the discharge of their duties without further ceremony, no question being 
raised as to their authority in the premises. 



M' 



CGRAW, MICHAEL, was born in Blair county, Pa., on the 9th of Sep- 
tember, 1809, and died in Triumph township, Warren county, on the 9th 
of December, 1880. He was a son of Peter and Catherine McGraw. The Mc- 
Graws were among the early settlers of Maryland, coming to America with 
Lord Baltimore. Peter was born at Antietam, Md., and his father served in 
the Revolutionary War. In 1830, after the death of his wife, Peter, with his 
four sons, Edward F., Michael, Benjamin, and John, and two daughters, Sarah 
A. and Mary E., moved to Triumph township as now constituted. The only 
member of this family now living is Sarah A., who married Edward McGarrell 
(now deceased), and lives in Portland, N. Y. 

The McGraws settled in a wilderness of pine timber, the lumber from which 
supplied their means of support while clearing up their farms. Michael settled 
on a tract of 260 acres, 240 of which he owned at the time of his death, and 
on a part of which is a beautiful farm. In 1836 he married Margaret McGar- 
rell, of Venango county, and to them was born a family of five sons, only two 
of whom are now living — John A., born in 1837, and William A., born in 1849. 
Margaret (McGarrell) McGraw was born in Venango county, April 18, 18 12. 
Her parents, Michael and Grace (Griffin) McGarrell, were born in Ireland and 
married in Pennsylvania, and had a family of twelve children. Michael Mc- 
Garrell was born in 1778, and died in 1850. He served in the War of 18 12, 
and his widow, Grace, drew a pension. She died in Portland, N. Y., in 1881, 
at the advanced age of ninety-five years. 

Michael McGraw, being an early settler, became identified with the public 
business of his township, and honorably performed the duties of about all the 
local offices. Being a man of calm judgment and just disposition, he earned 
no enemies, and was never either plaintiff nor defendant in a suit at law. 
Through all the hardships and privations incident to a pioneer life and his vari- 



644 History of Warren County. 

ous dealings in more prosperous times, no man can point to one dishonest act. 
His sons, John A. and VVilHam A., enjoy the esteem of their fellow-citizens, 
and have filled many local offices. William A. was married February 8th, 
l88i, to Clara T. Kelsey, of Erie, Pa. They have a family of three sons, 
John E., Cyril W., and Hugh A. 



DUNHAM, MINOR B., was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., on the 25th 
day of January, 1829. His grandfather, Thomas Dunham, emigrated 
from New Jersey to the town of Ovid in that county in 1805, and engaged in 
the occupation of a farmer. He died on the 22d of January, 1845, aged sev- 
enty-nine years, in Steuben county, N. Y., where he had passed the later years 
of his life. Richard Dunham, father of the subject of this sketch and the fifth 
of eight children, seven of whom are sons, was one of the most remarkable and 
prominent men who figured in the early history of Warren county. He was 
born in New Jersey in 1802, accompanied his father to Tompkins county, of 
course, when he was but three years of age. He received his education — a 
good one for those days — in Ithaca, Tompkins county, and at the age of eight- 
een years began to teach school. Although he became owner of a farm soon 
after, he continued teaching until 1832, when he exchanged his farm in New 
York State for one in Warren county, Pa. Meantime, in July, 1826, he was 
united in marriage with Laura, daughter of Enos Allen, of Yates county, N. 
Y., and a descendant of Ethan Allen, the famous leader of the Green Mountain 
Boys. Laura Allen was born in Saulsbury, N. Y., in 1805, and went to Yates 
county about the year 18 17. 

In March, 1833, Richard Dunham removed to his new farm in what is now 
the township of Cherry Grove, in Warren county, and built his cabin on the 
site afterward occupied by the first and greatest oil well in the once promising 
village of Garfield. At that time the town, which is far from clear of timber now, 
was indescribably wild. The weather was m.ost inclement, there being sixteen 
inches of snow on the ground. In Jul\% after his settlement, Richard Dunham 
began the life of a lumberman in earnest. At first he entered the employ- 
ment of a firm-to help them in constructing a saw-mill and a dam, and soon 
after bought out first one of the partners, and then the other. He soon 
removed to Sheffield, in which township he had been preceded only by Tim- 
othy and Erastus Barnes. The history of that township refers to many of his 
business operations. There he was quite an active politician, and was for 
twenty consecutive years a justice of the peace. He remained at the head of 
his large lumbering interests until 1856, when ill-health forced him to a reluct- 
ant retirement. He had always been a man of strict morality, and had trained 
his children to correct habits and upright conduct. In 1858 he united with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in January, 1870, at Warren, and his 
widow still survives him at an advanced age, and resides near her son, M. B. 




^ A 




Minor B. Dunham. 645 



Dunliam. They had eleven children (six sons and five daughters), nine of 
whom reached maturity, and eight of whom are now Hving. Of these eleven 
children, Minor B. Dunham was the second. 

The subject of this sketch attended the common schools of Sheffield, after 
which he passed some time in attendance upon the school at Havana, in 
Schuyler county, and at Alfred in Allegany county, finishing his education at 
the age of twenty-one years. Meanwhile he had been pretty thoroughly in- 
structed in the ways of the business world, having begun the management of 
his father's business as early as 1846. His father's health was never robust, 
and as soon as M. B. Dunham was old enough to execute his plans, he set the 
boy at work Indeed, his first trip on a raft to Pittsburgh was in 1841, when 
he was but twelve years of age, and he followed the river to Pittsburgh and 
Cincinnati with great regularity after 1845. He was able to attend school only 
a small part of the year after twelve years of age. In 1858 he purchased his 
father's homestead and all the property, and while his father retired, he took 
complete control of the business, and has managed and increased it to the 
present time. In 1865, owing to the growing scarcity of timbered lands in 
Sheffield, he sold his interests there and removed his base of operations to 
Cherry Grove and Watson, where he has continued ever since. For three 
years previous to 1871 he was connected with a lumber yard and planing-mill 
in Sharpsburg, a suburb of Pittsburgh. In 1871 he removed his place of resi- 
dence to Warren, and in 1876 erected the dwelling house which he now occu- 
pies. In 1874 he and three other business men of Warren started a sash fac- 
tory where the one now owned and operated by L. D. Wetmore now stands, 
and he retained his interest in that mill for four years. Naturally with the 
change produced in methods since he began to deal in lumber, and the shift- 
ing of the channels of trade, caused by the opening of railroads and other ave- 
nues of communication, he has revised and altered his own methods. He is 
now principally engaged in sending lumber of his own manufacture to Phila- 
delphia and other eastern markets. He has enlarged his estate continually, and 
is now interested in timbered land in Forest county, where he also owns mills, 
and in Wegt Virginia. Aside from his individual interests, he has been con- 
nected with Colonel L. F. Watson in the lumbering business since 1856, when 
they bought large timbered tracts. Incidentally, he has taken part in other 
ventures. He has been a director in the Warren Savings Bank for twelve or 
fifteen years, and now owns interests in mines, and operates to some extent 
in oil. 

Although at all times intensely interested in public and political affairs, 
Mr. Dunham is far from being a seeker of office or political patronage. His 
whole life, since his majority, has been passed in sympathy with the Republi- 
can party. His second presidential vote was cast for the electors of John C. 
Fremont, and from that time to the present he has voted for every successful 



646- History of Warren County. 

nominee but Buchanan and Cleveland. He has not deemed it his duty, how- 
ever, to neglect his business for the sake of holding office, as he would have to 
do, while there are so many that are willing and eager for the opportunity. 
He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While residing in Sharps- 
burg he assisted in the construction of the Union Centenary Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and when he removed to Warren he saw the need of a new 
Methodist Church edifice there. The present elegant edifice was commenced 
in June, 1885, and dedicated on the 19th of September, of the following year. 
In the work of building this house, Mr. Dunham most generously assisted, con- 
tributing liberally of his time, labor and money. This makes the third church 
building to the erection of which he has contributed, the first one being the 
Methodist Church in Sheffield. He is now a trustee of the church society in 
Warren. 

On the 19th of February, 1852, he married Mary M., daughter of Harrison 
Person, of Ellery, Chautauqua county, N. Y. They have had four children, 
two of whom only are living. The eldest child, Clara E., was born on the 23d 
of August, 1853, and died on the 6th of February, 1875; George H., born 
October 27, 1854, married Fannie Crosby of Steuben county, N. Y., in 1884, 
after having had the advantage of a good education at Mount Union College, 
and at the Business College at Pittsburgh, and now aids his father in business ; 
Frank, born April 1 5, 1856, died about a year later from the effects of an injury 
received by falling ; and Jessie M., born April 6, 1862, named from Fremont's 
wife, is now the wife of Dr. Richard B. Stewart of Warren, and the mother of 
two children. 



HUNTER, O. H. The subject of the present sketch was born March 28, 1823. 
He is of Irish descent. His great-grandfather, Archibald Hunter, emi- 
grated from Ireland in 1727 to New York, where he married Miss Constable, 
by whom James Hunter was born October i, 1744. In time he removed to 
Sullivan county, and married Francis Gallation, September 12, 1782, by whom 
Peter Hunter was born, .September 13, 1794. On the 14th of May, 1818, he 
married Lucinda A. Dimmick, to whom was born the subject of this sketch. 
O. H. Hunter was reared on a farm in Steuben county, N. Y., until he was 
eighteen years of age, when he went to Bath in that county to act as clerk in 
a dry goods house. This position he resigned in 1845, when he came to War- 
ren and formed a partnership with H. T. Baker, for the purchase and sale of 
dry goods. Warren at that time had a population of about 700, and merchan- 
dise had to be shipped to Warren from New York by way of canal to Buffalo, 
thence by lake to Dunkirk, from which place it was taken by teams. The 
transportation consumed three weeks of time. 

O. H. Hunter married, January 6, 1848, Betsey J. King, sister of Judge 
King. By her he had four children, his eldest son, Henry P. Hunter, being 



O. H. Hunter. — Rasselas Brown. 647 

now associated in business with him. His wife dying in 1862, he again mar- 
ried, his second wife being Lucy B., daughter of O. Mathews, of Panama, N. 
Y., and sister of the late Major Mathews, of the One Hundred and Twelfth 
Regiment of New York Volunteers. 

Mr. Hunter has never sought political honors ; has been one of the directors 
of the Warren Saving Bank from its organization. But as a dry goods mer- 
chant he has attended faithfully to his calling, and has as such filled a large 
place, for more than forty-one years, in the local history of Warren. He is 
now the oldest dry goods merchant — the longest in the trade — in northwestern 
Pennsylvania. 



BROWN, RASSELAS, was born in Brownsville, Jefferson county, N. Y., 
on the lOth day of September, 18 12. Although himself a native of the 
State of New York, he traces his lineage back to an early day in Bucks county, 
Pa., his grandfather, John Brown, who died in Jefferson county forty or fifty 
years ago, being a native, and almost a lifelong resident of the county. His 
occupation was farming. He was related to the father of the gallant Major- 
General Jacob Brown, the founder of Brownsville, N. Y., and the celebrated 
defender of the American frontier along the great lakes in the War of 1812. 
His son, George Brown, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 
Bucks county and remained there until he was about eighteen years of age. 
He then accompanied his father to Brownsville, N. Y., where he engaged in 
farming for about fifty-eight years. He took an active part in public affairs, 
and among other positions held that of supervisor of the town of Brownsville 
for many years. The sterling worth of his character won him the respect of 
all who knew him. In i860 he removed to Warren, Pa., where, in the spring 
of 1868, he died at the age of eighty-four years. In 181 1 he married Tem- 
perance, daughter of Nathaniel Plumb, of Brownsville. They were the par- 
ents of nine children, four sons. Eight of the children attained years of ma- 
turity. Two sons and two daughters are now living. Judge Brown being the 
eldest. 

Rasselas Brown was favored with good educational advantages. He at- 
tended the common schools of Brownsville, took thorough courses of study in 
the academies at Wwtertown and Belleville, N. Y., entered Union College in 
1834, and was graduated in 1836. Immediately thereafter he came to War- 
ren, where he at once gained the distinction in local history of being the first 
teacher in the Warren Academy, a position which he filled most fruitfully 
for three years. In the mean time he began to study law in the office of 
Judge Lansing Wetmore, continued in the office of Struthers & Johnson, 
and was admitted to practice in all the courts of the county in the spring 
of 1839. In the fall of 1845 he became a practitioner in the Supreme 
Court of the State. After working for a time, following his admission to the 



648 History of Warren County. 

bar, for the firm of Struthers & Johnson, he became a partner of Hon. S. P. 
Johnson, and until i860 remained a member of the law firm of Johnson & 
Brown. This relation was dissolved in that year by his appointment by Gov- 
ernor Packer as president judge of all the courts of the Sixth Judicial District, 
then composed of the counties of Erie, Crawford, and Warren, to fill the va- 
cancy caused by the death of Judge John Galbraith. At the expiration of 
this term he returned to an increasing practice, in which he has continued to 
the present time. He has had in this long period several partners. For the 
first few years he was the senior member of the firm of Brown & Jamieson, 
his partner being H. A. Jamieson ; then, after practicing about two years with- 
out a partner, he united his practice with that of Hon. C. W. Stone, and a few 
years later took into the firm his son, H. E. Brown. This triune partnership, 
which still exists, has continued since that time. His practice has always 
been of the best kind, and for years has extended over the entire northwestern 
portion of the State of Pennsylvania. He has been for a number of years an 
attorney for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad Company, and for 
the Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley and Pittsburgh Railroad Company, in which 
companies he is also director. He is a director of the First National Bank of 
Warren. Besides these positions of a quasi-public nature, he numbers among his 
clients many of the wealthiest and most intelligent men in this part of the 
State, who look upon him as the experienced Nestor of the profession. 

Judge Brown's father was in his earlier days a member of the Republican 
party as opposed to the Federalists and believers in a strongly centralized gov 
ernment. During the period beginning with the second quarter of the 
present century, he became a determined anti-Mason. Whether under the 
operation of the law of heredity or not, may not be said, but Judge Brown's 
political propensity is, like that of his father, toward decentralization of gov- 
ernmental power. He is a Democrat, though an independent voter. It is 
surprising, therefore, to find that notwithstanding his politics, unfavorable to 
the attainment of office in a Republican district and State, he has frequently 
been placed in positions of great trust and responsibility by the voters of this 
district. lie was elected a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, was ap- 
pointed a member of the board of revenue commissioners for the Sixth Judicial 
District in 1852, and among other positions was chosen a member of the State 
Constitutional Convention to revise the constitution in 1873. His religious 
views are conservative. He is a regular attendant upon divine worship at the 
Presbyterian Church, though he is not a member of any denomination or re- 
ligious organization. 

Judge Brown married on the 20th day of January, 1841, Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of Nathaniel Sill, of Warren county. They have had four children, all of 
whom are now living. The eldest, Ada, is the wife of Dr. A. J. Part- 
ridge, of Kalamazoo, Mich., and the mother of three children; H. E. Brown, 



Rasselas Brown. — Orris Hall. 649 

the second child, now the partner of his father, married Ida, daughter of Boon 
Mead, in February, 1871 ; and George R. and Epp E. Brown are both unmar- 
ried and at the home of their parents. 



HALL, ORRIS, who died on the 3d day of November, 1881, was born in 
Wardsboro, Vt., on the 22d day of September, 1804, and was the young- 
est of twelve children. He was the son of William and Abigail (Pease) Hall. 
He received a fair education in the place of his birth, and came to Warren in 
1824, where he engaged in teaching. It did not take him long, however, to 
perceive that the greatest promises of wealth lay in the prosecution of the 
lumber business, and with the boldness of a thorough business man he at once 
embarked in that trade. In the mean time he had for a time engaged in the 
mercantile occupation. In all his enterprises he was eminently successful. It 
was said at the time of his death that he undoubtedly had the clearest business 
mind of any man in Warren county. He weighed chances shrewdly and care- 
fully, and was therefore more uniformly successful in his ventures than most 
men. Although engaged in the lumber business through the most active of 
its periods, and having the care of many heavy investments, he was never at a 
loss for expedients to avert or destroy a difficulty. He never made money for 
the purpose of hoarding it, but rather for the purpose of investing it. A few 
years previous to his death he expended large amounts of money in brick 
stores and dwellings in Warren. His speculative mind was not content with 
one occupation. His investments reached into almost every possible field 
which promised a return. At one time he became an oil operator, and was 
thoroughly identified with the production of the same in various places. As 
he grew older he seemed to take more pleasure in improvements than formerly. 
In politics he displayed the same qualities that distinguished him in the business 
world. He was a Democrat, and worked without stint for the success of his 
party. He could usually predict with astonishing accuracy the outcome of a 
campaign, and seemed gifted with that prophetic knowlege of human motives, 
which can presage human conduct. He would have made a good lawyer, and 
though well informed upon business laws, seemed intuitively to understand the 
principles of law without the necessity of referring to professional attorneys or 
to books. This was a pre-eminent faculty of common sense. Although fitted 
to fill any position within the gift of the people, he naturally and persistently 
refused to hold office, because he could make more money in business than in 
politics, without the employment of dishonest methods, to which he would not 
resort. Not long before his death he was induced to accept the nomination 
for State senatorship against General Allen. He was ambitious to receive a 
flattering vote in his own county, which he did ; but here his efforts stopped, 
as he did not wish to be elected, feared that he would be, and consequently did 
not go into Venango or Mercer counties, which then formed with Warren this 
senatorial district. 



650 History of Warren County. 

During the fifty-six years in which he was engaged in lumbering, Mr. Hall, 
who marketed his own lumber, never failed to make his annual trip to Louis- 
ville, and in the earlier part of his life would go as far as Vicksburg and 
Natchez ; would stack his lumber at Cairo, let it season, and tow it on barges 
by steamboat to St. Louis, which was always a ready market before the lumber 
was floated down the Mississippi. At times his business would take him down 
the river more than once during the year. He remained in active business 
longer than any of those who began with him. 

His most honorable characteristic, however, was his love for his home and 
family. After the rivalries and resentments of the day were over, it was his 
delight to forget them in the repose and comfort of domestic life, in the com- 
pany of his wife and children. In the outside world he was known as a man 
of strong attachments and equally strong resentments. Indeed, it is a prop- 
erty of human nature, that a good lover is also a good hater, that a man who 
loves his friends is capable of keeping his enemies at a distance. But no man 
was ever more fair in his treatment of those whom he disliked than Mr. Hall. 
He hated trickery, and whenever he came to the conclusion that he was being 
imposed upon, he stood firmly for his legal rights. This is a more noble trait 
than a pusillanimous submission to fraud. Finally, he was a believer in the di- 
vine truths of the Christian religion, and his faith sustained him in the last try- 
ing days of his life, and removed the fear of death. 

On the lOth day of March, 1830, he married Eliza, daughter of Colonel 
Joseph Hackney, who became a resident of Warren in 1 8 14. She was born 
near Meadville, in Crawford county, Pa., on the 9th of February, 1809. For 
many years her father occupied a substantial block house on the site of the First 
National Bank. Mrs. Hall was a faithful Christian and a working member of 
the Presbyterian Church. Her kindness of heart, her cheerfulness of disposi- 
tion, her liberality to the poor, her many social qualities, and her other amiable 
traits of character had endeared her to a large circle of friends and acquaint- 
ances. She was the mother of a large family of children, of whom five sons 
and four daughters survive. Mrs. Hall died on the 15th day of March, 1885. 



DINSMOOR, CHARLIES. The subject of this sketch is in the fifth gen- 
eration in direct descent from John Dinsmoor, the founder of the family 
in America, who came from Londonderry, Ireland, in 1719, and settled at 
Windham, N. H. John Dinsmoor, although coming from Ireland, was a 
Scotchman, his parents having been born and raised in Scotland. To the 
family of his descendants belong the Governors Samuel Dinsmoor, the elder 
and younger, whose pure and vigorous administrations are still remembered 
in the Granite State. The elder Governor Dinsmoor was in Congress in 
181 1-12, and as his name was first on the roll, he is the first member recorded 
as voting for the series of measures which led to the declaration of war be- 



Charles Dinsmoor. 651 



I 



tween this country and Great Britain. To this family also belong Robert 
Dinsmoor, the " Rustic Bard," a New England poet, who achieved something 
more than a merely local celebrity in the early part of the present century, 
and some of whose songs, in the Scotch dialect, deserve to live along with 
those of Scotland's famous poets ; and also Colonel Silas Dinsmoor, the famous 
Indian agent and teacher of the arts of civilization to the Cherokee and Choc- 
taw nations, and William B. Dinsmore, now president of the Adams Express 
Company. 

Charles Dinsmoor was born at Alabama Center, Genesee county, N. Y., 
on the 19th day of September, 1834. He is the son of George F. and Catha- 
rine (Harper) Dinsmoor. His mother, the daughter of George Harper, of 
Elba, Genesee county, N. Y., died in the year 1872, aged sixty-six years. 
His father, born at Keene, N. H., in 1794, removed from the State of New 
York to Elk township, in this county, in 1836, and remained there until his 
death, in 1868. Charles received a fair education, though it was obtained 
against great disadvantages and under circumstances of peculiar hardship. He 
attended the common schools in Elk township for a time, but very irregularly, 
owing to his services being required in the support of a large family in poor 
circumstances. After he left home in 1850 he became, through his own ex- 
ertions, successively a student at the academies at Warren, Smethport, and 
Coudersport, Pa., and Randolph, N. Y. He was engaged in the printing 
business at Smethport, Pa., Corning, N. Y., Coudersport, Pa., Randolph, N. Y., 
and Warren, Pa., in connection with teaching and attending school, for about 
eleven years, during the last three of which he was editor of the Warren Ledger. 
During the years 1856 and 1857 ^^ attended the Randolph Academy one 
year, and read law in the office of Weeden & Henderson, attorneys of that 
place, six months. In 1858 he came to Warren, and continued his law studies 
under B. W. Lacy. He was admitted to the bar of Warren county in Septem- 
ber, 1859. In i860 he was appointed assistant United States marshal, and 
took the census of the northern half of Warren county. In February, 1861, 
he was elected justice of the peace for Warren borough, and was successively 
re-elected for fifteen years, practicing law in the courts in the mean time. He 
retired from the office of justice voluntarily in 1876, and has never since held 
any office of his seeking. He has been elected to many positions in the 
borough government, from town clerk to chief burgess. In 1S78 he was 
elected unanimously to the office of school director, and has been continuously 
in that position ever since. No man, probably, has contributed more in that 
position to bring about the present high condition of the schools of Warren 
than Mr. Dinsmoor. From the beginning he has taken a deep interest in the 
association now known as the Struthers Library Association, and was for sev- 
eral years its treasurer and a member of its Board of Control. Since 1868 he 
has been connected with the order of Odd Fellows, and is now a past grand 



652 History of Warren County. 

master of Warren Lodge No. 339. Politically, Mr. Dinsmoor is a Democrat, 
of very decided opinions. He has, at times, taken an active part in politics, 
having, as chairman of the Democratic County Committee, led the party of the 
county in the only two successful contests for the office of member of Congress 
for this district, which it has made in the last thirty years. 

Mr. Dinsmoor is now, as a lawyer, engaged in the practice of his profession 
in Warren and several adjoining counties, and in the Supreme Court of this 
State, and the United States Circuit and District Courts. His abilities have 
marked him as a man peculiarly adapted to the functions of referee and mas- 
ter, and his legal opinions, delivered in these positions, are quite numerous in 
the Reports of this State. 

In October, 1861, he married Elizabeth C, daughter of Abijah Morrison, 
who was elected sheriff of Warren county in 1840 and again in 1846, and is 
one of the only two men who ever held the office under two elections. He 
was the son of James Morrison, and was born In Mead township, as now con- 
stituted, in 1807, on what is now known as the Rogers farm. While he was 
a young man, his father, James Morrison, purchased what have ever since been 
known as Morrison Flats, just below Warren, and erected thereon a large 
dwelling house, which is now one of the oldest landmarks in the county. Abi- 
jah Morrison was also an extensive lumberman and merchant in this county, 
and the community sustained a severe loss in his death, in 1869. He had al- 
ways been a zealous Democrat in politics, and was many years a constable in 
Warren borough. His wife was Euphemia J., daughter of Josiah Deming, a 
leading pioneer in Spring Creek township. She died at Warren in 1878. Mr. 
and Mrs. Dinsmoor have had four children, as follows: Imogen G., born Octo- 
ber 17, 1867, and was graduated from the Warren high school in May, 1885 ; 
Loten A., born January 25, 1870, graduated from the Warren high school in 
the spring of 1887; Harry, born in August, 1873, died in March, 1874; and 
Frederick, born January 13, 1875. 



HERTZEL, ANDREW, was born near Strasbourg, in Alsace, France, now 
Germany, on the 6th of January, 1829. His father, Christian Hertzel, a 
carpenter by trade, was born in Switzerland in 1788, and went to Alsace when 
a young man. In 1832 he left Europe, and in April of the following year 
reached Warren, Pa. He died in February, 1841. He was twice married, 
and had one son by his first wife, and five sons and a daughter by his second. 
The second wife, Marie, mother of the subject of this sketch, died in the fall of 
1853. Of her six children, five are now living, as follows: Jacob, in Iowa, 
Philip, in Pleasant township, in this county, Martin, in Glade, Andrew, in War- 
ren, and Mary, the wife of M. E. Stranger, of Downer's Grove, 111. 

Andrew Hertzel was but just past four years of age when he was brought 
by his parents to Warren county. His father settled in Warren borough, and 



Andrew Hertzel. 653 



for two years worked by the day at common labor. He then purchased fifty 
acres of timbered land in Pleasant, and in the pathless forest erected his little 
log hut. Andrew, being the youngest of the children, did not have much to do 
in clearing the farm at first, but at a very early age was utilized in various 
ways. His father, in two years, added fifty acres to his original purchase. 
He remained at home until 1845, when, at the age of seventeen years became 
to Warren, which has ever since been his home. Here he began to learn the 
blacksmith's trade under an agreement to work for three and a half years as 
an apprentice to S. J. Page, which contract he performed. He continued in 
Mr. Page's employment until April, 1852, when he purchased his employer's 
shop and tools, and became an independent artisan. He did not relinquish 
this business until 1872, at which time other investments which demanded 
his entire time, drew him from the anvil. As early as i860 he was drawn 
by circumstances into the lumber trade, and two years later purchased tim- 
bered tracts in Limestone township. From 1866 to 1870 he devoted his sole 
time and attention to the development of this industry with success. He has 
not abandoned the business, but is still interested in the trade. He owns some 
timber in Forest county. He runs most of his lumber down the river in rafts 
to the various markets — Pittsburgh and below. In 1872 he became inter- 
ested in the oil business in Clarion county. But when they developed the 
petroleum interest in Warren he transferred his interest to the county of his 
adoption. He is still connected with oil operations and has owned interests in 
twenty wells at one time. He owns a quarter interest in the Warren grist- 
mill, which he acquired when it was rebuilt in the fall of 1 881, and helped to 
rebuild the present structure. Mr. Hertzel has never been desirous of hoard- 
ing his money, but immediately upon acquiring it seeks some safe channel in 
which to set it in circulation. He has owned stock in the F"irst National Bank 
of Warren ever since its incorporation, and has been a director of the Citizens' 
National Bank from the time of its organization. 

A city full of rich misers might be a temptation to plunderers, but not to 
laborers, nor to men who look for enterprises in which they may safely invest 
their capital. Money does no good to the world while it is locked in chests 
or buried in the earth. It is the free circulation of wealth which at once marks 
and creates a prosperous community. Mr. Hertzel and men of his stamp have 
made Warren proverbial throughout the State for its enterprise and progress- 
ive energy. As an example of this praiseworthy public spirit, may be related 
briefly the circumstances attending the construction of the bridge over the 
Allegheny River to the township of Pleasant. In the winter of 1870-71 they, 
after suffering inconvenience about twenty years from having no bridge across 
this river at Warren, began to agitate the question of the feasibility of building 
such a structure. They at once communicated with a number of eminent civil 
engineers and bridge builders throughout the country, particularly with the 



6S4 History of Warren County. 

Roeblings, and afterward with George W. Fischler, of Elmira. In the same 
winter they organized a stock company under the name of the Pleasant Bridge 
Company. Negotiations resulted in the hiring of Mr. Fischler, by the month, 
to build the bridge. It was crossed in November, 1 87 1, but was not com- 
pleted until the next year. The cost of construction and of subsequent re- 
pairs was about $45,000. Mr. Hertzel has ever since remained the president 
of the company, and may justly be proud of the monument to his public spirit 
and zeal. 

In 1 88 1 another company was formed under the name of the Allegheny 
Bridge Company, which built a bridge across the river two miles above War- 
ren, and Mr. Hertzel was from the first a stockholder, and is now the treasurer 
of that company. 

In the upbuilding of the material prosperity of the town and its advance- 
ment in every way, Mr. Hertzel has undoubtedly done as much, at least in 
proportion to his means, as any man who ever lived in the county. In 1864, 
in company with two others, he built the Union block. In 1870 he and Mr. 
Nesmith erected the clothing store which now the joins the Union block on 
the east. He has also been interested in many other building operations. In 
1867 he contributed more than any other two men toward the erection of the 
Lutheran Church, which was finished two years later. During the two years 
in which it was in process of construction he superintended the work, devoting 
much valuable time to the task. He was a member of the town council when 
the new town hall was built, and was made the superintendent of its construc- 
tion. In literary and educational matters he has taken the same unselfish in- 
terest, and generously assisted the inauguration of the library society which 
preceded the Struthers Library. He also contributed one hundred dollars to- 
ward the purchase of the lot on which the Struthers library building now 
stands. 

Politically, Mr. Hertzel was during the greater part of his life a Democrat, 
but for four years or more he has voted the Prohibition ticket, believing that 
the greatest evil in the country and world can never be eradicated until a 
powerful public sentiment will support proper legislation prohibiting it. In 
this Mr. Hertzel evinces that he has the courage of his convictions. He has 
never desired to hold public office, although he has accepted office where he 
conveniently could, for the reason that he holds it to be the duty of every honest 
■citizen to bear his proportion of the public burden. He has held a seat in the 
town council many years, and has been burgess, school director, etc. He is a 
member of the Lutheran Evangelical Church, and for years has been a trustee 
of its affairs. He contributes also to the support of other churches. He is in 
addition a trustee of twelve years standing of the Lutheran College at Greene- 
ville. Pa. 

Andrew Hertzel married, November 30th, 185 i, Mary, daughter of John 



Andrew Hertzel. — Jay White. 655 

Reig, of Warren. Mrs. Hertzel is also a native of Alsace. They have had a 
family of six children, five of whom are sons. Two children died in infancy- 
The eldest, Isabel, died in March, 1 876, aged twenty-three years, then the wife 
of Frederick Morck. She left one child, Gertrude W. Morck, who now lives 
with her grandparents. The eldest son, Albert G. Hertzel, born in Septem- 
ber, 1854, died in November, 1884, while holding the position of cashier of 
the Citizens' National Bank, leaving one child, Eda May; Freeman E., born 
September 29, 1865, and Roy Laird, born July 8, 1871. 



WHITE, JAY, of Corydon, is the grandson of Israel White, who died in 
Oneida county, N. Y., in 18 12, and the son of Orange White, who died 
in Farmington, in this county, in January, 1877. He is a descendant, also, of 
Hugh White, the first settler at Whitestown, Oneida county, N. Y. Orange 
White was born in that county on the 13th of June, 1806, at the same time 
with a twin brother, Otis, who died within two years thereafter. He had five 
other brothers, Moses, Israel, George, Willard, and another Otis, all of whom 
are deceased, but who have numerous descendants in Oneida county at this 
day. In the winter of 1836-7, Orange White came to that part of Farmington 
township, Warren county, which was then a part of Sugar Grove, where he 
passed the remainder of his life. In the spring of 1867 he leased the home- 
stead and removed to Lander, where his widow still resides. He was twice 
married, first to Bethilda Brainerd, of Oneida county, deceased in March, 1833, 
leaving one child, Delia, who died in 1861 ; and secondly, in January, 1837, 
to Nancy Robbins, who still lives. She was a daughter of Ebenezer Robbins, 
a lawyer of the town of Western, N. Y., and was the eldest of his thirteen 
children, all but two of whom are now living. Ebenezer Robbins lived to a 
ripe old age, and died about ten years ago, he and his wife within a short time 
of each other. Orange and Nancy White had nine children, all of whom are 
living, and all of whom but one are married. The subject of this sketch is the 
eldest of these children. He was born in Sugar Grove, now Farmington town- 
ship, on the 1st day of October, 1837. There he received a common school 
education, remaining on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years of age. 
At that time he went to McHenry county. 111., where he remained two years 
and six months, teaching and farming. From there he went to Howard county, 
la., where, until the spring of 1866, he taught and worked as clerk in a store. 
His next venture was in Busti, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he engaged 
in the mercantile business, his father taking an interest in the trade until the 
fall of 1869. He then opened a store at Lander, in Farmington, and remained 
in that place for one year. His father, meantime, retained a financial interest 
in the store, and with him removed the stock from Lander to Corydon in the 
fall of 1870. Father and son remained partners five or six years in all, though 
Orange resided all the time in Farmington. After the dissolution of this part- 



6s6 History of Warren County. 

nership, Jay White continued the business alone until the fall of 1884, when he 
relinquished it and engaged largely in buying and selling lumber. He was 
persuaded to enter upon this occupation by the belief that the growing 
importance of Corydon village had already created a demand for dressed 
lumber, and the result has evinced the accuracy of his supposition. He does 
not manufacture the lumber, but hires it dressed in a mill which he owns and 
rents. Although he has abandoned the mercantile business, he still owns sev- 
eral stores, which he leases. He has never been smitten with oil fever. 

In politics Mr. White was formerly a Democrat, but for some three years he 
has favored and upheld the Prohibition party. He has held a number of the im- 
portant township offices in Corydon, serving one term as justice of the peace, 
and being re- elected to the same office, though he did not qualify because he 
had been appointed postmaster. He also served two terms as school director. 
He was postmaster of Corydon for about ten years, and until the spring of 
1886. For a number of years he carried on the only mercantile operations in 
the whole township, but the opening of the railroad in 1882 increased the im- 
portance of the place in the eyes of outsiders, and other merchants brought 
their stock hither. 

His religious belief is in the final salvation of all. He is a friend of all 
churches and of good schools as the props of the good order, stability, and 
purity of society. He is at present one of the trustees of the Methodist 
Church in Corydon. He was the most generous contributor towards the build- 
ing of the Methodist house of worship, and did more to assure its success than 
any other one person. 

On the 19th of September, 1868, Mr. White married Alice, daughter of 
Joseph and Elizabeth Airron, formerly of Sugar Grove, then of Busti, N. Y., 
and for eight years last past members of Mr. White's household. They have 
two adopted children — Jay M. and Vernie M., children of Mrs. White's sister. 



WlCTMORi:, HON. LANSING, was born at Whitestown (now in 
Oneida county), N. Y., on the 28th of August, 1792, and died in Warren 
Pa., on the 15th day of November, 1857. His father. Parsons Wetmore, was 
an early settler in Whitestown, N. Y., whither he had gone with his parents 
in 1786. In the year 18 15 Lansing Wetmore emigrated from the place of his 
birth, where he had received a good common school education, to the head- 
waters of the Little Brokenstraw, in Warren county, Pa. There, in 1816, he 
married Caroline, daughter of Abraham S. Ditmars. His wife survived him 
until June, 1878. His mother was Aurelia, daugiiter of Judge Hugh White, 
one of the settlers of Whitestown, as Western New York was called in 1784. 

After living for a while at Pine Grove, he removed his family in 1 820 to 
Warren, where and in the vicinity of which he resided until his death. On 
the 25th of September, 1819, soon after the separate organization of Warren 



Lansing Wetmore. 657 



county, he was appointed its first prothonotary by Governor Findlay, which 
office, together with those of register and recorder of deeds, and clerk of the 
several courts, he held until the spring of 182 1. On the 23d of January, 1824, 
he was again appointed by Governor Shulze to the several offices of prothono- 
tary, recorder, register, etc., in which he continued until the year 1830. About 
the year 1831, as will be seen by reference to the list of attorneys of Warren 
county, he was admitted to the bar, and he continued in the practice of law 
from that time until his retirement to his farm in Conewango in 1842. For a 
number of years between 1825 and 1830 he was interested in the publication 
of the Warren Gazette, in which enterprise he expended considerable time and 
money. In the fall of 185 i he was elected one of the associate judges of the 
county, and faithfully and ably discharged the duties of that office for his term 
of five years. The latter years of his life were devoted to agricultural pursuits, 
in which he always felt a deep interest, and to the advancement of which he 
contributed perhaps more than any one else in Warren county. 

Without ostentation he was always found with the foremost in every enter- 
prise that promised progress in the improvement of society and the develop- 
ment of the county, and was ever ready to bestow liberally of his time, toil, 
and money, to further all educational or literary projects, as well as also all 
enterprises looking to the material improvement of the county in the construc- 
tion of roads, bridges, etc. He came to the county when its population num- 
bered not more than three hundred. He was gratified at the advancement to 
which he had contributed in the county, isolated from the civilization of the 
east, and dependent for development on the character and spirit of its pioneers. 

Coming into the wilderness peopled by an infant and scattered colony, 
without resources except character, ability, courage, and energy, he " grew 
with its growth, and strengthened with its strength," for forty years of contin- 
uous and faithful work in all the varied duties which devolve upon an active 
man in a new and growing county. The competent fortune which crowned 
his life of labor, was the slow growth of industry, fair dealing, and good judg- 
ment. 

Perhaps the most prominent features of his character were his integrity and 
evenness of temper. He was in all circumstances and at all times the same 
calm, conscientious and unimpassioned man, performing every duty quietly 
and completely, disarming opposition by his gentle firmness of manner, and 
inspiring all his associates with admiration for the firmness of his purpose, the 
soundness of his judgment, and considerate regard [for the rights and feelings 
of others ; he was one of the original stockholders of the Sunbury and Erie 
now the Philadelphia and Erie R. R. Co. As a citizen his influence was always 
found on the side of order and sobriety, morality and progress ; as a public 
officer he performed burthensome duties with the same promptness and fidelity 
with which he discharged those that were more agreeable ; as a politician he 



658 History of Warren County. 

was intelligent, tolerant, and firm in his adhesion to the old Whig party ; as a 
lawyer his conduct was characterized by integrity of purpose and urbanity of 
manner; in the limited duties which devolve on the associate judge he was 
patient, sound, and impartial ; as a Christian (a member of the Presbyterian 
Church), he was earnest and consistent ; and as a husband and father, as was 
said at the time of his death, " he left a widow and numerous family, whose 
characters and positions in society are enduring monuments to his virtues in 
his domestic relations, and his faithful attention to the interests of education in 
the community where he had to be one of the originators of educational 
facilities." 

His children were Lansing D., Warren, Pa.; Jerome W., Erie, Pa.; Au- 
gustus P., Warren, Pa.; Sidney A., Warren, Pa.; Albert A., dead ; Caroline L., 
dead ; Charles C, dead ; Sarah M. Reese, Warren, Pa.; Catharine B. Hutchin- 
son, Albion, N. Y.; George R., Warren, Pa. 



WETMORE, C. C, son of Judge Lansing Wetmore, was born in Warren, 
Pa., on the 23d of June, 1829. A biographical sketch of his father is 
published in this work. C. C. Wetmore had rather unusual advantages for 
obtaining an education, and availed himself of them with unusual diligence. 
Taking especial delight in the exercise of his ratiocinative faculties, he wisely 
determined that destiny had appointed him for work of that nature, and ac- 
cordingly took a thorough mathematical course in Union College. He subse- 
quently adopted civil engineering as his life-work, and about 1856 surrendered 
a good position on the New York Central Railroad for the purpose of engag- 
ing in his chosen vocation in Warren. His success was assured from the first. 
He had one of the largest contracts on the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad, and 
was a pioneer in the projection and construction of the Oil Creek road. 

He was a man of great executive abilities, was full of energy and activity, 
and was gifted with remarkable powers of endurance. He was, moreover, 
shrewd and enterprising in business matters, and in a few years accumulated a 
fortune. Just previous to his death he became largely interested in the lumber 
business, on the Allegheny River and its tributaries. 

During the later years of his life he was much embarrassed by ill health, 
which threatened to result in consumption, and passed the winter of 1865-66 
in Florida. But he was not to meet his death in this manner. On the 23d 
day of April, 1867, he was thrown from a spring wagon by a span of spirited 
horses, and received injuries on the head and back from which he died in a few 
hours. During his life he had won the respect and esteem of all who knew 
him, and because of his energy and great abilities would have been known, had 
he lived but a few years longer, not only for his great wealth, but for his pub- 
lic spirit and benefactions. 



C. C. Wetmore. — Chapin Hall. 



6S9 



He married Rose E., only daughter of Chapin Hall, on the isth day of 
December, ,857. and at his death left two children-Chapin Hall and Charles 
Delevan. 



HALL, CHAPIN, was born in Busti, Chautauqua county, N. Y on the 
I2th day of July, 1816. His father, Samuel Hall, and his mother a 
daughter of Samuel Davis, came from the Green Mountain State to Chautau- 
qua county m 18 14, and performed the arduous duties, suffered the privations 
and endured the hardships of pioneer life in a rough country. From them 
and their ancestors in Vermont Mr. Hall inherited great force and sturdy in- 
dependence of character. Naturally the common schools which he attended 
in his early boyhood were not of a very high type, nor possessed of an ad- 
vanced curriculum, but he made the most of these limited advantages and at- 
tended for several terms the Jamestown Academy, then the leading educational 
institution in that part of the State. His school-boy days gave prophecy of 
the tireless energy and impatient determination to lead, which marked his 
character in more mature years. 

At the age of twenty-one he married Susan Bostwick, of Busti, remaining 
upon the farm where he was born for nearly four years. About the year 1841 
he moved to Rine Grove, Warren county. Pa., where he engaged in the lumber 
and mercantile business for eight years, then going to Fond du Lac, Wis after- 
wards returning to Ridgway, Warren county. In 1851 he moved wi'th his 
family to Warren, and engaged in the banking business. Later in life he be- 
came interested in manufacturing, and at the time of his death was the leadino- 
partner in the extensive manufacturing firms of Hall, Hatt & Parker of Newt 
ark, N. J., and of Hall & Eddy, of Louisville, Ky. He was also one of the 
owners of the Jamestown Worsted Mills, and was a large proprietor of real 
estate in Louisville, Ky., Fond du Lac, Wis., and other places. 

Mr. Hall was a Republican in politics, and as would be expected of a man 
who was not born to compromise, he was a sturdy, though fair, partisan He 
will long be remembered by politicians for the shrewdness and the executive 
power he displayed as the leader in the political revolution of Northwestern 
Pennsylvania in 1858. It was the year of the anti-Lecompton revolt and 
Judge Gilhs, a devoted Democrat and friend of Buchanan, was defeated for re- 
election to Congress by Chapin Hall. Judge Gillis had settled at Ridgway as 
the agent of the Philadelphia Ridgway estate, when there was not a road nor 
a settlement within fifty miles of that now pretty mountain village He had 
been taken from there to New York to be tried for the murder of Morcran of 
anti-Masonic fame. He had been in the House and Senate of PennsyTvania 
and had been chosen to Congress in 1856, but the success of 1858, when the 
first Republican victory was achieved in the State, was too much for him and 
the far-seeing wisdom of Chapin Hall was the instrument of his downfall ' Mr 



66o History of Warren County. 



Hall served but one term in Congress, for he did not relish publiclife, and was 
too much involved in important business matters to devote his entire tmie to 
the public service. While in Congress, however, he discharged his duties with 
the fidelity, energy, and integrity which marked him in every transaction of 

his life. . 

He was a man of unusually decided peculiarities of character, and it has 
been said that he was liable to strong prejudices. This was owing in a meas- 
ure to his direct and positive nature. Sham, hypocrisy, indecision, or weak- 
ness of character he despised, and was at times unable to conceal his dislike for 
these traits. No man, however, made more ample reparation than he when 
convinced that he had been in the wrong, and no man ever manifested greater 
fidelity to friends, or was more willing to help them than he. In all his busi- 
ness relations he was the soul of integrity and justice, and he gave all his ex- 
tensive interests his constant personal supervision, and familiarized himself 
with every detail. Though he held those in his employ to strict accountabil- 
ity for genuine hard work, he exacted no more than he was willing to render, 
and all the years of his life was noted for his great industry, and the amount 
of unremitting toil he was capable of performing. As a citizen he set an ex- 
ample worthy to be followed. His vast wealth, instead of being hoarded, was 
invested in active business, greatly benefiting various localities and employing 
hundreds of workmen, who were always paid good wages and received their 
just dues. He was also a generous man, exercising his liberality with wisdom 
and good sense. As a friend to young men engaging in business he was a 
powerful ally and a good adviser, and many men were placed on the road to 
financial prosperity through his instrumentality. 

A short time before his death he purchased the old homestead of 6oo acres, 
in Busti, Chautauqua county, N. Y., which he took great pride and pleasure m 
improving; but he had overworked and from the effects of this over-expendi- 
ture of physical strength, he died on the I2th of September, 1879- at the resi- 
dence of his brother. John A. Hall, proprietor of the Jamestown Journal. 

Chapin Hall married Susan, daughter of Alexander and Lucinda Bostwick. 
November 2, 1837, of Busti, N. Y. His wife is now living. They have one 
dau-hter. Rose E., now the wife of A. M. Kent, of Jamestown, N. Y. Mr 
Kent was, at the time of Mr. Hall's death, one of the proprietors with him of 
the Corry pail factory, of Corry, Pa. 

JAMH^'SON HUGH A., was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, on 
the 31st of' May, 1835. His parents, Hugh and Jeannette Jamieson, emi- 
grated from Paisley, Scodand, in 1824, to Hudson-on-the-Hudson, in the btate 
of New York, and from there, in a short time, removed to the heart of the 
Berkshire hills. During his residence there, for years, Hugh Jamieson had 
charge of the weaving departments in large cotton factories. In the fall ol 




nci^/U'-r^ ^ y^a/Z 



Hugh A. Jamieson. 66i 



1843 he removed, with his family, to Sugar Grove, in this county, where he 
entered the employment of D. H. Grandin, of Jamestown, in the manufacture 
of woolen fabrics, and remained with him five years, walking to Jamestown 
every Monday morning and returning Saturday night. The later years of his 
life were passed on a farm in Sugar Grove. He died in 18S0, aged seventy- 
seven years. His parents were for years residents of Freehold township, and 
lived, the father, to be ninety-eight years of age, and the mother, to be eighty- 
eight. 

The subject of this sketch passed the greater part of his time until he was 
twenty-one years of age, at his father's home in Sugar Grove, excepting 
such times as he was away at school, or teaching. Excepting one term at the 
academy at Randolph, N. Y., his education was confined to such limits as are 
prescribed in the common schools, though he made long and rapid strides 
ahead of other students by the most persistent and industrious application to 
study at home. By this praisworthy means he fitted himself for teaching, and 
before saying his last good-bye to his home farm he taught three winters, the 
last at Jamestown, N. Y. In the spring of 1856 he accepted the offer of W. 
T. Falconer, a merchant of Kennedy ville, Chautauqua county, N. Y., which 
he had received a short time after leaving home with the capital of fifty cents 
in his pocket. His previous earnings had been given to a younger brother to 
enable him to reach California, and Mr. Jamieson sent the rest of his wages, 
until his minority was a thing of the past, to his father. In the spring of 1857 
he returned to Sugar Grove, purchased the interest in a dry goods business of 
Mark Wilson, and became a partner in trade with Isaac H. Hiller, who was 
afterward prothonotary of the county. At this time he had been on the point 
of going West, indeed, he had his trunk all packed for the journey, but was 
induced to remain in Sugar Grove. This business he disposed of in the spring 
of 1858, and for a year following he handled boats on the Ohio River for Daniel 
Griswold, of Jamestown, where he received the most useful portion of all his 
business education. During the winter of 1858-59 the well-known Joshua Van 
Dusen, of Sugar Grove, who had always taken a deep interest in him, persist- 
ently urged him to come to Warren and begin the study of law. After van- 
quishing what had before seemed serious obstacles, in August, 1859, he 
entered the law office of Johnson & Brown. In the fall of i86i he was 
admitted to the bar. In the interim Mr. Johnson was elected president judge 
of the district, and Mr. Jamieson, after his admission to practice, remained in 
the office with R. Brown, with whom, in less than a year, he formed a co- 
partnership, under the firm name of Brown & Jamieson. 

Being naturally of a speculative turn of mind, he was disposed to reach out 
in business, and in the fall of 1863 began his extraneous investments by 
purchasing an interest in lumber and mill property of Kinzua Creek, in the vil- 
lage of Kinzua. This he still owns, together with several thousand acres of 



662 History of Warren County. 

timbered lands, out of which he has made large amounts of money. In the 
summer of 1865 his investments had grown to such proportions that it became 
evident that he must give up either his outside business or relinquish his law 
practice, and after mature deliberation he decided to abandon the profession. 
Accordingly the partnership with Judge Brown was dissolved. About this 
time he furnished the money and became interested in the hardware trade, 
and established a store in Warren under the name of J. H. Mitchell & Co. 
This was changed in 1871 to H. A. Jamieson. By shrewed and prudent man- 
agement Mr. Jamieson has developed this interest until now he is without 
question the proprietor of the largest hardware business in the county. To 
accommodate it requires the use of a large three-story brick building and a 
spacious cellar, besides a 40 by 50 warehouse four stories high. 

In the summer of 1876 Mr. Jamieson took a small amount of stock in an 
enterprise known as the Warren Woodenware Works, which, unfortunately 
proved a losing investment to the citizens of Warren, and in consequence of 
being an endorser on their paper for a large amount, he was compelled to step 
in and run the business temporarily. He subsequently became the owner of 
this large establishment, employing about fifty hands and running under an 
invested capital of some $75,000. The necessities of this business prompted 
him to become an active power in the organization known as the Western 
Woodenware Association, the office of which is in Chicago, 111., and of which 
he is and for years has been president. Through his influence the wooden- 
ware business has been made a success instead of the failure, which was pre- 
saged of it. During all these years he has not disconnected himself from the 
lumber business, but during his residence in Warren has interested himself in 
the flouring, and saw-mills, and sash, door and blind factories on the island at 
the foot of Liberty street. He is also very considerably interested in oil oper- 
ations, though he is careful not to permit that interest to absorb his other 
business. 

He was one of the original incorporators of the Citizens' National Bank of 
Warren, and is now a director in the same. He has always readily taken stock 
in every enterprise which presented itself seemingly to advance the interests of 
Warren. He is recognized as a very active worker for the benefit of the War- 
ren Library Association and the good of Warren. He has always been a 
steady Republican, and is now a warm admirer of James G. Blaine, in spite, as 
he says, of the aspersions which have been used to stain his name. In the 
winter of 1882, against his own wish, he was elected burgess of the town, not- 
withstanding the opposition of a majority of Democrats and an independent 
Republican. He has for the last ten years been a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, to the support of which he has generously contributed. 

lu personal appearance Mr. Jamieson is tall, slender, and very straight. 
Though not robust, he has yet great powers of endurance, and has never had 



i 



Hugh A. Jamieson. — Samuel Grossenburg. 663 

a serious illness but once ; about four years ago he had a severe attack of a 
brain difficulty, which it was feared might prove fatal, but after about two 
years he recovered. Besides the encouragement which he has so readily 
given to every public enterprise in Warren, Mr. Jamieson has indirectly con- 
tributed to the wealth and beauty of the borough by his extensive building 
operations. He is now living in the third residence of his own construction in 
Warren. This house is an elegant brick structure, and is furnished in the best 
of taste, and without regard to cost. Mr. Jamieson is largely interested in real 
estate in Warren and other portions of the county. 



GROSSENBURG, SAMUEL, the subject of this sketch, was born on the 
2d day of May, 1809, in Canton Berne, Switzerland. His parents, Sam- 
uel and Mary Ann (Stopfel) Grossenburg, were also natives of Switzerland. 
Mr. Grossenburg received his education in his native country, and when he 
was twenty years of age came to Pittsburgh, Pa., where he worked out for 
about six months as a common laborer, and then passed some three years and 
a half as a butcher. Thence he removed to Warren, where he engaged with 
unusual success in the same occupation. In 1839 1''^ again moved — this time 
to the farm which is now in the possession of his widow, near Stoneham, in 
Mead township, Warren county. When he settled here he penetrated an al- 
most trackless wilderness, in which the right of nature's sway had scarcely 
been controverted by any daring act of man. By dint of tireless toil Mr. 
Grossenburg cleared his farm and forced from its reluctant soil the harvests of 
plenty. He united the kindred industries, farming and lumbering, by manu- 
facturing into lumber the trees which it was necessary to fell in clearing his 
farm. At first upon his arrival he built a log house on the site of the present 
woodshed, in which he lived until 1848. In that year he erected the dwelling 
now occupied by Mrs. Grossenburg and other members of his family. At that 
time he eft'ected most of the improvements now perceptible about the farm. 
His original diminutive possessions he finally increased to three lots, one of 
ninety acres, comprising this farm, eighty-two in another lot, and two hundred 
and forty in the third — the last two of the lots being still wild land. It was 
about 1866 that Samuel Grossenburg, jr., erected a saw-mill on the 240-acre 
tract, but which was sold and removed in 1885. 

The principal characteristics of this most useful but equally unostentatious 
man have been quite clealy denoted in the mere recital'of his business under- 
takings. He was essentially a lover of home and its quiet enjoyments. His 
ambition was of that fibre which forms the only safe and trustworthy fabric of 
a nation's greatness and permanent prosperity. It was to acquire a home, un- 
encumbered by indebtedness, to be able to look upon a plot of ground, a dwell- 
ing, flocks and herds, and say to his loved and loving wife and children: "This 
I have gained by my labors for you; enjoy it with me ; share my acquisitions." 



664 History ok Warren County. 

He took comparatively little interest in politics, only as much as an intelligent 
and thoughtful private citizen should. His partisan preference was decidedly 
Democratic. He was conservative in his religious views, having a strong lean- 
ing toward the Lutheran Church — the church of his fathers. Mr. Grossen- 
burg died on the 23d of September, 1885. 

On the 19th of January, 1836, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Francis 
T. and Catharine Yost. His widow survives him, and, as has been stated, now 
occupies the old homestead. She was born in Alsace, that famous battle 
ground between the German and French people, on the 14th of June, 1818, 
and came to Warren with her parents when she was about eight years of age. 
There she resided until her marriage. She has borne her husband ten chil- 
dren, seven of whom, four sons and two daughters, are still living, as follows : 
Samuel, jr., born September 19, 1838, and now living on the homestead ; 
married Frances M., daughter of D. W. and Sarah A. (Cantrell) Brennan, of this 
township, March 16, 1875. He was the second child, the first, Mary Ann, was 
born September 6, 1836, and died November 6, 1838. The third child was 
William, born October 6, 1840, and deceased September 8, 1848 ; the fourth, 
Eliza, born March 28, 1843, is now the wife of Samuel J. Arnett, of Geneseo, 
111. ; the fifth, William H., born January 12, 1846, married Rosamond Carter, 
of Corry, Pa., November 22, 1878, and now resides in Stoneham, Pa.; the 
sixth, Jerome C, born November 6, 1848, still single, lives on the old home- 
stead ; the seventh, George F., born October 25, 185 I, died January 25, 1852 ; 
the eighth, Albert G., born November 25, 1853, married Margaret Weaver, 
and lives in Geneseo, 111.; the ninth, Clara E., born February 17, 1856, mar- 
ried first to Stephen Cochran, of Wellsbury, N. Y., in June, 1874, and secondly 
to Mark Lauer, from Wayne county. Pa., April 26, 1886, and now residing in 
Clarendon. The tenth, Lillie O., born May 16, i860, married Samuel Mc- 
Nett, of Clarendon borough, Januar}' 7, iSSi. 



GRAY, ROBERT MILES, of Sugar Grove, was born on the site of Union 
City, Pa., on the 8th day of January, 18 13. He derived his patronymic 
from a family in the north of Ireland, whence his father's father, William 
Gray, emigrated to Northumberland county, in this State, previous to 1785. 
He was probably in this country early enough to witness the ratification of 
the constitution of the United States. In 1795 he removed with his'family to 
Huntington county. Pa., and in 1803 settled on the site of Union City. He 
was twice married, the second time about 1824 or 1825, and reared a family of 
eight children by his first wife, and three by his second. His eldest son and 
the son of his first wife, James Gray, was the father of Robert M. Gray, and 
was born in White Deer Valley, Northumberland county. Pa., on the i8th of 
November, 1785. He removed with his father to Huntington county, and in 
1 803 went to take possession of his father's newly purchased farm in Erie county. 



Robert Miles Gray. 665 



It must be remembered that in those times the present modes of rapid transit 
by land had not even entered the dreams of the prophet. It required the 
hardiest muscles, the steadiest nerves, and the most adventurous spirits of the 
settled portions of eastern North America, to push forward through the dark 
and seemingly impervious forests that frowned upon the outposts of civiliza- 
tion, and extend its frontiers in spite of wolves, bears, panthers, and inhospitable 
wilds. James Gray was well-fitted for this kind of work. After looking over 
the ground which was to become his home, he returned, in December of 1803, 
to Huntington county. The incidents of this journey disclose a glimpse of the 
difficulties of the traveler in Western Pennsylvania at that day. He reached 
the Allegheny River four miles above the site of Kittanning, where he found 
the stream impassable by means of high water and running ice. He finally 
succeeded, at great risk of life and limb, in crossing the river with his horse 
on ice which had formed in a single night. Then he led his horse (for he could 
ride very little through the thick underbrush) along a " blind path " over hills 
until he reached Freeport. The rest of the journey was comparatively easy. 
In April, 1804, he returned to Erie county, with his sister Sarah to do the 
housework while he cleared the farm. His first work was to build a large 
hewn-log house on the place. He remained at Union, as it was then called, 
nearly twenty years. In 1809-10 he built flat boats and took them to Water- 
ford for the purpose of carrying salt to Pittsburgh. In the fall of 18 10 he 
went to Pittsburgh, where he saw the first steamboat ever floated in the city. 

In September, 18 12, he was drafted on a requisition on the State to furnish 
a quota of 100,000 militia to prosecute the war with Great Britain, and rendez- 
voused at Pittsburgh on the 2d of October. Aften an honorable service for 
six months he was discharged at Fort Meigs on the 2d of April, 1813. In 
March, 1823, he removed to Sugar Grove, in this county, where he remained 
the rest of his life. He died on the 30th of June, 1858. He was one of the 
most useful citizens that ever lived in this township or county. He took an 
active and patriotic interest in public affairs, both as they related to his town 
and the country. He was a member of the great Whig party, and was hon- 
ored with various offices that could be filled only with such ability as he pos- 
sessed. In 1825 he was elected assessor of Sugar Grove, and was soon after 
made foreman of the county grand jury. In 1826, and again in 1843, he was 
chosen county commissioner, the last time on the workingmen's ticket. He was 
what has aptly been denominated " an every day member of the church," 
while in Erie county, and in sympathies was a Presbyterian. He was not a 
religious automaton, however, but was a thinker, in obedience to the direction 
of St. Paul to "think on these things," and in later life he became a Congrega- 
tionalist. At a still later period he practically adopted the faith of the Unita- 
rians. 

In December, 181 1, James Gray married Polly, daughter of Robert Miles, 



666 History of Warren County. 

with whom he passed the best years of his hfe, in the contentment of domestic 
love and co-operation. She survived him, dying a day or two before Christ- 
mas in 1 864. They left two children — Harriet, now the wife of Dexter C. 
Hodges, of Sparta, Tenn., and the subject of this notice. 

Robert M. Gray received a common school education in Sugar Grove, and 
passed sometime in attendance upon the academies at Jamestown and Warren. 
He remained on his father's farm until he reached the age of thirty-two or 
thirty-three years, when he became owner by purchase of the farm and began 
on his own account. He began chopping on the place in March, 1836. He 
lived on that farm until 1883, when his wife died, and he placed the property 
in the possession of his son, Hugh F. Gray, and bought the place on which he 
now resides. He has not been a public man in the general acceptation of the 
term, but he has taken a live interest in all public matters, has done without 
hesitation what he deemed to be his duty, and in the infirmity of declining years 
retires from active cares with a mind made serene by the consciousness of life- 
long rectitude. His townsmen have urged upon him a number of township 
offices, all of which came to him without the asking. Mr. Gray votes with the 
Republican party, the successor of the Whig party, which he supported in 
earlier life. His first presidential vote was cast for William Wirt. 

He has been three times married. Hannah, daughter of Jacob Wells, be- 
came his first wife on the 4th of October, 1843. She died in 1862, leaving 
two sons and daughters, of whom Harriet, James Marshall, and Hugh Fred 
are still living. James M. now occupies the old homestead of James Gray, 
his grandfather, and Hugh Fred has been mentioned as the present occupant 
of the farm of Robert M. Gray. Mr. Gray was again married to Sarah Par- 
ratt, daughter of M. Ewers, of Farmington. She died on the 6th of Septem- 
ber, 1882, leaving no children. His third wife, Mary Ann Vickory, of Glade 
township, in this county, was married to him on the i6th of January, 1884. 



HARMON, HOSEA. The birth of Hosea Harmon took place in Rensse- 
laer county, N. Y., on the 22d day of January, 1818. The first of the 
family to come to Sugar Grove was his grandfather, Moses Harmon, who im- 
migrated hither about the year 1825. He engaged in farming until he died 
some ten or twelve years after his settlement. He was the father of two sons 
and three daughters. Nason Harmon, father of Hosea, was the eldest child of 
Moses, and was born in Rensselaer county in 1786. He remained in the place 
of his birth several years after his father had come to Sugar Grove, and fol- 
lowed him about the year 1830. He was a hard working man, a farmer, and 
strove earnestly to acquire a competence for his family. But the advantages and 
emoluments that follow in the wake of well-directed labor at the present time, 
did not then exist in a new country whose resources were neither known nor 
developed. The pioneer (and Nason Harmon may almost be called a pioneer) in 



I 



HosEA Harmon. 667 



a new country may not hope to accumulate wealth ; he must be content to pre- 
pare the way for others who are to reap the rewards of his toil, to eat fruit from 
the trees which he has planted, to cultivate the soil which he has cleared, and to 
enlarge and beautify the homes which he may rear in the wilderness. The lot 
of Nason Harmon was that of the common pioneer. He toiled without ceas- 
ing, he practiced the most rigid frugality, he bound his children out to service 
— and he died poor. He died on the 4th of September, 1855. His wife, Anna, 
daughter of a Mr. Bennett, of Rensselaer county, whom he married in 1810, 
survived him until January 21, 1869. They reared a family of thirteen chil- 
dren, of whom three are now living. The subject of this sketch was the third 
of these children. The limited means of his father compelled him to set his 
children at work at an age when they should have been at school, and Hosea 
Harmon received his education almost exclusively from contact with the 
world, his mind being sharpened by the friction as " iron sharpeneth iron." At 
the early age of eight years he began to work for a farmer in Busti, Chautau- 
qua county, N. Y., with whom he remained three years at a salary of three 
dollars a month. Another year was passed in the same occupation and neigh- 
borhood for five dollars a month. His father then hired him out to a farmer 
in Kiantone six months, where he chopped wood one winter, at the rate of 
eighteen cents a cord, while he boarded himself This was good pay for a 
full-grown man at that time, and Mr. Harmon undoubtedly felt that he had 
attained full stature. In this manner he passed his time, getting work of the 
hardest kind wherever he was able, and always under the control of his father, 
until he was nineteen years and six months of age. Impatient to be his own 
master, he then bought the remainder of his minority of his father for the price 
of one hundred dollars. Thereupon he went to Spring Creek and hired out to 
George F. Eldred at ten dollars a month. His work was hauling logs from 
the woods to a pond near the mill. He kept bachelor's hall with another em- 
ployee. Mr. Eldred agreed to give Harmon the butts of the logs which were 
sawn, from which he might gain a little profit by making shingles of them dur- 
ing the winter evenings. His diligence is attested by the fact that he made on 
an average five hundred shingles every night while he was at work there, and 
at the close of his engagement had on hand 40,000 shingles. These he traded 
with Henry P. Kinnear, of Youngsville, for a yoke of cattle, which he drove to 
Jamestown and sold for exactly one hundred dollars. His first deed upon 
receiving his well-earned money was to hasten home and pay his father for his 
purchased time. His ability to work in the woods had been gained by an 
experience which commenced when he was sixteen years of age. At that 
time his father had hired him out to work for Garrett Burget, on the Indian 
Reservation at Cold Spring, hewing and getting out timber to the Alleglieny 
River, at a salary of ten dollars for the first month and thirteen for each suc- 
ceeding month in which he worked. During one summer he felled a hundred 
43 



668 History of Warren County. 

trees over and above his stint, each tree being worth about three shilhngs — his 
own property by agreement. His next venture was as a pilot on the Alle- 
gheny River. He took rafts down to Pittsburgh and even farther. It was his 
habit frequently to buy shingles at the commencement of a trip and pilot a raft 
down the river without charge except the privilege of transporting his shingles 
to market. In this way he realized a profit on his goods without suffering a 
discount for freight. 

When he was twenty-two years of age he entered into copartnership rela- 
tions with one Sylvester Howd, and one Blackmer, for the purpose of engaging 
in mercantile business in Rusti, Chautauqua county. The capital of this firm 
was proportioned about as follows : Blackmer, sixty dollars ; Howd, a horse 
and wagon; and Harmon about 200,000 shingles which were worth about $200. 
The business lasted about a year in Busti, and was not a very gratifying suc- 
cess. Howd and Harmon then bought out Blackmer's interest, and established 
a store at Pittsfield in this county, where they remained about six years. They 
then sold out to Gray & Mallory. Mr. Harmon at the expiration of that time 
came to his father's farm in Sugar Grove to help him out, while Howd pur- 
chased an interest in the mercantile firm of Pattison & White, in Sugar Grove. 
Tiring of this arrangement within a year, he bought out his partners and per- 
suaded Mr. Harmon to take an interest with him. This relation continued 
four or five years. From that time on for about six years and as many months 
Mr. Harmon remained in this store, first as the partner of Howd's son-in-law, 
T. F. Abbott, then of Isaac Hiller, and afterward of Dr. Sherman Garfield. 
The business was finally sold to John and William McLane. 

At this period Mr. Harmon discovered an opportnnity for dealing in cattle, 
and immediately embarked in the business, selling many of them at Tidioute, 
and shipping many to New York and other places. During the seven years 
in which he remained in this occupation he was in partnership with William 
Haggerty. Upon terminating this experience he engaged once more in the 
mercantile occupation with D. McDonald, at Sugar Grove village, which lasted 
about five or si.x years, when he sold his interest to his partner. Since then 
he has been prominently interested in farming and land investments. His 
acres now number about fifteen hundred in all, all but two hundred of which 
(in Chautauqua county) are in Warren county. He has also dealt extensively 
in lumber, though he has not shipped any down the river. He has further- 
more operated to some extent in oil. 

Mr. Harmon has not taken a very prominent part in public affairs, his time 
being too much taken up in private business. But the voice of his townsmen 
has occasionally called upon him to exert his abilities in office, and he has 
accepted whenever he thought it was his duty to accept. His first political 
affiliation was with the old Abolition party, when the term was with the ma- 
jority a reproach and by-word. Mr. Harmon was one of the first three in 



I 




Joiix Whiiman. 



I 



HosEA Harmon. — John Whitman. 669 

Sugar Grove. He afterward allied himself with the Republican party, and 
remained with it until he deemed it succeeded by a party which is governed 
by still higher principles, the prohibition party, when he joined its ranks. He 
has for more than forty years been an active member of the Wesleyan Metho- 
dist Church. 

These incidents of his life show him to be a man of active nature, of shrewd 
calculation, of industrious and tireless energy, and of fearless, unflinching 
integrity of character. These traits are evidenced by his success in life, by 
the fact that he has wrung competence out of poverty, and that he has done 
this without sacrificing his manhood or working injury to others. 

Hosea Harmon married Sally, daughter of Merritt and Almira Johnson, of 
Sugar Grove, on the 3d of September, 1846. Mrs. Harmon's parents came 
from Oneida county, N. Y., when she was but five years of age, and after her 
marriage made their home with her until their death a few years ago. They 
have had two children, only one of whom, a daughter, Emma, is living. She 
is the wife of J. P. Miller, of Sugar Grove, and the mother of two children, 
Geoerge H. and James H. Miller. 



WHITMAN, JOHN, son of John and Jane (Davis) Whitman, was born in 
Sugar Creek township, Venango county. Pa., on the 30th day of March, 
1 8 ID. His father came to that township as early as 1797 from eastern Penn- 
sylvania, and was never more than three days out of the State. He died in 
1839, and his wife followed him in about ten years afterward. Jacob Whit- 
man, grandfather of the subject of this notice, was what is called a " Pennsyl- 
vania Dutchman," and was undoubtedly born in this State 

At about the age of seventeen years the subject of this sketch embarked in 
life on his own account, and for four years worked on farms in the vicinity of 
his home. His health then failed ; he was afflicted with bilious fever and pleu- 
risy, and was advised by his physician to burn charcoal for his health. This 
he did for four summers, after which he took a trip down the Allegheny, Ohio, 
and Mississippi Rivers as far as Vicksburg, Miss., with boat-loads of ice, pur- 
chased and procured by residents of that city. The first time that he attempted 
to make this trip he was taken ill and had to postpone the pleasure, but he finally 
succeeded in going in the spring of 1838. He remained in Vicksburg about 
two weeks looking to the unlading of the boats, and then returned to the North 
by boat, after an absence of some two months. During the remainder of that 
summer he worked on a farm in Venango county and also performed service 
on a turnpike road then building through the county. The next two years 
were passed in sawing lumber in Buck mill, as it was called, in Venango county, 
after which he came to Sheffield township, and worked in the saw-mill of 
White & Gallop, in the southern part of the township. He operated their mill 
one year. At that time Erastus Barnes was rafting lumber to Wheeling, W. Va., 



670 History of Warren County. 

and seeing in Mr. Whitman the man he wanted for his help, he hired him to 
raft the lumber, going with him on the first trip. This work he performed for 
six or seven years, and in the mean time began to buy lumber of his employer 
and take the property of both himself and Mr. Barnes to the same market at 
the same time. By this time his reputation as a skillful pilot and raftsman had 
extended beyond the limits of his county, and Fox & Wetmore, of Forest 
county, made him an offer to enter their service, which he thought well to ac- 
cept. He rafted for this firm for ten or twelve years, and as long as they con- 
tinued together, running occasionally as far down as Louisville, Ky. On his 
last trip he took down 127,000 feet of lumber without help. In the fall of 
two different years he also assisted in the construction of a wooden tramway 
from the place where the timber of his employers was cut to the east branch 
of the Tionesta Creek, whence it was floated to the mill. From 1866 to 1873 
he worked as pilot for different employers. In the last year he purchased a 
large amount of lumber from Fox & Wetmore and went down the river with 
it, realizing a gratifying profit. From that time to the present he has kept 
teams at work in this county drawing oil and lumber. 

Meantime, as early as 1866, he purchased thirteen acres of land from Sam- 
uel Gilson, and worked on it at such leisure moments as were at his command. 
Since he has relinquished the life of a raftsman he has devoted the greater part 
of his time to the cultivation of this tract. 

In politics Mr. Whitman has been a consistent and loyal Democrat, and, 
though he has avoided rather than sought office, has frequently been called 
upon to serve in various capacities in his own town. He is a member of the 
Free Methodist Church, at which he is a regular attendant, and of which he 
is a trustworthy supporter. He also takes a deep interest in Sabbath-school 
work. 

It is too much the custom to deem the life of a man reviewed when the 
incidents of his labors and investments have been recited. Such sketches, 
were they not generally regarded as incomplete, would convey the impression 
that the subjects are men of the stamp which Julius Ca;sar denounced in 

•Cassius : 

" He loves no plays, 
As thou dost, Antony ; he hears no mu.'iic ; 
Seldom he smiles ; and smiles in such a sort 
As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his spirit 
That could be moved to smile at anything." 

No such man is Mr. Whitman. While the main incidents of his career 
show him to be a man of earnest purpose, he has ever been controlled by the 
true philosophy that much of the pleasure of life consists in enjoying such 
privileges as may be gathered on the way, rather than condemning them, and 
trusting to the often vain hope of "an easy time in the evening of life." On 
the 2d day of March, 1885, Mr. Whitman laid aside his cares for a time and 



John Whitman. — Dr. William A. Irvine. 671 

took a pleasure trip to the New Orleans Exposition. While there he improved 
his opportunity to the utmost, going no miles below the city to the mouth of 
the Mississippi River, visiting the old Spanish Fort, sailing to West End, view- 
ing that famous cemetery or city of the dead, in which the bodies of the dead 
are kept in vaults above ground, inspecting the old battle-ground of General 
Jackson, and pacing on Shell Beach on the Gulf of Mexico. He returned by 
way of Nashville, Tenn., and Cincinnati. In this way he united pleasure and 
profit — the profit that comes of instruction. 



IRVINE, DR. WILLIAM A. The subject of this notice was born in the old 
fort at Erie, Pa., on the 28th of September, 1803, and died at his residence 
near Irvine, Warren county, on the 7th of September, 1886. He was de- 
scended from the branch of the old Scotch family of Irvine, which settled in 
Ulster, Ireland, under a grant from James VI. of Scotland. His grandfather, 
William Irvine, was a general in the War of the Revolution, and an intimate 
friend of Washington, whose letters, now in the possession of the family, show 
that important military movements in the struggle for the independence of the 
colonies were committed to his command. Dr. Irvine's father, Callender Ir- 
vine, was in command of the fort at Erie when his son was born. As Gen- 
eral William Irvine, then Commissary-General of the United States, died in 
1804, Callender was summoned to Philadelphia to take his place, which office 
he retained until his death in 1840. The journey from Erie was made on horse- 
back, the child being carried the entire distance in the arms of his father. 
His correspondence with President Jefferson reveals the confidence of the au- 
thor of the Declaration of Independence in his ability and integrity, and that 
he was directed to look after the speculations of Indian agents in this part 
of the country. He had inherited lands in Warren and Erie counties, some 
of which were granted to General Irvine for military services. He passed 
every summer at Irvine, and when Dr. Irvine was old enough to take the long 
journeys on horseback, he always accompanied his father. 

After receiving a liberal education, William Armstrong Irvine studied 
medicine, and was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. Immedi- 
ately upon his graduation he removed to Irvine, which was his home from that 
time until his death. He took an active interest in the development of the 
resources of this part of the State. He took a prominent part in the building 
of the first turnpike road from Warren to Franklin, the result of which was 
the opening of a stage road to Pittsburgh. To this end he devoted his influ- 
ence, time and means unsparingly. He was also among the pioneers in the 
early efforts to procure the location of the Sunbury and Erie, now the Phila- 
delphia and Erie Railroad, through this part of the country, giving his per- 



672 History of Warren County. 

sonal efforts to the scheme. As a citizen he had an earnest interest in the 
local and general welfare of the country. Among the first improvements 
upon his place in Irvine were an iron foundry and a woolen-mill, built by him- 
self By his intelligence and energy he made his home a pleasant place. His 
person was most imposing and graceful, and his manner refined without affect- 
ation. He was ever a student of nature and of books. His mind was richly 
stored with a vast fund of information, which he always turned to account 
whenever occasion demanded, for he was no less practical than learned. This 
made him exceedingly attractive to those who came in contact with him in 
social life. 

In 1834 he married a daughter of Stephen Duncan, a prominent planter of 
Mississippi. She died a number of years ago and was buried in the grounds 
of the stone church built by them during her lifetime. She was a woman of 
superior mind and of charitable and unselfish nature, who did all in her power 
to advance the cause of religion and education in the community in which 
her lot was cast. Of this marriage there now survive two daughters, Mrs. 
Thomas Biddle and Mrs. Thomas Newbold. 

At the time of his death. Dr. Irvine was president of the Pennsylvania 
branch of the Society of Cincinnati, and vice-president of the general society. 



JACKSON, WILLIAM MILES, was born in Spring Creek, on the same 
farm that he now occupies, on the 29th of May, 1818. He is the son of 
Elijah and Mary (Watt) Jackson. His father and Andrew Evers, the first set- 
tlers in this township, came here in November, 1797, from Union Mills (now 
Union City), and built the first log cabin in Spring Creek, a few rods nearly 
north of the site of William M. Jackson's present dwelling house. Elijah Jack- 
son was born in Litchfield, Conn., on the 27th of October, 1772. He accom- 
panied his father to Ontario county, N. Y., when he was sixteen years of age, 
and upon attaining his majority removed to Marietta, O. The Indians were 
thick and hostile thereabouts, and the settlers were obliged to pass their lei- 
sure in the barracks, and their hours of labor surrounded by guards. Not lik- 
ing this sort of life, Elijah Jackson decided to settle in Spring Creek. About 
18 16 he built a log cabin on the site of his son's present dwelling house. On 
this farm he remained, engaged in farming and lumbering, until his death on 
the 1st of September, 1845. 

On the 26th of February, 1801, Elijah Jackson married Mary, daughter of 
John Watt, of Spring Creek. Mrs. Jackson's parents were natives of Ireland, 
and came to Spring Creek from Penn's Valley, Lancaster county, Pa., about 
1800. Mrs. Jackson died on the 9th of January, 1855, aged seventy years 
two months and eight days. She was the mother of Elijah Jackson's thirteen 



William Miles Jackson. — John Walton. 673 

children — eight sons and five daughters, as follows : Sarah, born May 1 2, 
1802, died May 15, 1882; Hannah, born December 1 1, 1803, widow of Thomas 
D. Tubbs, and now living in Spring Creek township ; John, born May 8, 1805, 
died June 16, 1839; Mary, born July 5, 1807, died July 22, 1876, then the 
wife of William Ludden, her second husband ; Uri, born March 31, 1809, died 
January 18, 1870; James, born April 2, 181 1, died in young boyhood; Ziba 
Mena, born May 7, 1813, died March 19, 185 I ; Washington, born December 
7, 1815, died May 20, 1833 ; William Miles, the subject of this sketch; Alex- 
ander W., born April 16, 1820, now living in Spring Creek village; Harriet, 
born December 19, 1822, died June 28, 1823 ; Charles M., born July i, 1825, 
died August 23, 1885, in Busti, N. Y., and Robert R., born March 30, 1829, 
and now living in Farmington township. 

After receiving such meager education as was afforded by the common 
schools of his native town, William M. Jackson began at a very early age to 
assist his father in clearing the 200 acre farm, even then attending school oc- 
casionally in the winter. When he became of age he began to work on his 
own account in saw-mills and drawing timber, etc., until the death of his father. 
Then he and his brother, A. W. Jackson, bought the home property of the 
other heirs and worked the farm in partnership until 1866, when William M. 
Jackson purchased his brother's interest, and from that time to the present has 
retained the ownership and control of the entire property. He has engaged 
in lumbering to a limited extent, piloting on the river from his twentieth birth- 
day until 1864. His occupation for years past has been that of general farm- 
ing. He has a small dairy business. In politics he is a thorough Democrat, 
and has borne his full share of the public burdens. His father was a " stiff" 
Democrat before him. The family, indeed, is distantly related to Andrew 
Jackson. Mr. Jackson has held about all the offices which it is in the power 
of his town to bestow, from road commissioner to justice of the peace, and is 
now township auditor for the ninth consecutive year. His father and mother 
were both Presbyterians, and his opinions and tastes are that way inclined, 
though he is not a member of any religious organization. Mr. Jackson has 
never been married, and therefore it may be said that he has the more thor- 
oughly wedded the interests of the township, county. State and country of his 
birth. 



WALTON, JOHN, was born in the town of Columbus, Chenango county, 
N. Y., on the 31st day of August, 1806. His father's father was a farmer 
in Connecticut, where he died not far from 1820. Aaron Walton, father of 
John, was born in New England, and removed to Chenango county, N. Y,, in 
the latter part of the last century. His wife, Artemisia Field, also a native of 
New England, accompanied her husband to what was then a forest country in 
New York State. They had eleven children, ten of whom, four daughters and 



6/4 History of Warren County. 

six sons, attained years of maturity. One of the daughters, Mary, is now the 
wife of Mr. Kennedy and resides in Bradford, Pa.; Aaron, Levi, and John, the 
surviving sons, are all residents of Columbus township in Warren county. Pa. 

In 1823 Aaron Walton, sr., came to Columbus, bringing with him his son 
Aaron, and built a log house on his farm about two miles northwest from the 
present village of Columbus, and about half a mile north of the " Center " so 
called. He returned at once to Chenango county, leaving his son and hired 
men to clear the land. In the fall the son Aaron returned and married that 
winter. In the spring they both came back, and in the February following 
John, Asa, Andrew, and Daniel, the other sons of Aaron, sr., walked from 
Chenango county to this wilderness by the way of Syracuse and the south- 
east. Aaron, jr., built a new house for himself and his bride, while all the rest 
of the family lived in this first log house. 

At about the age of nineteen years John Walton went to work in the win- 
ter season at Wrightsville in this county, operating the saw-mills for the pro- 
prietors. At other seasons of the year he went down the river on a raft to 
Pittsburgh. He continued several winters at Wrightsville, and he continued 
making annual trips down the river — rafting his own lumber to Pittsburgh, 
every year for thirty years. On these trips he would take down the river in 
tlie spring the logs he had cut the preceding winter. He regarded his father's 
house as his home until he was twenty-two years of age. Meantime, as may 
have been supposed, he had had few advantages for obtaining an education, as 
his father's means were too limited to send his numerous children away to 
school, and the schools in this unbroken country were not very advanced nor 
well graded; still, he had by his own unaided efforts, mastered the elementary 
studies, such as stand him in good stead in the business world, and was con- 
tented. 

On the 2d of September, 1828, he married Harriet Tracy, daughter of 
Israel Spencer, of Columbus, who was born March 5, 1808, and who died Jan- 
uary 4, 1 87 1. As soon as they were married John Walton took his wife to 
live on a farm of some seventy-five acres, five acres of which he had previously 
cleared, and on which he had erected a log house. Eighteen months later he 
moved back to his father's farm where he resided for one year, when he again 
moved, this time to a farm situated about one and a quarter miles northeast of 
Columbus village, where he stayed two or three years. In 1832 he purchased 
of Hannibal Lamb a farm two or three miles farther north, consisting then of 
about one hundred and fifteen acres, but which by gradual accessions Mr. Wal- 
ton has increased to two hundred and fifty acres. He removed at this time to 
this farm, where he passed many years, where most of his children were born 
and where several of them were married. Several years previous to the out- 
break of the civil war he bought a farm of lOO acres (to which he has since 
added forty acres), on the west side of Columbus borough as now constituted, 



i 




'UN Wamon 



John Walton. 675 

where he Hved until after the death of his first wife, and his marriage to the 
second. 

Thus has the subject of this sketch, by virtue of industry and thrift and 
honesty, been able to accumulate property. Starting with no means or capital 
but his own energy and faith in himself he has added one acre to another and 
one farm to another until he is accounted a wealthy man. The acres which he 
now owns do not represent a tithe of what he has had, for it has been his method 
to buy land when it was cheap and by his own efforts increase its selling properties 
and its value, and sell it at a profit. In this way he has bought and sold land 
all his life. His farming now consists principally in dairying. He owns in all 
about twenty-eight cows, besides other live stock, several colts and horses. 
His last home farm is now run on shares by his son Frank. Has a small farm 
of about sixty- five acres north of Columbus, which is chiefly devoted to the 
raismg of hay for his horses and cows. Another farm of seventy-two acres 
adjoining his old farm is used for pasturing. 

Mr. Walton cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and has been pretty 
true to the Democratic party ever since. He has held several important town- 
ship offices, but has not been politically aspiring. He was reared in the Meth- 
odist Episcopal faith, but has become more liberal in his views as he has grown 
older, and at this writing is devoting some thought to the mysteries of spirit- 
ualism — that fascinating system which, like Glendower of Wales, " can call 
spirits from the vasty deep." Whatever his creed, wherever he is known, Mr. 
Walton is esteemed for his sterling and undeviating honesty. His note is un- 
necessary ; for an oral promise is as binding on his conscience as is a note in 
the eyes of the law. More than once he has exerted an energy seemingly far 
beyond his power for the purpose of meeting an obligation which was fast 
coming due. 

By his first wife he was the father of the following children : Charles Henry, 
born June 14, 1829, now living in Columbus ; Laura Ann, born June 17, 1831, 
now the wife of Washington Colegrove in this township ; Lucinda Maria, born 
September 26, 1833, now the wife of Lawrence Colegrove, in Concord, Erie 
county. Pa.; Darius Seth, born February 10, 1836, living now in Concord, Pa.; 
Louisa Jane, born November 13, 1836, first the wife of Albert Dewey, who 
died about a year after the marriage, and now the wife of Lawrence Madison, 
of Concord; Spencer Aaron, born July 8, 1841, now of Columbus; Frank 
Denham and Franklin Ferdinand, twins, born December 20, 1845, the latter 
dying in about three months, the former still living in Columbus ; and Lucretia 
Emma, born May 7, 1848, died unmarried at Hudson, Wis., November 12, 
1873, whither she had gone for treatment. 

Mr. Walton married the second time on the 15th of September, 1880, his 
wife being formerly Elizabeth Lackey, daughter of Robert Lackey, a native 
of Scotland, as is Mrs. Walton, but for years a resident of Port Hope in Can- 



6t6 History of Warren County. 

ada West. Her mother, Agnes Parker, died when Ehzabeth was eleven years 
of age. Previous to their marriage, Mrs. Walton had resided in Columbus for 
some nineteen years. 



SANFORD, JOEL G. The ancestors of J. G. Sanford are traceable sev- 
eral centuries in the past. The Sanford and Hoyt families, both his an- 
cestors^ were among the very earliest settlers of New England. One of the 
great-grandfathers of the subject of this sketch, named Ward, was a sea cap- 
tain in the War of the Revolution. During that struggle he was taken pris- 
oner and confined in one of the British prison-ships. He jumped overboard 
with a companion and attempted to swim ashore, but \\as drowned, though 
his companion escaped and lived to tell the story. John Sanford, grandfather 
of J. G. Sanford, was born in Connecticut in 1772, came to Warren county 
with his son in 1838, and died at Rome, Crawford county. Pa., in 1856. His 
son, Samuel Ward Benedict Sanford, was born in Reading, Fairfield county, 
Conn., on the 22d of August, 1796, and the record of his birth is still en- 
grossed on the town books. He removed to Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1819, 
and four years later went to Batavia, Genesee county, in that State. Just pre- 
vious to his removal to Batavia, he married Esther Hill, daughter of John 
Green, who was a soldier of the Revolution, was with Washington at Valley 
Forge, and after living for a time in Vermont, died in Onondaga county, N. 
Y., not far from 1840. Samuel and Esther Sanford had four children, three 
of whom are now living. These three, besides the subject of this sketch, are 
Nancy Irene, wife of Calvin Nichols, of Spring Creek ; and Orsamus Orland, 
living in Eldred township. The one that died was Washington Sobrieski, his 
death occurring on the 6th of June, 1862, when he had reached the age of 
thirty- one years. 

Samuel W. B. Sanford came to Eldred township from Batavia in the spring 
of 1838 with horse and wagon, reaching that township on the 6th of May. 
He immediately built a house on the site now covered by his present dwelling, 
and began to clear his farm of seventy-six acres. During the summer he en- 
gaged in farming, and to some .extent in lumbering, and in the following win- 
ter taught school in Garland, in Pittsfield township. From then to the present 
he has continued his farming. He is now an old man, but bears the respect 
and esteem of all who know him. He has for more than fifty years been a 
consistent member of the Methodist Church. He was a member of the old 
Whig party until its dissolution, when he united himself with the Republican 
party. He has been at all times a prominent man in town affairs, having held 
all the offices which it is within the power of his townsmen to bestow. He 
has been a justice of the peace three terms, school director seventeen years, 
and has also been prominent in county elections. It was chiefly through his 
ellorts that the township was formed and the post-office established here. His 



Joel G. Sanford. 677 



wife, who was born on the 25th of March, 1801, in Grafton, N. Y., is still liv- 
ing. 

Joel Green Sanford was born in Batavia, Genesee county, N. Y., on the 3d 
day of September, 1 824. He accompanied his parents to this county, and re- 
ceived the education that could be given to all the children in a new country. 
He kept his home with his parents until he was twenty- five years of age, work- 
ing on his father's farm. On the loth of July, 1850, he married Nancy Ann, 
daughter of Samuel Mogre, of Pittsfield township, and she lives to crown his 
latter days with comfort, as she did his earlier days with joy. At the time of 
their marriage Mr. Sanford removed to a piece of land containing eighty acres, 
embraced partly within the farm which he still owns and occupies. This farm 
now contains only seventy-five acres, Mr. Sanford believing in thorough culti- 
vation of a small farm rather than in loose management of a cumbersome tract. 
He owns another piece of land, however, of thirty-four acres. He built a 
house on the site of the one that he now occupies, which gave place to the 
present one in 1870. He has made his agricultural labors as general as the 
soil and climate will admit, refusing to confine himself to any specialty. He also 
engaged quite largely in lumbering until about 1880, when he allowed the saw- 
mill, which he had operated for years, to run down. Previous to the oil pe- 
riod he used occasionally to run down the river, though his suspension of these 
trips did not result from any interest he had in oil, as he has kept free from the 
entanglements and exciting fevers that disturb the oil operator's peace of mind. 
He is a natural mechanic, moreover, and though he was never apprenticed to 
the carpenter's or blacksmith's trade, or, indeed, any but the farmer's, he has 
done admirable work in all these branches of business and more. He built a 
number of the finest dwellings and barns in this part of the town. Besides 
this, he has a wagon or wheelwright's shop in which, at leisure moments, he 
manufactures some of the best wagons in the world. In fact, he seems at home 
in any branch of the mechanic arts. 

Mr. Sanford is a Republican of the uncompromising type, believing that the 
nature of Democratic institutions like the United States demands the perpet- 
ual though peaceful collision of two opposite parties, the one conservative and 
the other radical. He favors the Republican principles because he thinks that 
party to be the one of moral force and ideas. He is well adapted for the ad- 
ministration of public affairs and is a natural leader. He has held all the 
offices within the gift of his township, and was, indeed, school director for 
thirteen consecutive years. He has been postmaster at Sanford post-office for 
five years. He is not a member of any church, but favors the establishment 
and rejoices over the success of churches, and contributes to their support with- 
out regard to creed. 

J. G. Sanford and wife have had five children, four of whom are living — 
Samuel Myron was born on the 12th of September, 185 l, and resides in El- 



678 History of Warren County. 

dred township; Ida lanthe, born November 2, 1854, died July 6, 1878 ; Mary- 
Jane, born February 14, 1858, now lives at the home of her parents; Wash- 
ington Aaron, born January 19, 1862, now at home; and Etta Irene, born 
October 23, 1866. 



ORR, RICHARD S., was born in Halifax, Windham county, Vt., on the 
7th day of June, 1810. He was of Irish descent, his grandfather, Isaac 
Orr, being born of Irish parents in Boston, and emigrating to Halifax a short 
time previous to the Revolution. His father, Isaac, jr., was a native of Halifax, 
where he passed his life, dying in 18 18, aged forty-five years. Susan (Sum- 
ner), wife of Isaac Orr, jr., survived him a few years. The subject of this 
sketch attended the excellent common schools in his native place, and finished 
his education in a high school at Wilberham, near Springfield, Mass. After 
leaving school he took a partner and opened a hotel in Hartford, Conn., but 
this enterprise proved ephemeral. A short time previous to 1835 he went to 
Black Rock, Erie county, N. Y., where he engaged again in the hotel business. 
Not liking the place he soon removed to Jamestown, N. Y., where he passed a 
brief period as clerk in a hotel. After visiting Ohio City for a few months, he 
made Jamestown another abiding place pro tempore. At the solicitation of his 
brother, Henry Orr, who was in Warren then and is here now, he came to this 
borough to inspect some property for sale, and ended by renting the Mansion 
House, which is described in the history of Warren. This was in 1839. The 
owner of the property was the well-known Archibald Tanner, one of the 
largest property owners ever in the county. Mr. Orr remained the lessee of 
this hotel for a little less than ten years. Meantime he had become somewhat 
interested in the lumber trade, which then formed so prominent an industry in 
northwestern Pennsylvania, and in the spring of 1849 he severed his connec- 
tion with hotel life, and devoted more attention to the lumber trade. He did 
not allow that to absorb his sole attention, however, but formed a partnership 
with Frank Henry, and opened a store between the Mansion and Carver 
Houses, under the firm style of Orr & Henry. Mr. Orr continued his interest 
in the lumber trade until his death, on the loth of January, i860. The mer- 
cantile establishment was abandoned one or two years previously. 

Richard S. Orr was one of nine children, who were born in the order 
named — Abner, the first born, died in infancy; Annis, Lydia, Lurancy, Eu- 
nice, Henry, Elizabeth, Richard S., and Thomas. Of these only two are now 
living — Henry, who was born in 1806, and now resides in Warren, and Eliza- 
beth, who was born in 1808, married Robert Barber in 1831, and has resided 
in Warren since 1846. 

Mr. Orr was at first a member of the old Democratic party, but when the 
Republican party was formed he gave it his allegiance and support. He was 
actively interested in politics, keeping himself well informed upon all the 



Richard S. Orr. — Henry R. Rouse. 679 

questions of the day, and entertaining opinions which he fearlessly expressed, 
and which evinced his intelligence He was a regular attendant at the Pres- 
byterian Church, though not a member of any denomination. The most prom- 
inent trait in his character, probably, can be described only by the statement 
that " he was a lovable man." He was the soul of geniality. He was open- 
hearted and had the faculty of everywhere and always winning friends. 

He was especially felicitous in all his domestic relations, and was a kind 
and affectionate son, brother, husband, and father. He was very public 
spirited and charitable, contributing generously to the material, and no less to 
the moral prosperity of the community in which he lived. He was always ready 
to help those who needed help and were worthy of it. He was never morose. 
Although he possessed a temper somewhat impetuous, he learned before at- 
taining manhood to keep it well curbed. He liked to have the good opinion 
of his fellowmen, but would never sacrifice his self-respect or a principle on 
the altar of popularity. Finally, he was faithful in every relation of life. 
When he was a young man in the employment of others, he was remarkable 
for his unrivaled fidelity. He would perform every duty with punctilious 
promptness and completeness, and this faculty seemed to increase with the ap- 
proach of years, rather than moderating. 

On the 8th of January, 1839, he married Jane, daughter of Alexander and 
Lucinda Bostwick, who lived near Jamestown, N. Y. His widow now resides 
in Warren. Thej' had five children, only three of whom are now living — 
Richard B. Orr was born July 11, 1841, and now in Warren; Sumner E., now 
in Warren, was born December 11, 1842; Henry S., born May 11, 1844, 
died May 27, 1845 ; George P., now in Warren, was born on the 25th of Sep- 
tember, 1846; Frank Henry, born September 15, 1855, died April 16, 1856. 



ROUSE, HON. HENRY R., was born in Westfield, Chautauqua county, 
N. Y., in 1824, and was killed on the 17th of April, i86i, by the explo- 
sion of an oil well on his farm in Southwest township. He was the son of 
Samuel D. and Sarah Rouse, and received a good academical education in his 
native town, though it was gained almost entirely by his own exertions. In 
early life he was in very indigent circumstances, and was unable to raise even 
the amount of his tuition bills at the academy, yet such were his energy, dili- 
gence, and exemplary conduct, and so great the promise in him of superior 
abilities, that he secured the regard of his teachers, who took a deep interest 
in him, and most of them remitted his tuition. Having afterward become 
wealthy, he particularly remembered his early teachers, some of them in his 
will. Not long before his death, meeting one of them, residing in Westfield, 
Mr. Rouse asked him for the old tuition bills, and said he was ready to pay 
them ; and he did pay them, principal and interest for more than twenty years. 
He was remarkably proficient in his studies, and displayed thus early the traits 



68o History of Warren County. 

of character, the energy and tlie loving disposition for which he was noted in 
after life. 

Having completed his academical course, he began the study of law in the 
office of Abram Dixon, of Westfield, but after about two years he relinquished 
his purpose because of a slight impediment in speech, which his diffidence led 
him to feel disqualified him for public speaking, though the impediment van- 
ished as soon as he became warmed with the subject of discussion. In the fall 
of 1840 he removed to Warren, Pa., traveling most of the distance on foot, and 
having when he reached Warren but one small piece of money in his pocket. 
But he was gifted with indomitable energy, and perseverance, and fertility of 
resource, and seemed to feel no discouragement. The first winter he taught 
school in the village of Tidioute. Being obliged to collect his own school tax, 
and times being hard, he took his pay partly in shingles. Laying out the rest 
of his money in shingles, he put the whole on a raft and sent them to Pitts- 
burgh, and with the proceeds the next spring purchased more shingles, shipped 
them in the same manner to the same market, and thus in a year or two was 
able to own a raft, and begin the accumulation of his fortune. Soon after he 
purchased an interest in a saw-mill, and produced his own lumber, and ran his 
own fleet of rafts. In company with R. M. Brigham he established a store at 
the village of Enterprise, which was built up largely by his exertions. Here 
he exchanged goods for lumber, and pressed on with such diligence and energy 
that in the course of fifteen years he became the owner of more than a thousand 
acres of valuable pine lands and a large farm which he had cleared himself 
In the summer of 1859 his attention was called to the discovery of coal oil in 
his neighborhood, and with his usual sagacity and decision he set himself about 
the determination of its value. In October he opened a well on the Buchanan 
farm and on the Barnsdale tract in the vicinity of Titusville. Having satisfied 
himself of the value of the discovery, he proceeded to invest in oil lands, and 
with his partners became the owners of some of the best tracts in the entire 
region. His wealth now began to increase with almost fabulous rapidity, and 
the resources of his oil territory at his death were but partly developed. 

In the fall of 1858 he was a candidate for political honors, and was elected 
by a large majority to represent Crawford and Warren counties in the Legisla- 
ture of the State. His public duties were discharged with ability, with honor 
to himself and fidelity to his constituents The next year he was again elected 
to the Legislature, though his increasing business made it extremely difficult 
for him to absent himself from home. 

Foremost among his many noble traits of character were energy and de- 
cision. He was rather small in stature and of a light frame, but the energy of 
his will seemed to be unbounded. He never knew fear, and with him to re- 
solve was to execute. His public spirit was of the noblest and most unselfish 
kind. There was no enterprise by which the public was to benefited ; the re- 



Henry R. Rouse. — Benjamin Nesmith. 68i 

cources of the region developed ; facility of intercourse increased, in which he did 
not prominently figure. He spent much time, money, and labor in opening and 
improving roads, constructing bridges, and helping on every work which tended 
to develop the wealth of this new country. How dear to him was the ac- 
complishment of these is evident from his will, which appropriated one-half of 
his property, after the payment of legacies, to the construction and improve- 
ment of roads and bridges in Warren county. 

Mr. Rouse was a man of much literary taste and culture, and for a busi- 
ness man was a great reader. The impulse which he received in this direction 
while in attendance upon the academy was never lost. He kept himself in- 
formed on national affairs, and had collected a beautiful library of standard 
works in history and general literature. He was moved by warm impulses, 
and fostered strong personal attachments. He loved his friends with his whole 
heart, and never forgot them. This love for his friends was probably intensi- 
fied by his isolation from family attachments, as he was never married. He 
was continually showing kindness to families, and the children of his neighbors, 
making them presents, taking them to ride, and he surprised a number of 
them by legacies in his will. Many of his early friends were also thus re- 
membered, and to each of the persons who picked him up when he was insen- 
sible, and carried him to a place of safety he gave a legacy of one hundred 
dollars. To the poor he was proverbially liberal, dispensing his favors with a 
lavish hand. The anecdotes of his timely and sympathizing aid are many. 
He never forgot that he was once poor, and he had a strong sympathy with 
indigent merit, always lent with an open hand to its encouragement, and in his 
will he showed the liberality of his heart by giving a large part of his princely 
fortune for the support of the poor of Warren county. He was loved by all 
who knew him, and in his death Warren county lost a most valuable and pub- 
lic-spirited citizen, his fellow- townsmen an energetic and a liberal-minded busi- 
ness man, the cause of virtue and sound morals a firm supporter, and the poor 
a sympathizing and most helpful friend. 



NESMITH, BENJAMIN, the subject of this sketch, derives his name from 
a prominent family of Nesmiths that removed from Scotland to Ireland 
in 1690. In 1718 James Nesmith emigrated from Ireland to Londonderry, N. 
H. There he settled and reared a family of four sons and a daughter, viz.: 
Arthur, James, John, Thomas, and Mary. Benjamin Nesmith, of whom we are 
writing, is four generations in direct descent from the original settler in Amer- 
ica, and three generations from the son Arthur. Benjamin Nesmith, the 
grandfather of the subject of our notice, removed as far west as Buffalo, where 
in the course of nature he died. Two of his sons, James and John, emigrated 
from Buffalo to Mayville, N. Y., thence to Jamestown, and in 1825 to Warren, 
Pa., by canoe, as early as 1804. John Nesmith married Hannah, daughter of 



682 History of Warren County. 

John Shirley, of New Hampshire. Shirley was also a pioneer in Warren, had 
served in the war of the Revolution, and died here about the year 1826. John 
Nesmith died at Warren about 1829, and was followed by his widow in one 
year. They had a family of nine children, all but three of whom are yet living. 
Of this family, Benjamin Nesmith, the sixth, was born in Mayville, N. Y., 
on the 22d of January, 1820, and accompanied his parents to Warren in a 
canoe, in 1825. At that day there were only five or six houses in Warren, 
and they occupied a log structure on the bank of the Allegheny River. Here 
he received such limited education as was provided for all the young people of 
the time. Being very young when his father died, he was bound out without 
his own knowledge, by the township of Conewango, to Colonel John Berry, for 
whom he worked four or five years. As soon, however, as he found that he 
was looked upon as a ward of the town, his independent spirit revolted, and 
he took " French-leave " of his town-constituted master. He worked out by 
the month until 1843, when he learned the trade of harness making, and con- 
tinued to work at that business himself until 1848, and even until i860 he re- 
tained an interest in the business which he had established. In 1848 he opened 
a store in Warren, and at the same time embarked in the lumber trade. His 
interest in the store he disposed of in 1871, but he has not yet relinquished his 
connection with the manufacture and sale of lumber. From small beginnings 
he has increased operations, until he now manufactures about about 30,000 
boards every day. He has been pre-eminently a busy man all his life, and in- 
herited from his father a strong frame and great powers of endurance. He has 
been a builder, also, and has erected all the school-houses in Warren but one. 
He managed the construction of the magnificent Methodist house of worship, and 
encouraged the work of constructing it, not only with his unremitting personal 
efibrts, but with much of his money and time. Most of the brick buildings in 
the business part of Warren were built by him, and he still owns three of them. 
His timbered lands, situated in Warren, Forest, and Kane counties, number 
some three thousand acres. He is at the same time an extensive operator in 
oil. He holds a number of honorable positions in the business world, among 
them being that of vice-president of the Warren Savings Bank, which he has 
held ever since he himself erected the building. His interest in educational 
matters is shown in the fact that he was school commissioner for twenty-one 
consecutive years until his resignation four or five years ago. He is a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a trustee in its society. The secret 
of his success lies in the disposition which he has always owned that he would 
never leave for another to do what he himself could do. He is, as he always 
has been — a hard-working man. Until within four or five years, when he has 
listened to the admonition of wasting years, he ran rafts down the river. He 
has never sought nor held political office, though he keeps informed upon all 
topics of national or State importance. He was formerly a Democrat, but 
-since the organization of the Prohibition party has joined its ranks. 



Benjamin Nesmith. — Orren C. Allen. 683 

He has been twice married. He was first united in marriage with Louisa, 
daughter of John Dickinson, of New Hampshire. She died on the 4th of Oc- 
tober, 1848, leaving two children, Alonzo and Ozro, still living and in business 
in Warren. In March, 1851, Mr. Nesmith married Arrilla Norton, his present 
wife. They have one child, Lurinda. 



ALLEN, ORREN C, was born on a farm near Russellburg, Pine Grove 
township, Warren county, on the 1st day of May, 1840. He traces his 
ancestry back to his great-grandfather, who came from the north of Ireland 
about ninety years ago, and settled in the county of Dauphin, near Harris- 
burg, Pa. He died about sixty-seven years ago. He there owned and oper- 
ated a saw and flouring-mill successfully, and lived to be about one hundred 
years of age. He was a man of strong character, though marked by decided 
eccentricities. Of his two sons, Thomas and James, the former was the grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch. The latter enlisted in the War of 1812 
when he was quite young, and was never afterward heard from. Thomas 
grew up to partial manhood in Dauphin county, and went to western Vir- 
ginia, near Georgetown, on the Ohio River, where he remained for fifteen or 
twenty years, and where he married Joanna Jones, a descendant from a Welsh 
family. About 1845 he settled in Pine Grove township, whither one of his 
sons had preceded him, and there died in 1855, aged sixty-six years. His 
wife survived him about ten years and died in the same town. They had 
eight children, three sons and five daughters, of whom the eldest, Samuel P. 
Allen, was the father of the subject of this notice. He was born in Virginia, 
and when quite a boy removed with liis parents to what was called Sewickly 
Bottoms, in Beaver county. Pa. From there, about 1830, he emigrated to 
Russellburg, and engaged in lumbering. After a few years he married Mary, 
daughter of Caleb Thompson, one of the early settlers of Pine Grove township, 
and who was long a justice of the peace in Russellburg, and was noted for his 
enormous strength. He died at the age of eighty years. Samuel P. Allen and 
wife had a family of five sons and three daughters. The eldest son is Colonel 
Harrison Allen, who was born in 1834, admitted to the bar of Warren county 
in November, 1866, took an official part in the War of the Rebellion, served 
in the State Legislature in both houses, was made auditor general of Pennsyl- 
vania, afterward became United States marshal for Dakota territory, was super- 
seded by a Democrat in 1885, and now resides in that territory. Samuel 
T., the second son, was admitted to the bar in February, 1864, served in the 
last war, held a clerkship in the office of the auditor general one term, was a 
clerk under General E. B. French in the treasury department at Washington, 
D. C, was three times elected burgess of Warren borough, and died on the 
lOth of January, 1885. The third child was the subject of this sketch. The 



History of Warren County. 



next was Mary E., now the wife of Luther Bishop, of Warren. The fifth was 
George W. Allen, born at Pine Grove in March, 1845, was admitted to the 
bar of Warren county in December, 1866, served two honorable terms in the 
Legislature, residing until 1882 at Tidioute, and then removing to his present 
residence at Denver, Col. The sixth was Martha, now the wife of Fenton B. 
Hayward, of Russellburg. The next was Walter, who now resides in Warren, 
and the youngest is Ida, wife of Dr. H. H. Bowers, of Forrestville, N. Y. 

O. C. Allen was reared on the farm on which he was born, remaining at 
home until he was twenty-one years of age. The farm was a pretty rough 
one, requiring hard work to manage it and gain a good livelihood from it, 
which they did. During his boyhood he>^ attended the district schools in the 
winter time and worked on the farm every summer ; the sons generally man- 
aging the farm while their 'father looked after the lumbering business. During 
the fall, as they approached manhood, the boys had the privilege of attending 
select schools in Russellburg for one or two months. Later still O. C. Allen 
went to the academy at Jamestown and at Randolph, N. Y., leaving the latter 
school in the spring of 186 1. He remained on his father's farm until the har- 
vesting was over in August of that year, when he came to Warren and began 
to study law in the office of Scofield & Brown. During two or three years 
before he was twenty-one years of age, and one winter after he began to study 
law, he taught winter schools to earn his own money. He reached Warren a 
comparative stranger, and with very little money. He rented a room in the 
Johnson Exchange building, purchased an outfit, and diminished his expenses 
by cooking his own provisions. This he continued for two years, at the same 
time pursuing his studies with the utmost diligence. The income from a little 
business which came to him then enabled him to live better, and he boarded at 
the Tanner House. In February, 1864, he was admitted to . practice in the 
courts of Warren county, on the same day that witnessed the admission of his 
brother, S. T. Allen. His preceptors, Scofield & Brown, kindly gave him the 
use of their office for the first season free of rent, and he began to practice on 
his own account. Only one year later he was nominated and elected the 
disrict attorney for Warren county, and then opened his office in A. H. Lud- 
low's building. His success in practice was something unusual and was con- 
stantly on the increase; but after a few years Mr. Allen became connected with 
oil operations in Tidioute, in this county, and being somewhat broken in 
health, he concluded to abandon the practice of law for a time, and removed 
with his family to the village now called North Warren, though then less 
•euphoniously denominated Berry's Corners. Several years in that place fail- 
ing to bring him to a return of health, he removed to Richmond county, Va., 
purchased a farm, planted a large peach orchard, and remained a portion of 
the time for four years. He returned to North Warren about the time of the 
location there of the hospital for the insane. As soon as he discovered that 




S.AMUtx M. Graham. 



Orren C. Allen. — Samuel M. Graham. 685 

the hospital was surely to be erected there, he and several other gentlemen 
purchased lands in the vicinity and laid them out into village lots. After dis- 
posing of these lots and of other land at a gratifying profit, he returned to War- 
ren, and in company with his brother, S. T. Allen, and Dr. Laban Hazeltine, 
now of Jamestown, engaged in the drug business at the corner of Second and 
Liberty streets. At the end of a year he and his brother sold their interests, 
and the same season he was appointed postmaster of Warren, succeeding Cap- 
tain Robert Dennison. He acted as postmaster eight years and was then fol- 
lowed by the present incumbent, Isaac Alden. On leaving the office he again 
engaged in the practice of law, in the office of his brother, and then formed the 
partnership with the district attorney, G. H. Higgins, which still continues. 

In June, 1886, he was recommended by the county of Warren as a can- 
didate for the State Senate in the Forty-eighth Senatorial District, composed 
of Warren and Venango counties, and was nominated at the district conven- 
tion. The nomination was followed by a very spirited campaign, resulting 
in his election by a plurality of 1,830 votes, and in Warren county of a majority 
of 1,557 votes, or 500 more than were given to the State ticket at that time. 
This success is due to his personal popularity, the confidence which the 
members of his own party repose in him, and his plain and direct course as 
a politician, a strong member of the Republican party, but a courteous and 
just opponent. In business matters Mr. Allen has been uniformly successful, 
and no more significant praise can be bestowed than to say that amidst fierce 
competition, in spite of early poverty, by his own unaided efforts, without the 
use of dishonest expedients, he has become a man of means. He has always 
been extensively interested in building operations, and a few years ago erected 
the block which he now occupies. 

On the 1 2th of July, 1864, he married Maria C, daughter of W. M. Cook, 
of Russellburg, his present wife. They have two sons, W. H., born July 21, 
1867, and Samuel G., born August 24, 1870. They are both boys of great 
promise, and are afforded all the advandages of a thorough education, and are 
now attending the military and naval academy at Oxford, Md. 



GRAHAM, SAMUEL M., son of Samuel Graham, was born in Lycoming 
county, Pa., on the 9th of March, 1805. His father was a farmer in that 
county (now Clinton county), and died there about 1857. He had three sons 
and as many daughters (of whom two daughters now live), and Samuel Gra- 
ham, jr., was the third of these children. When he was about eighteen years 
of age the subject of this sketch began to pilot on the Susquehanna River as 
far down as Havre de Grace. From that time until he reached his twenty- 
fifth year he continued to labor under his father's direction, and by his own 



686 History of Warren County. 

efforts almost supported the entire family. He did not relinquish the rafting 
business until 1837, and on the 28th of June of which year he married Mar- 
garet, daughter of George and Isabel (McCormick) Long, of Warren county. 
Immediately after the marriage the couple settled on a farm in the near vicin- 
ity of Mr. Graham's birth place, where they remained until 1842. They then 
removed to what is now the township of Pittsfield, in this county, in one village 
in which (Garland) Mrs. Graham was born on the 23d of July, 18 10. The 
principal motive which induced Mr. Graham to make this removal was the 
condition of George Long, his father-in-law, who needed care. They resided 
on his farm in the southern part of the township until 1868, when they 
returned to their old farm in Clinton county. There they remained six years. 
In 1874 they sold out there and returned to Pittsfield and settled on the old 
homestead. In 1882 they purchased and removed to the farm now occupied 
by Mrs. Graham, where he died on the 13th of April, 1884. The incidents and 
characteristics of George Long and his career are mentioned in the history of 
the township of Pittsfield. 

Samuel Graham was during his life a strong Republican in politics, and 
though not an office seeker, was by his special adaptability for such positions 
as that of constable, etc., frequently forced by such persuasion to accept this 
and kindred oflices. While he lived in Clinton county he was a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, but did not join any church in this county. As a busi- 
ness man he was pre-eminently successful; as a friend he was most trustwor- 
thy ; and in all the essential elements of manhood was beyond reproach. 

The children of Samuel M. and Margaret Graham have been as follows : 
Helen, born June 20, 1838, died August 14, 1847; Herman, born December 
24, 1839, died December 8, 1842; and John W., born June 6, 1847, and 
drowned in the Susquehanna River August 24, 1869. It was his death that 
formed the chief inducement for their removal from Clinton county to Pittsfield 
the second time. 



JOHNSON, S. P., was born in Venango county, Pa., January 31, 1809, 
the second son of the Rev. Robert Johnston, one of the earliest ministerial 
pioneers of Northwestern Pennsylvania, who, after serving as pastor of the 
Presbyterian Church in Meadville for some years, removed to Westmoreland 
county in 1817. 

At the age of sixteen the subject of this notice entered Jefferson College at 
Canonsburg, from which he graduated in 1830. After graduation he immedi- 
ately went east and took charge of an academy in Danville, then Columbia 
county. Pa., where, in addition to his academic duties most of the time, he 
studied law, under the direction of the Hon. Robert C. Grier, subsequently for 
many years one of the judges of the Supreme Court of the United States. 



I 



S. p. Johnson. 687 

He was admitted to the bar at Sunbury, Northumberland county, Novem- 
ber 3, 1833, and in January, 1854, located as a lawyer in Franklin, Venango 
county, and in September of that year removed to Warren, which has been his 
place of residence and business ever since. For the first six years of his pro- 
fessional life here he was the working member of the firm of Struthers & John- 
son, Mr. Struthers having largely withdrawn from active practice. , 

In 1840 Rasselas Brown became his partner, and Johnson & Brown were the 
leading firm in the profession for twenty years, and until the election of Mr. 
Johnson to the president judgeship of the Sixth Judicial District of Pennsylva- 
nia, consisting then of Warren, Erie and Crawford counties, to which Elk 
county was afterwards added. He discharged the laborious duties of this large 
district for ten years with industry and acceptability, but declined to be a can- 
didate for renomination. 

Retiring from the bench at the beginning of 1871, he readily fell into a 
large practice again in the counties of his old district. He continued in active 
practice for about fourteen years, when he gradually withdrew from its more 
active duties, but still remains as the advisory and assistant member of the 
firm of Johnson, Lindsey & Parmlee. 

In 1836 he commenced practice in McKean county as prosecuting attorney, 
under the administration of Governor Ritner. The next year he extended it 
to Potter county and subsequently to Elk county. In those three counties, 
together with Venango, in which he had always retained a practice, he was in 
constant attendance at all their courts. He thus kept up a leading and suc- 
cessful practice in five counties, besides his annual pilgrimages to the Supreme 
Court, until the fall of i860, when he was elected to the bench as before 
stated. 

With a sound constitution, good health and temperate habits, he was able 
to endure and underwent more hard labor than falls to the lot, or is within the 
capacity, of ordinary men. In temperament he was ardent, and in energy and 
industry indefatigable. These, with a characteristic economy of both time and 
money, made his life a successful one, both professionally and financially. 

He was naturally bold, fearless, independent, and never courted popular 
favor ; never drank, gambled or danced ; had the courage to act up to his 
convictions, and this made him somewhat arbitrary and dogmatic in practice, 
and severe in his criticisms of others in his social life. His style made enemies, 
and he never sought the good will of any body at the sacrifice of principle or 
self-respect. 

He was always the inveterate foe of intemperance, and during half a cent- 
ury of his life delivered frequent temperance lectures and addresses. 

He was a Whig, Republican and Anti-slavery man of the most radical sort. 
He was an earnest partisan, often on the stump in early life, but never would 
ask for or take a nomination for a political office. 



688 History of VVarrex County. 

In 1837 he married Miss Martha Hazeltine, the daughter of Dr. Laban 
Hazeltine, of Jamestown, N. Y., with whom he shared the full measure of 
domestic happiness for nearly twenty-one years. She died in 1858, leaving 
him four children needing a mother's care, the youngest but five years old. In 
1859 he took for his second wife Mrs. Martha L. Parmlee, the widow of Aaron 
S. Parmlee, deceased, and sister of the Hon. R. Brown, then his partner, and 
afterwards his competitor for the judgeship, and the mother of Colonel James 
O. Parmlee, one of his present professional partners. 

In all matters of public interest, relating to church. State or municipal enter- 
prise, he was always an active participant. He was for several years a leading 
school director, and largely by his efforts the educational system of Warren 
was brought into efficiency, by the erection of the first union school-house, 
and organizing its departments. 

After a long life of incessant toil, extending during most of his professional 
Hfe till midnight of each day, he is still engaged in active business, and enjoys 
both a physical and mental soundness vouchsafed to very few men at such an 
advanced age. 



SECHRIEST, JOHN CHRISTIAN, was born in Sundhausen, near Stras- 
bourg, in Alsace, France, on the ist day of June, 1831. His ancestors 
several centuries ago emigrated to Sundhausen from Switzerland, and from 
time immemorial have engaged in agricultural employments. His grandfather, 
Henry Sechriest, had a family of seven children, Jacob, John Philip, George, 
Christian, John, Henry, and one daughter. Three of the sons came to Amer- 
ica, John Philip, the father of the subject of this sketch, and Henry in 1833, 
and George two years later. John Philip was born in 1791, and left the old 
country for America on the 2d of September, 1833. He arrived at Warren 
on the 2d of December following, and immediately began farming in Cone- 
wango, which he continued until his death on the 2d of July, 1861. A num- 
ber of years before coming to this country he married Mary S., daughter of 
Daniel Strubler, a native of a town in France. She bore him seven children, 
and died on the 20th of February, 1881, aged eighty-nine years and nine 
months. Four of their children died and were buried in Europe ; three came 
to America and are now living, Philip, Saloma, wife of J. C. Weiler, of Warren, 
and the subject of this notice. 

Mr. Sechriest was about two years of age when he was brought to Warren 
by his parents, and here he received such education as the common schools 
and his somewhat restricted personal advantages would allow. Matthias 
Gutzler, whose wife was a sister of Mr. Sechriest's mother, came to Warren 
with John Philip Sechriest, and resided with him for about a year ; then the 
two went their several ways. But Mr. and Mrs. Gutzler were so lonesome in 




'uf 



John Christian Sechriest. — Robert Thompson. 689 

their new home without children that they besought John Phihp Sechriest 
for the loan of his son John C, whom they desired for his company. Negotia- 
tions culminated in the adoption by them of "little Johnny," although he re- 
tained his family name. From that time on until Mr. Gutzler's death, June 8th, 
1852, Mr. Sechriest remained a member of their household and family. He 
then assumed the management of the farm and property in Conewango town- 
ship. In the latter part of April, 1873, he removed to the place in Warren 
borough which he now owns and occupies, and a few days after his removal, 
or on the 2d day of May, 1873, his foster mother died at an advanced age. 

But Mr. Sechriest had long previously formed other attachments, which, 
though adding to his earthly enjoyment, did not diminish his regard for his 
adopted parents. On the 27th of February, 1853, he married Susan A. Shafer, 
daughter of Joseph Shafer, of Franklin, Venango county, Pa., and his wife is 
still living. They have had five children, two of whom, sons, died in infancy, 
while two daughters and one son are living. Cinderella, the eldest, was born 
on the 8th of May, 1854; Sarah S. was born on the 24th of November, 1863 ; 
and Simon S. S. Sechriest was born February 8th, 1868. 

Mr. Sechriest's parents were Democrats in their political sentiments, and 
the subject of this sketch entertained similar opinions until he voted first. His 
first vote was cast for Fremont, the presidential nominee, and from that time 
until recently he has voted the Republican ticket. He now desires the ascend- 
ency of the Prohibition party. He has more than thirty years been an active 
member of the Evang^elical Church. 



THOMPSON, ROBERT, was born in Deerfield township, Warren county, 
Pa., on the 1 6th day of August, 18 16, and died in Irvine, Warren county, 
on the lOth day of March, 1877. He was one of ten children (seven of whom 
were sons) of Robert and Rachel (Irvine) Thompson, who were of Irish na- 
tivity. From the time of his birth until his marriage in 1843, the subject of 
this notice remained at home, attending the district schools of his native town, 
and rendering assistance on the large farm and timbered lands of his father. 
At the same time he engaged quite considerably in lumbering on his own ac- 
count, taking frequent and regular trips down the river on rafts, until he became 
well and widely known as a skillful and trusty pilot. Upon his marriage he pur- 
chased a large tract of land at Dunn's Eddy, in Deerfield township, which he 
cultivated with diligence, at the same time continuing and increasing his activ- 
ities as a pilot and lumberman. Indeed, he did not relinquish lumbering until 
a short time previous to his death. Some twelve or fourteen years ago he 
opened the Dunn's Eddy House, and kept it until his removal, in February, 
1875, to Irvine. At the date last mentioned he had become owner, by pur- 



690 History of Warren County. 

chase, of the fifty-one acres now occupied by his widow, and built the house 
which stands thereon at this day. 

Robert Thompson began in hfe with a small capital, and by unremitting 
industry, by the practice of frugal economy, by temperate habits, provident 
foresight, pleasant manners, and honest dealings acquired more than a compe- 
tence. His widow and heirs now own the property which he left, including 
the land at Dunn's Eddy, much of it still heavily timbered, and the property 
at Irvine. 

He married Hannah, daughter of John Thompson, of Deerfield, on the 22d 
of January, 1843. His wife, who survives, was born in that township on the 
20th of December, 1823, though at the time of their marriage she had been re- 
siding at Jamestown, N. Y., and at Warren. She has ever sympathized with her 
husband in his domestic affairs, in his business undertakings, in his Republican 
politics, and in his willing contributions to the support of school and church. 
Although not members, they were regular attendants upon worship at the 
Presbyterian Church. Mr. Thompson left, living, at his death four children, 
sons, as follows: James A., born March i, 1852; John Nelson, born June 29, 
1854; G. Canby, born April 22, 1863 ; and Harry Dale, born November 22, 
1865 ; all of whom are now at home with their mother. The eldest two are 
married. 



SHORTT, HON. WILLIAM HAMILTON, was born in Lockerbie, Scot- 
land, on the 23d of June, 1822, being the ninth of the eleven children of 
Robert and Agnes (Sanders) Shortt, five of whom were sons. Mr. Shortt traces 
his maternal ancestry back to the Hamiltons of the time of Charles the Preten- 
der, in the seventeenth century. Robert Shortt, his father, was a stone-mason, 
and carried on his trade in the old country until 1833, when he emigrated 
with his family to Warren, in this country. Two years afterward he removed 
to Youngsville, where he continued his calling until the time of his death in 
1857, when he had reached the age of seventy-one years, owning the farm now 
the county farm. Robert's wife died in Wisconsin, at the home of her young- 
est son, in 1878, aged nearly ninety-four years. 

The subject of this sketch received the greater portion of his scholastic 
training in the place of his birth ; when he was eleven years of age he accom- 
panied his father to Warren, and afterward to Youngsville, where he passed 
between two and three months more in attendance upon the common schools. 

He was then apprenticed to a tailor in Warren, and in 1841, opened a shop 
in Youngsville, expecting soon to go to Buffalo to reside. This he did not do, 
however, but remained in his chosen vocation in Youngsville until 1856, when 
he entered into partnership with J. B. Phillips, and engaged in the general 
mercantile business. A year later this partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Shortt 



William Hamilton Shortt. 691 

continued sole proprietor of the trade until "1872. His earlier manhood had 
been passed under the banner of the Democratic party, and he had been 
elected, during the administration of Franklin Pierce, to the position of county 
auditor, by Democratic votes. His last Democratic vote was cast for Bu- 
chanan, since which time he has been consistently Republican in sentiment and 
deed. In 1872 he was chosen to the State Legislature, in which he served two 
terms to the great satisfaction of his constituents, and was probably prevented 
from being then elected to the State Senate only by his appointment by Presi- 
dent Grant to the consularship at Cardiff, Wales, and adjacent ports, such as 
Swansea, Newport, Miiford Haven, etc., his commission being dated in May, 
1 873. He remained at Cardiff until 1 876, in January of which year he resigned 
his office, on account of the continued indisposition of members of his family, 
and in July he returned to his home in Youngsville. Whether he performed 
the duties of his responsible trust acceptably to the citizens of Cardiff, or not, 
may be collected from a mo^t gratifying testimonial of regard, and a request 
for his re-appointment, signed by the mayor and a number of distinguished 
officers and citizens of that port, presented to him when he was about to take 
his departure from them. 

After a few months of retirement from active business, in April, 1877, Mr. 
Shortt became largely interested in the Sugar Grove Savings Bank, and was 
made its president — a position which he continues to fill with his accustomed 
skill and fidelity. His son, Charles M., who also served a term in the State 
Legislature five or six years ago, has been cashier of the same institution 
since 1878. 

Excepting the absence already mentioned, and several interims during the 
last war, when he was commissioned to look after the sick soldiers from this 
district, Mr. SliOrtt has resided in his present dwelling house since 1842. Be- 
sides the office of county auditor, already mentioned, he has been kept almost 
continually in office ever since his first entrance into public life, serving ten 
years as justice of the peace. 

In conformity with the traditions of his ancestors and his native land, he 
has ever retained an affection and a pciichaiit for the Presbyterian Church, 
though his mind has kept up with the ever- widening march of a liberal charity 
for the beliefs of others. In default of a Presbyterian Church in Youngsville, 
he has united with the Methodist Church for many years, and has contributed 
to its support 

On the 17th of July, 1844, he married Emaline, daughter of William and 
Mary Davis, of Youngsville, and his wife is still living, though an invalid. 
They have eight children, five of whom are still living. The following are their 
names and the dates of their births : 



692 History of Warren County. 

Mary A., born June 23, 1845, now living in Greenville, Pa.; Agnes, born 
October 7, 1847, died March 20, 185 1 ; Charles M., born March 10, 1850, 
now living in Sugar Grove; James W., born May i, 1853, died in January, 
1886; Emma Irene, born September 19, 1855, now living in Nashville, Tenn.; 
Ida May, born December 15, 1857, now living with her parents; Nettie, born 
June 20, 1862, died in August, 1864; and Mattie, born August 6, 1864, and 
now living at the home of her parents. 



BRIEF personals; 



ABBOTT, NOAH W., Sugar Grove, a practical contract sawyer and farmer, was 
born in Sugar Grove in 1841. He was a son of John G. and Agnes Nancy 
(Allen) Abbott. Noah W. Abbott was married in 1864 to Mary M. Norris, of Freehold, 
who was born in 1845. They had a family of seven children born to them, six of whom 
are now living, one having died at an early age. Those living are John, Eugene, Earl, 
Christopher, Edward, and Harry. Mary M. was a daughter of Thomas and Ann 
Norris, who were early settlers in Freehold. They had a family of five children born to 
them — John, James, Elizabeth, Mary M., and Alice. John enlisted and it is supposed 
that he died while in the army. 

Abbott, James A., Sugar Grove, was born in Sugar Grove in 1839, and married on 
March i, 1865, to Lavantia C. Steward, in Harmony, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where 
she was born in 1845. They had a family of three children born to them — Sardius 
Steward, Archie Allen, and Florence Rhoda. James A. Abbott has been commissioner 
for two terms, and is a large stock and general farmer. He was a son of John G. and 
Agnes N. (Allen) Abbott. She was born in Colchester, N. Y., in 1806, and her hus- 
band was born in Rome, Oneida county, N. Y., in 1806, and they were married in 
Sugar Grove in 1829. They had a family of ten children born to them, eight of whom 
are now living — Albina C, Charles, Robert, James A., Noah W., Isabell, Loretta, and 
Jane. John G. Abbott died in 1873, Agnes N. Abbott died in Sugar Grove October 
II, 1886. John was a son of Nathan and Johanna (Gibson) Abbott, who settled in 
Warren county, on the Brokenstraw, in 1814, coming there from Oneida county, N. Y. 
Agnes Nancy (Allen) Abbott was a daughter of John and Margaret (Holmes) Allen, 
who were born in Scotland and married there, and with one child immigrated and set- 
tled in Delaware county, N. Y., in 1801, and later went to Chenango county, N. Y., 
and in 1832 they came to Sugar Grove, where they settled. They had a family of 
nine children born to them, three of whom are now living — James, John, and Mar- 
garet. John Allen, sr., died in Sugar Grove in November, 1844 ; his wife also died 
at the same place. 

Acocks, Judge William B., Pittsfield, was born in Hancock, Berkshire county, Mass., 
in 1 82 1. He was a son of Williain and Phebe (Baker) Acocks, who with a family of 
three children — Eliza Ann, James L.,and William B. — settled in Ellicott, Chautauqua 
county, N. Y., in 1830. Phebe died in 1832, and William then married his second 
wife, Mrs. Caroline Kinsley, by whom he had three children, two of whom are now 
living— Grant A. and Mary Ann. William died in Illinois in 1867, and Judge William 
B. settled in Pittsfield in 1842, and embarked in the general blacksmith business, from 
which he retired in 1880. He served as justice of the peace for two terms, was side 
judge of the county for five years, from 1876 to 18S1, and also held several other offices of 
the town. He was married in June, 1843, ^° Mary Ann Dalrymple, who was a daughter 
of Clark and Elizabeth (Shoff) Dalrymple. Elizabeth was born in Albany county, N. 
Y., and Clark, her husband, was born in Colerain, Franklin county, Mass., in 1796, and 
died in 1869. His wife died in 1883. They had a family of nine children born to 
them — David, Mark, William, Clark, Reuben, Oliver, Noah, Shelden, and Mary Ann. 
Clark Dalrymple settled in Warren county with his father, David Dalrymple, in 1811. 

iTo avoid needless reiteration the name of the State of Pennsylvania is omitted after towns and 
counties located therein. 



History of Warren County. 



Acocks, Julia A., Pittsfieldi was born in Conewango, Warren county, in 1820. She was 
a daughter of Mark C. and Phebe (Greene) Dalrymple. Phebe was born in Rensselaer 
county, N. Y., and Mark C, her husband, was born in Vermont in 1799. They were 
married in Troy, N. Y., in 1810. Mark C. first settled in Pennsylvania in 1809. and 
in 1810 settled with his wife. She died September jj, 1841, leaving a family of six 
children, four of whom are now living — Julia A., Mrs. Lydia Foster, David R., and 
Mrs. Jerusha Ford. Mark Dalrymple was a prominent man of his county, and was the 
first sheriff of Warren county. He also held several other offices, and was always active 
in all town and county affairs. He died in April, 1873. Julia was married in 1835 to 
James L. Acocks. They had a family of three children born to them — Oliver Perry, 
Thomas L., and N. Lamar. James L. Acocks died in August, 1870. He was a prom- 
inent business man of the town, and was born in Hancock, Berkshire county, Mass., in 
18 14, and settled in Pittsfield in 1834 ; was married in 1835, and embarked in the hotel 
business in 1838. They were burned out, and in 1854 they erected the present hotel 
at Pittsfield, where Mrs. Acocks still resides with her son, N. Lamar, who is now en- 
gaged in the hotel business. He was married October 3, 1879, to Hattie Martin, of 
North Bay, Oneida county, N. Y. She died in 1883, leaving two sons — James L. 
and Clarence S. 

Acomb, Dr. James L., Tidioute p. o.. Glade, was born in Stanford Bridge, York- 
shire, England, February 27, 1828. He was a son of Joseph and Elizabeth Acomb 
who settled in Geneva, N. Y., in 1832. In the spring of 1834 they moved to Sandy 
Hill, Steuben county, N. Y., and settled on a farm which he purchased and which is 
still owned by them and known as the Acomb homestead. Joseph Acomb died in the 
fall of 1834, of cholera, leaving an invalid wife and four children, two sons, and two 
daughters — Thomas, James L., Margaret, and Elizabeth, the eldest of which was 
Thomas, aged eight years. Elizabeth Acomb by her own industry and economy main- 
tained herself and four children until they were able to contribute to their own support. 
She lived to see them all grown up, married and settled, and in good circumstances, 
dying at the good old age of seventy-four years on April 7, 1875. Dr. James L. Acomb 
left home at the age of seven years, and by his own eftbrts and close application to 
business fitted himself for his medical profession, and graduated from the Syracuse 
Medical College in 1853. He studied medicine in Buffalo, Erie county, N. Y., where 
he began his medical practice, afterward moving to Cuba, Allegany county, N. Y., there 
following his profession until 1865 ; then spending one year at Pit Hole, Venango 
county, moving from there to Tidioute, Warren county, where he now resides and 
enjoys a large and remunerative practice in his profession. On settlement here he 
embarked in the drug and prescription business and still continues in the same, dealing 
in all grades of fancy and staple goods of the drug trade. He has also been an oil 
producer for the past fifteen years and is still in the same business. He was a volunteer 
surgeon in the army in 1862, and has held some of the town offices in which he now 
resides. He married Seraph Oliver, daughter of Squire Charles Oliver, of Rogersville, 
Steuben county, N. Y., in 1863. By this union he had born unto him six children — four 
sons and two daughters; the sons died in their early childhood; the daughters. Seraph 
May and Lillian T., are still living and have received a collegiate education. Serajih 
May married C. M. Knight, |)rofessor of chemistry and natural sciences, of Buclitel 
College, .'Vkron, O., where he now resides. Lillian T. graduated at Buchtel College, 
Akron, O., in 1885, with appropriate honors. 

Agrelius, John W., Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, is a general dry goods and 
grocery merchant, and proprietor of a drug and prescription and fancy goods store ; he 
is also engaged in the manufacture of staves, heading and shingles, having a large 
steam-mill and factory in Youngsville. Mr. Agrelius was born in Sweden in 1838, and 
with his parents — Isaac and Inga Christina (Peterson) .\grelius — and their other five 
children, came to America and settleil in Brokenstraw in 1851. Two more children 
were born after their arrival. Two sons of Isaac enlisted in the army during tlie civil 
war — Charles Gustavus in the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and Andrew Peter in the 83d 
Pennsylvania Volunteers; both were captured and confined in Anderson ville prison ; 



Brief Personals. 



were removed thence to Columbia, S. C, where they died. The six now hving are Eva 
C, J. W., Clara T., Otto M., Eugene, Frank O. Isaac Agrelius was born in i8og, and 
his wife in 1810; the former is dead, and the latter is living in Kansas. John W. 
Agrelius is one of the energetic business men of the county. He embarked in the 
pump business in 1866, and in 1873 built a steam-mill, which was burned in 1876. 
Taking with him a partner — Judge Kinnear — he rebuilt the mill the same year. In 
1878 he engaged in mercantile trade, and purchased the interest of his partner in the 
mill, which, together with his dry goods and drug stores, he conducts at present. He 
was appointed postmaster in January, 1884, and resigned December, 1885. He is 
agent for the American line of steamships of Philadelphia. Mr. A. married Sarah Jane 
Demmon, of Russellburg, in 1867; they have four children — Alice B., Grace G., 
Blanch B., and Ray V. 

Probably no family of the pioneers of Pine Grove has been as prolific as the Akeley 
family. They came to the town from Vermont about the year 1827. From the original 
pioneer of the family has sprung a race of over three hundred descendants. Jonathan 
was the eldest of the family born here, James F. was next ; Ira, who died while an infant, 
and Rollin and Volney (twins), were the other children, natives of this town. Jona- 
than was a member of the 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and died while in service.. 
James F. married Sarah Jane Widdifield, and had two children. After the death of his. 
wife, Sarah Jane, Mr. Akeley married Mrs. Mary A. .\ndruss, of Corydon. James F. 
enlisted in Company G, 2 1 ith Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the 
war. He still resides on the home farm which has been so long in the family. He is 
a member of the " Eben Ford" Post, G. A. R., a Republican in politics, and not 
connected with any church society. 

Akins, Theodore, Chandler's Valley p. o.. Sugar Grove, was born in Sugar Grove in. 
1859, and married Vesta Jones, of Ashtabula, O., in 1886. He has been town com- 
missioner. His parents were John M. and Mary Oman Akins. They were born in 
Sweden, he in 1809 and she in 1816. They were married in Sweden, and came to- 
Sugar Grove in 1851. They have had ten children — seven sons and three daughters — 
Christina, Matilda, Mary, Jonas P., John A., Andrew M., Charles F., O. William, 
Alfred D., and Theodore. Jonas P. and John A. enlisted during the civil war and 
served till it closed. 

Akeley, Joseph, Russellburg p. o.. Pine Grove, one of the sons of the pioneer, Thomas 
Akeley, was born August 22, 1789. He married Eliza Ruland in 1829, who bore him 
eight children — Mary, Phebe, Cynthia, Huldah, .\bigail, Harriet, William, and Thomas. 
These were the children of a second marriage. The first wife of Joseph Akeley was 
Cyntha Chase, and by her he had two children — Philena and Albert. William .A.keley, 
child of the second marriage, now resides in Pine Grove, on a part of the original 
Akeley tract, his farm being one of the best in the town, and containing 117 acres. 
William Akeley married Theresa Jones, daughter of Joseph Jones, a pioneer, on March 
23, 1867. They have two children — Carrie E. and Mattie T. William .\keley was 
born December 14, 1S38. 

Akins, John A., Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Sweden in 1843, and 
was a son of John M. and Mary (Peterson) Akins, who were married in Sweden and 
with a family of five children immigrated to America and settled in Sugar Grove, Penn- 
sylvania, in 1851. They now have a family of ten children, seven sons and three daugh- 
ters. John M. was born in 1809, and his wife Mary in 1816. They were married in 
1836, and two of their sons served in the War of the Rebellion. They were John A. 
and Jonas P. Jonas P. has served one term in the Minnesota State Legislature. Jo- 
nas P. enlisted from Minnesota, and John A. first enlisted on nine months call in an in- 
dependent company; was discharged and re-enlisted in 1863, Co. M 21st Pennsylvania 
Cavalry; was discharged after one year, re-enlisted in Co. K 12th Pennsylvania Cav- 
alry in 1864, and served to the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged in 
August, 1865, at Philadelphia, Pa. John A. Akins was married in 1868 to Matilda C. 
Samuelson, who was born in Sweden and settled in Warren county, Pennsylvania, com- 
ing therewith her parents in 1851. They have had a family of six children — John 



History of Warren County. 



Frank, Edwin James, Bertha Belle, Clyde Raymond, Emma May and Ethel. He pur- 
cha.sed his homestead of 150 acres in 1871, and has been commissioner of highways for 
the past seven years. 

Alger, Madison, Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, is a general merchant. He was born 
in Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1828; he settled with his parents in 1844 in Tidioute, 
where he remained till 1865, when he removed to Youngsville, his parents remaining in 
Tidioute till 1867, when they went to Jackson, Mich., where they died. Upon settling 
in Youngsville Mr. Alger embarked in mercantile, and lumber manufacturing and ship- 
ping business ; he has built several saw-mills, and is now the oldest merchant in trade in 
the town. He married Ziltha Holladay, of Oil City, in 1850. They have three chil- 
dren — Elva, Ward, and Julia. Elva married A. H. Webb ; Julia married Victory Pierce ; 
and Ward married Kate Jordan. Mr. Alger first engaged in the lumber business on 
his own account at the age of nineteen years. 

Allen, Zurial, Lander p. o., Farmington, is a farmer and was born in Royalton, N. 
Y., June 3, 1822. He was a son of Jacob and Olive (Tupper) Allen ; settled in what is 
now Farmington, in 1830, locating on Thompson Hill, clearing and improving a farm on 
which they lived and died. They had a family of four children, who grew to maturity — 
Harriet, Lydia E , Cynthia (deceased), and Zurial. Zurial Allen was reared on the old 
homestead from eight years of age, and resided on the same up to 1863, when he 
removed to Farmington Center, where he has since resided. He was married in 1845 
to Elizabeth Cramer, a daughter of Abram and Mary (Stewart) Cramer, of Farmington. 
They have one adopted child, Myrtie B. Mr. Allen and his wife are members of the 
Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Allen is a Republican. 

Allen, Abby P., Brokenstraw (N. Y.) p. o.. Freehold, is a daughter of Elijah W. Allen, 
who was born in Otsego, N. Y., in 1804, and settled in Warren county in 1836, and died 
in 1865. He married Philena Brooks, of Otsego county, N. Y., who was born in 1808. 
They had a family of six children — Abigail, Vinton, Dewitt, Dwight, Horatio, and 
Melvin (deceased). Vinton Allen died October 23, 1886, of consumption. Horatio 
Allen, was hurt by a wagon tongue while running the wagon out of the barn on Septem- 
ber 4, and died September 6, 1886. Mr. Allen was an extensive breeder of Durham cat- 
tle ; his herd, established in 1845, was the first in the county. He came to this country 
in 1836, and at the time of his death he owned 1,000 acres in Pennsylvania and New 
York. 

Allen, Samuel P., Russell p. o.. Pine Grove, was born in Virginia on January 7, 
18 10, and while yet young his father's family moved to Beaver county, where they con- 
tinued to reside until 1832, when Samuel came to Pine Grove. His father, Thomas 
Allen, and several of the others of the family came several years later. Thomas Allen 
died in Pine Grove, after a residence of about ten years. Samuel, who was the oldest 
of eight children, married first Mary E., daughter of Caleb Thomson, on March 17, 
1833. The children of this union were Harrison (who was U. S. Marshal of Dakota), 
Harriet, Samuel, Orrin C, George W., Harriet second (born after the death of the first 
child of that name), Mary Martha, Walter, Ida, and one child that died unnamed. 
Samuel P. Allen followed the Ohio River, rafting lumber for over forty years, but of late 
years has turned his attention to farming, at which he has been very successful, having 
a fine farm of 247 acres of land. He has been a prominent figure in town politics, fre- 
quently holding town offices. Before the late war he was a staunch Democrat, but 
since that time has voted with the Republican party. He is an active member of the 
M. E. Church. Thomas Allen, his father, was a soldier in the War of 1812. 

Allen, Dwight A., Brokenstraw (N. Y) P- o., was born in Warren county in 1838. 
He married Louisa Woodin, of Warren county, and to them have been born three chil- 
dren — Ernest W., Lida J., and Herbert D. Mr. Allen is an extensive breeder of Devon 
cattle, and is well known throughout the country. He established his herd in 1874. 

Amann, George, Warren p. o.. Glade, an Alsacian, with his wife Katherine (Jssler) 
Amann, and their children, came to Pleasant township during the summer of 1840. 
Their children were George, Martin, Jacob, John, Mathis, and Mary (who was a native 



Brief Personals. 



of this country). The father, George, died on August 14, 1867, and his wife Katherine 
died in July, 1870. Jacob Amann married Marguerette Schweng, of Warren, who bore 
him eight children — Lena M., Henry E., Jacob M., Mary J., Michael, Anna C, Clara 
W., and Celesta G. Of these children Lena M. and Celesta are the only ones now living, 
and the sad visitation of the death of six of their children has been a most severe one 
to the loving parents, whose hearts have been continually bowed under its weight. Ja- 
cob Amann took up his residence in Glade in 1856, and notwithstanding his afflictions 
he is an active and prominent firmer, having 106 acres of land well located in the north 
part of the town. 

Amann, John, North Warren p. o., was born in Sundhausen, Alsace, France, De- 
cember I, 1836. He is the son of George and Catherine (Elser) Amann, who settled 
in Pleasant township in 1840, clearing part of a farm there, where the father died in 
August, 1857. George Amann had six children — George, Martin, Jacob, John, Ma- 
thias, and Mary (Mrs. John Dible). John Amann was reared in Pleasant township 
from four years of age. In 1858 he located in Conewango, and in 1881 he purchased 
the farm where he has since resided. On July 10, i860, he married Christiana C, 
daughter of Henry and Christiana (Baker) Weis, natives of Wiirtemburg, Germany, 
who settled in Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1854. By this union there are three chil- 
dren — Rosanna (Mrs. David Uhl), George, and Lorena. Mr. Amann and wife are 
members of the Lutheran Church. 

.Anderson, Augustus, Pittsfield, was born in Sweden in 1841. He was a son of John 
Nelson and was adopted by his uncle Charles Anderson, and with him came to America 
and settled in Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1852, and in 1854 he settled in Freehold 
townshi]), where his uncle died in 1862. After the death of his uncle, Augustus became 
engaged in farming, and in 1866 he settled in Pittsfield, and there embarked in the gen- 
eral smithing business. He hired a foreman and soon learned the trade, and in 1879 
he erected his present fine shop, with a public hall m the second story. He stocked his 
shop with all of the latest improved tools and machinery that could be found, for his 
extensive trade He was married in February, 1869, to Christina Johnson of Freehold. 
They have had one daughter born to them, Ina L. Mr. Anderson held the oftice of 
collector in 1875 and 1876, and was constable in 1875. He is now engaged largely in 
farming. 

Anderson, Peter A., North Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Sweden on De- 
cember 7, 1850. He is a farmer and was a son of Andrew and Louisa (Erickson) An- 
derson. He came to America in 1872 and settled in Warren county, and in 1881 he 
came to Conewango and settled on the farm on which he now resides, which he has 
cleared and improved himself His father came to this country in 1876, and died in 
1885. He had five children who came to America — Peter A., Oscar, Andrew, John, 
Otto, and Josephine. Peter A. Anderson was married in 1876 to Eva Lawson, of Swe- 
den. They have had four children — Amelia, Albert, Selma, and Frank. Eva was a 
daughter of Augustus and Mary Lawson, who were natives of Sweden. 

Andrews, Hiram F., Garland p. o., Pittsfield, one of the leading business men of 
Warren county, was born in Pittsfield in 1838. He was married in 1862 to Sarah A. 
Thompson, who died in 1882 leaving a family of six children — Delia, Earl, Khlare, 
Maud, Leah, and Floyd. In April, 1883, he was again married to Mary Davies, who 
was born in Wales. In early life Hiram F. Andrews was a farmer; in 1859 he was 
appointed the first postmaster of Garland. He has been and is now connected with all 
the leading branches of business in the town. He embarked, in 1866, in the general 
merchandise business under the firm name of W. B. Street & Co.; his uncle, Moses 
Andrews & Co., took the business in 1870. He built his first steam saw-mill in 1871 
and then formed the firm of Hiram Horn & Andrews ; this firm continued until the 
death of Mr. Horn, which occurred in i88o, when Mr. Andrews went out of the bus- 
iness and became engaged in two separate branches of trade, that of hardware dealers 
doing business under the firm name of Watt & Andrews, and also that of Andrews 
& Co. (D. J. McMillen), who were engaged in the general dry goods and grocery trade. 
Mr. .\ndrews is also connected with the firms of Moore & Andrews and Hill & An- 



History of Warren County. 



drews, engaged in the manufacture of lumber and shingles ; also engaged in farming 
and fruit growing. Hiram F. Andrews was a son of Robert Andrews, jr., and Jane 
Manderville. Jane was born in Claverack, N. Y., and her husband Robert was born 
in Pittsfield. They had a family of four children born to them. Robert was drowned 
in the Brokenstraw River in 1850. He was born in i8oi. He was a son of Robert, 
sr., and Anna (Ross) Andrews, who settled in this town in 1795. They had a family of 
nine children born to them, only one of whom is now living — Moses Andrews, who 
was born in 1803; is a bachelor and now resides with Hiram F. Robert was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary War. He built the first mill on the Brokenstraw River. The chil- 
dren of Robert and Jane were Hiram F., Alcinas, Eliphalet, and Eda. 

The family of Robert Arthur came to Warren county in the year 1798, coming down 
the Allegheny River in canoes, and driving their stock through the paths and trails along 
the banks of the stream. Beside Mr. Arthur, the pioneer, there came with him his wife, 
and John, William, Robert, jr., James, Boone, Samuel, Charles, Betsey, Manley, and 
Rebecca, their children, none of whom are now living. Robert Arthur, jr., married 
Mary Wilson, by whom he had a family of ten children, all of whom grew to be men 
and women. They were William, Isabelle, Susan, Robert, Isaac, Mary, Margurette, 
Brison, Alexander, and Caroline. The first settlement of the family was made at War- 
ren. Robert, the pioneer, subsequently lived and died at Brokenstraw. Robert, jr., 
died in 1865 in the town of Corydon, where he located in 1853. Brison and Alexander 
Arthur still reside in the south part of Corydon, and are among the substantial farmers 
of the town. Having passed the middle age of life, they are content to live out their 
allotted time on their farms adjoining, near the banks of the Allegheny, whose waters 
furnished means of conveyance to the county for their pioneer ancestors. 

Arnold, John, Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Alsace, France, on June 24, 
1821, and was a son of Christian and Katherine M. (Mathis) Arnold, who came to this 
country in 1841 and settled in Brokenstraw, where they lived for about fifteen years, 
after which they settled in Warren, where they resided until the time of their deaths. 
They had a family of three children — John, Christian and Mathis. John .\rnold set- 
tled in Coneuango in 1858, on the farm now occupied by him, most of which he has 
cleared and improved himself He was married in 1846 to Mary S. Weiler, who died 
February 16, 1886 ; she was a daughter of George and Barbara (Rockenbach) Weiler, 
who settled in this county in 1832. John Arnold has had a family of four children born 
to him — Charles H., Albert W.,John B. (married to Josie L. Somers, of Warren, June 
30, 1883 ; resides at Warren), and Sarah S. (Mrs. George J. Gross). 

Axtell, Doctor A. C, Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, present physician and surgeon 
of Youngsville, was born in Sheakleyville, Mercer county, on July 14, 1828. He was 
a son of Doctor Samuel and Mary (Loveridge) Axtell, natives of Washington county, 
who died in Mercer county, he at the age of seventy-four years, and she died in 1884 
at the advanced age of ninety-five years. She left a family of nine children — three sons 
physicians — Doctors W. H., M. B., and A. C; two sons who are farmers — L. S. and 
J. M., and one son a clergyman, N. H., D. D., and also three daughters. Dr. A. C. 
Axtell read medicine with his father, and attended lectures at Columbus, O., in 1853 
and '54, and settled in New Lebanon in 1854, in the practice of his profession, and in 
1865 he settled in Youngsville, where he enjoys an extensive practice in medicine and 
surgery. He was married in 1853 to Fanny White, of Sheakleyville. They have had 
a family of five children born to them — Mary, Emma, Willie (died December 30, 1881 ; 
one of the most successful teachers in Warren county ), Hattie, and Charles S. Hattie is 
now a teacher in the high school ; Mary married 0.scar Shutt, and Emma married C. D. 
Arird, who is the present county superintendent of schools. Doctor .\xtell was a vol- 
unteer surgeon in the government hospitals at the time of the War of the Rebellion. 

Ayer, H. S., Columbus, was born in Eaton, Madison county, N. Y., in 1828, and 
was a son of Samuel H. and Roxana (Damon) Ayer. Roxana was born in Massachu- 
setts in 1801, and Samuel H. was born in Pomfret, Conn., the same year. They were 
married in the town of Eaton, N. Y., in 1825, and settled in Columbus borough in 1834, 
where Samuel erected a carding and cloth-dressing mill where the tannery now stands. 



Brief Personals. 



Roxana was a daughter of Thomas and Lovina Damon, who were born and married 
in Massachusetts and settled in Columbus in 1837, coming here from Madison county, 
N. Y., with a family of six children, two of whom are now living — James and Roxana. 
H. S. Ayer was married in 1875 to Ellen Cady. They have had a family of three chil- 
■dren born to them — Ruth E., Martha R., and Anna L. Ellen was a daughter of George 
and Eliza (Horn) Cady. H. S. Ayer became a general merchant at Clymer, Chautau- 
qua county, N. Y., m i86o, and erected a custom and merchant flour-mill, and was also 
engaged in the manufacture and shipment of lumber. He retired from the mercantile 
business in 1872, but continued in his lumber interest until 1879, when he became one 
of the founders of the popular organization in the State, the E. A. U. Mr. Ayer was 
supervisor of Clymer in 1863 and '64, also in 1867 and '68. He settled in Columbus 
in 1879, and has been justice of the peace for two terms. He is now the general ac- 
countant for the E. A. U. 

Babcock, W. H., West Spring Creek p. o.. Spring Creek, was born in Burlington, 
Otsego county, N. Y., in 1818, and settled in West Spring Creek in 1865. He married 
Mary Ann Harrison, who was born in Vernon, Oneida county, N. Y., and by her had a 
family of seven children, four of whom are now living — M. A., Annette, Charles and 
Frank. By trade Mr. Babcock is a shoemaker. He has held the office of postmaster 
from 1871. He was a son of Jonathan and Lucy (Shaw) Babcock. Jonathan died at 
the age of sixty-six years, and his wife Lucy died in the seventy-seventh year of her age. 
W. H. Babcock's wife, Mary Ann Babcock, died January 2, 1884, aged sixty-six years. 

Babcock, Almon, Warren p. o., Conewango, is a farmer and was born in Youngsville, 
Warren county, April 22, 1S29. He was a son of Merritt and Lucinda (Sturtevant) Bab- 
cock. His paternal grandfather was David Babcock, and his maternal grandfather Will- 
iam Sturtevant, both of whom came from Lake George, N. Y., and were early settlers in 
Warren county, locating in Conewango, where they remained up to the time of their 
deaths. David was a farmer and cleared and improved the farm which is now owned 
by Benjamin Bailey. His son Merritt was a blacksmith by trade, and settled in Youngs- 
ville about 1825, and a year or two later settled in Conewango, on the farm which is 
now owned and occupied by W. Leiter, which he cleared and improved. He had a 
family of four children, who grew to maturity — Almon, Prudence, Plymton, and Antis. 
Almon Babcock was reared in Conewango, where he has always resided. He was mar- 
ried in 1850 to Mahala Spencer, a daughter of .Alfred and Mary (Wilcox) Spencer, and 
a granddaughter of Abner Spencer, a pioneer of Conewango. To them have been born 
eight children — Alwilda, Alice, John, James, Plymton, Mahala, WilUam and Merritt. 

Baird, George, East Branch p. o.. Spring Creek, was born in Crawford county in 
1862; he is a farmer. He was married in 1884 to Clara Armatage, of Spring Creek. 
They have had one child born to them — Deross. George was a son of Lorenzo Baird, 
who was born in 1825 and married Louise Courtney. They had a family of twelve 
children, eight of whom are now living. 

Baker, John A., Chandler's Valley p. o.. Sugar Grove, is a farmer and carpenter. 
He was born in Sweden in 1838, and immigrated to .America in 1866, settling in Chau- 
tauqua county, N. Y. In 1869 he came to Warren county, and purchased his present 
farm of fifty acres in 1870. In 1873 he was married to Clara Albertena Abbenson, bom 
in Sweden in 1847. They have three children — Irene Albertena, Frank Axel Theodore, 
and Hugo Amanuel. 

Baker, William, -Spring Creek, was born in Spring Creek in 1841. He commenced 
active business life in 1861. He has been town treasurer for five years and was numer- 
ator in 1880. He was married in 1866 to Abi Grant; to them have been born three 
children — Jesse Jean, Kate Grant, and Bonnie Lewis. William Baker was a son of 
Lewis B. and Sarah A. (Webb) Baker. Lewis B. was born in 181 2 and settled in Warren 
county, in 1837. He was married in 1835 to Sarah Webb, who came with her parents 
to Pennsylvania in 1832. Tliey had a family of eleven children born to them, seven of 
whom are now living. One of their sons, Josiah, enlisted in the 145th Pennsylvania 
Vols, and was killed at the battle of the Wilderness. His remains were never recov- 
ered. 



History of Warren County. 



Baldensperger, Jacob, Warren p. o., Glade, was bom in Alsace, France, in 1829. 
His early life was spent on a farm, and in 1852 he came to this country and located at 
Glade Run, in which vicinity he has since resided. His first employment was as a farm 
hand, and he was also engaged in the lumber business, and worked for Guy Irvine and 
Joseph Hall. In October, 1857, he married Emeline Walter, who bore him a family 
of eight children — Charles, Jacob, Emma, Henry, Theodore, Frederick, Lena, and 
Bertha. Mr. Baldensperger is now the leading merchant of the Run, having in charge 
a grocery, feed-store, meat-market and boarding-house. He had no starting capital save 
a determined will and strong arms, but now he is in comfortable circumstances. Al- 
though not an active politician he is a firm Democrat. In religion Mr. Baldensperger 
is a freethinker. 

Baldensperger, Laurence, Stoneham p. o.. Mead, is a farmer and was born in Al- 
sace, France, February 9, 1825. He was a son of Gotfried and Margaret (Lesser) Bal- 
densperger. He came to Warrea county in 1849 and settled in Mead township on the 
farm on which he now resides, and which he has cleared and made all of the improve- 
ments. He was married in 1850 to Elizabeth Lauffer, a daughter of Martin and Cath- 
erine (Gruber) Lauffer, natives of Alsace, France. They have had a family of eight 
children born to them — Elizabeth, Mary, Louise (deceased), William, Louise (second), 
Albert, Samuel, and Lorena. Mr. Baldensperger and his wife are members of the Lu- 
theran Church of Warren. 

Ballard, John W., Lander p. o., Farmington, is a farmer and was born in Chautau- 
qua county, N. Y., April 6, 1821. He was a son of Samuel and Rhoda (Jones) Ballard. 
His maternal grandfather was Levi Jones; was a pioneer of Carroll, N. Y., where he 
settled in 18 14. John W. Ballard located in what is now Farmington in 1831, worked 
through the summer at three dollars per month, which he never received, and the second 
summer for one dollar per month and received his pay. He was married November 
19, 1841, to Rachel Marsh, a daughter of Ross and Esther (Dyke) Marsh. Hugh Marsh, 
father of Ross, settled in Warren in 1795, and in Farmington in 1798. He reared a 
large family of children, of whom Ross Marsh was one, and settled on the farm which is 
now occupied by John W. Ballard. Mr. Ballard married twice. His first wife was 
Rachel Marsh, by whom he had a family of four children — Betsey, Louisa, Nancy, and 
Esther. His second wife was Lovina (Dewey) Kingsley, of Farmington, where he was 
married in Februar)-, 1876. Mr. Ballard bought the Marsh homestead, where he has 
always resided, and has improved a large part of it. 

Barnes, Asa H., Barnes p. o., Sheffield, was born on January 2, 1817, in Yates 
county, N. Y., and was a son of Timothy and Betsey Barnes. He was married in 1840 
to Letetia M. Force, a daughter of Samuel Force, of Kirkland, O., and who in the year 
1 84 1 came to Sheffield, where his after life was spent in lumbering and farming, in which 
his labors were rewarded. He also kept the " Barnes House " for twelve years. Asa 
H. Barnes died on January 19, 1875, leaving an estimable wife and a large family of 
children. The children of Asa and Letetia (Force) Barnes are as follows: Amy (who 
married Curtis Gilson, now living in Sheffield), Erastus, Edward, Eliza (who married 
Doctor Badger), Frank, Cole, William and Ellsworth. 

Bartsch, Charles F., North Warren p. o., Conewango, came to this country from 
Saxony, Germany, in 1836, and commenced business as a grocer and baker. In 1858 
he bought and cleared a farm in Glade township. In 1865 he sold this farm and bought 
another, in Conewango township, which he now occupies ; his son Henry cleared this 
farm and is now working it. Mr. Bartsch's family comprised eleven children, seven of 
whom are now living — Caroline, Charles, Margaret, Armenia, Frederick, Henry, and 
Edwin. Mr. B. is now eighty-three years of age, and his wife is seventy, both in usual 
health. They are both members of the Lutheran Church. 

Barlow, Richard, East Branch p. o., Eldred, was born in England in 1841 ; came to 
America in 1844 and settled in Warren county ; married Mary Hilman, of Sugar Grove. 
They have four children — Cora, Myrtie, James, and Nettie. Mr. B. served in the 
151st Pennsylvania Vols, during the late war; also in the navy. His farm contains 
thirty-one acres. 



Brief Personals. 



Basset, L. S., Spring Creek p. o., was born in Ontario county, N. Y.; he is a son of 
Cornelius, who was born in Martha's Vineyard, Mass., and settled in Warren county in 
1816 ; married Betsey Sawyer, by whom he had seven children, five of whom are now 
living. L. S. Basset married Sarah Maria Tillotson, of Chenango county, N. Y. They 
have had four children, two of whom are now living — Cornelius, engineer in the late 
war, died in Florida ; Morris John ; Lucia Persilla ; Wealthy Ann, dead. Mr. B.'s 
farm comprises twenty-five acres. 

Bates, George H., Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Niagara county, N. 
Y., in 1837, and was a son of Henry R. and Betsey (White) Bates. Betsey was born 
in Erie county and was a daughter of Samuel White. She was married in Erie county 
and they settled in Youngsville in 1838. Henry died in 1874, leaving a widow and six 
children, all of whom are now living — Morgan M., George H., Rebecca, Wm. H., Cor- 
delia, and Ransom. George H. Bates enlisted in Co. G, 211th Pennsylvania Volun- 
teers in 1864, and served under Captain Tremble. He has been a prominent man of 
his town and has held the following offices — school director for three terms, commis- 
sioner for one term, associate judge one term of three years. He purchased his home- 
stead farm of 100 acres in 1862. He was married it 1858 to Agnes A. Hamblin, of 
Youngsville, Warren county. They have had a family of four children — Frank A, 
George, Wilder D., and Clara A., and two who died in infancy. 

Bates, L. L., Spring Creek, was born in Spring Creek in 1867, and was married in 
1879 to Mattie Long. They have had two children born to them — Daisy A. and 
Hazel. 

Bates, George, Spring Creek, was born at Spring Creek in 1838. He is a farmer, 
owning 240 acres, also is largely interested in lumbering. He was married in i860 to 
Olive Cobb. To them have been born two children — Byron D. and Maud M. His 
father, Francis Bates, was born in 1808, and married Mary Evers, who was born in 
Spring Creek in 1817, and died in 1875. They had a family of eight children, six of 
whom are now living. Francis was a blacksmith by trade, and held the office of justice 
of the peace for forty years. He died in 1880. 

Beck, Frederick, Spring Creek p. o., was born in Wijrtemberg, Germany, in 1839, 
and immigrated to America in i860. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, 72d New 
York Volunteers, at Dunkirk. His regiment belonged to Siegel's brigade. He served 
for three years and two months. He was wounded at Spottsylvania Court House. He 
was married in 1867 to Miss Seidel, of Cleveland, O. To them were born five children, 
three of whom are now living — Julius, Louisa, and Mary. Mr. Beck settled in War- 
ren county in 1870, and erected a small tannery, which he has added to until now it 
has reached the capacity of eight hundred sides a week. He has also erected a num- 
ber of tenement houses, and owns a farm of 100 acres, and is one of the solid business 
men of Spring Creek. 

Beck, Martin, Warren p. o., Farmington, is a farmer, and was born in Bavaria, Ger- 
many, August 5, 1824. He was a son of John and Eve Beck. He was reared on a 
farm in Bavaria, and immigrated to America in 1853, and came to Warren county and 
worked as a farm hand for six months, after which he rented a farm until 1857, when 
he purchased the farm which he now occupies, and which he cleared and improved 
himself, and built the buildings and made all of the improvements. He was married in 
1853 to Margaret Schlick, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, September 29, 1823, 
and died August 6, 1884. They have had a family of six children born to them — 
Eliza, born August 8, 1854; Anna and Margaret, born March 24, 1856, and died April 
17, 1856; Martin, born July 3, 1857; Mary, born May 9, 1859; and John, born January 
II, 1862. Mr. Beck is a member of tlie Catholic Church, and pohtically he is a 
Republican. 

Belknap, C. M., Titusville p. o., Eldred, of the firm of Bush & Belknap, large manu- 
facturers of lumber, owning some 2,100 acres of timber, was born in Concord, Erie 
county, and was married in 1869 to Laura Lord, of Wayne, Erie county. They have 
had a family of three children born to them — ^H. Berenice, Angeline Emoine, and 
Cecil Iverness. C. M.'s father was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1824, and 



History of Warren County. 



was a son of William and Jane (Thompson) Bracken. Jane was born in County Down, 
Ireland, and her hu.sband, William, in Wayne county. They had a family of twelve 
children horn to them, two of whom are now living — Hannah and George. William 
was born in 1767 and died in 1851, and his wife Jane died in 1821. Their oldest son, 
Thomas, served in the War of 1812. William died and was buried in Kentucky. George 
W. Bracken was married in 1844 to Angeline Lloyd, who was born in Otsego county, 
N. Y., and married in Columbus. They had a family of ten children, eight of whom 
are now living — five sons and three daughters. Angeline Bracken died in February, 
1879. George W. Bracken was the first constable of the borough and was a school 
director for ten years. He settled in the borough in 1839 and there became engaged 
in his present business, that of furniture and undertaking. He has attended over one 
thousand funerals. He was apprenticed to his trade for four years at Cleveland, O., 
bound by his parents by contract, and received thirty-five dollars per year. He was 
burned out in 1848, losing his all, after which he again began empty handed, with a 
large family struggling for success. 

Brasington, Warren, Warren p. o., Glade. — Samuel Clark Brasington, and his wife 
Sally, came from Genesee county, N. Y., to Glade in the year 1832. They had a fam- 
ily of four children when they came here, and ten were subsequently born. The chil- 
dren were John, Delilah (who married Henry C. Knapp, both of whom are now de- 
ceased), Warren, Sally (deceased), Jane (who married Elijah Winchester), Samuel (de- 
ceased), Milton (deceased), Elizabeth (who married Thomas Phillips), Oscar, Albert, 
Dewitt, Lucinda (who married James Parks), Mercy (who married Russell Winchester), 
and Ida (who married George Tarbell). Samuel, the ])ioneer, died in Glade February 
2, 1866, and his widow, Sally, June 2, 1884. Warren Brasington is one of the substan- 
tial men of Glade. At the time of his marriage his father gave him a farm of seventy- 
five acres, and upon this he has enlarged his possessions by earnest toil and fair dealing 
until he to-day represents a considerable fortune, well and honestly earned. He made 
a substantial gift to each of his children at their marriage. Mr. Brasington married 
Harriet E. Winchester, by whom he had a family of five children — Adelaide (now 
dead). Flora (who married Eugene Arnold), A\'illiam, Alice (who married David Holt), 
and Albert. Warren Brasington, though not a church member, is a firm believer in 
Christianity. In politics he is a Republican. 

Breitenbaker, Charles F., Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Conewango on July 
2, 1855. He is a farmer, and settled on the farm on which he now resides in 1879. He 
was married in 1876 to .^nna Seigrist, an adopted daughter of Philip Seigrist, of Cone- 
wango. They have had two children born to them — Lottie and Eddie, and have 
also one adopted son, Willie. Charles F. was a son of George and Louise (Hofl'man) 
Breitenbaker, who were natives of Germany and Alsace, France, who settled in Warren 
county in 1848; lived for a time in Conewango, but finally settled in Glade township, 
where they cleared a farm, and where George, the father of the subject of this sketch, 
still resides. 

Brennan, Patrick, Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, 
March 27, 1849; he was a son of James and Margaret Dunn Brennan, who immi- 
grated to McKean county in 1868. Patrick settled in Warren in 1872 and worked at 
the lumber business until 1881, when he engaged in farming in Conewango, on the farm 
he now owns and occupies. In 1874 he married Susan C. Eagan, by whom he has had 
seven children — Mary A., Margaret S., Julia E., James J., Edward. Thomas I"., and 
John E. Mrs. Brennan was a daughter of James and Mary A. Carroll, of Wayne 
county. 

Brightman, John, East Branch p. o., Eldred, was born in Erie county in 1843; he 
is a farmer and owns a farm of no acres; he was married in 1872 to .Mahala Ray, of 
Waterford, and settled in Warren in 1883. His father, Erastus Briglitman, was born in 
Brookfield, Madison county, N. Y., in 1819, and married Sylvia Smith, who was born 
in New York in 1826, and by whom he hatl a family of three children — Mary, John, 
and Amelia. 

Briggs, Raymond, of Plymouth, Windsor county, Vt., with his wife and si.x chil- 



Brief Personals. 



dren — Dexter, Raymond, jr., William, Tabitha, Thomas, and Mary — came to Pine 
Grove in the fall of 1827 and located on Conewango Creek, where Thomas Briggs now 
lives. Noah S. Briggs was born after the family came here. Tabitha married Aaron 
Crampton ; Mary married Charles Niver ; Thomas married Margaret, a daughter of 
Abrani Thompson, by whom he had seven children — Sardine H., Abraham, Leonora, 
Loanda, Mary A., Jane and Kate. Raymond married Julia Ann Jones, and to them were 
born ten children — Mary, Joseph, Arvilla, Allen, Lydia, Julia, Raymond, Rhoda, John, 
and Lewis — all of which are alive excepting Raymond, who died at the age of eighteen. 
Joseph and Allen served through the war. Thomas Briggs is a self-made man, having 
earned for himself the competence which he now enjoys. He was a Democrat before 
the war, but has since changed his political views. He is a prominent member of the 
M. E. Church. William Briggs was married at the age of twenty-five years to Lorette 
Badger, by whom he had ten children — William W., Elizabeth L., Elmore E., Marion 
L., Leon A., Solon S., Noah A., Alice E., Emmet O., and Clara E. William Briggs 
has always been a lumberman and farmer, at which he has met with a fair degree of 
success. He never takes an active part in politics, but is a staunch Democrat. 

Brondage, Roland, Pittsfield, was born in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., in 1847. He 
was a son of Hiram and Susanna (Faulkner) Brondage. Hiram was born in Genesee 
county, and his wife Susanna was a native of Steuben county, N. Y. They had a fam- 
ily of three children born to them. Roland Brondage enlisted in Company E, 9th N. 
Y. Cavalry, in 1862, under Colonel Sackett, and was discharged at the close of the war. 
He settled in Warren county in 1866, and was married in 1870 to Ida Pier, of Pittsfield. 
They have had a family of three children born to them — Lulu, Calvin, and Mary. Mr. 
Brondage was wounded while in the service of the Union, and now receives a pension, 
and to-day he is one of the representative men of Pittsfield. His wife was a daughter of 
Calvin and Elizabeth (Hitchcock) Pier, who settled in Pittsfield in 1861, where they 
died, leaving a family of four children — Ada, Minerva E., William, and Betsey. Cal- 
vin, the father, died in 1884; his wife died in September, 1867. 

Brooks, Henry, Spring Creek p. o., was born in 1809 near Whitehall, N. Y.; settled 
in Spring Creek in 1847 ; married in 1826 Delia Geer, who died in 1843, leaving eight 
children, six of w-hom are now living. In 1845 he married Lydia Ann Smith, of North 
East, Erie county ; by her he had nine children, five of whom are now living — Mary 
S., Luzetta E., L. A., Eva L., and Cora E. Mr. Brooks died in 1864. In his early 
days he was extensively engaged in lumbering, and had large landed interests, owning 
at the time of his death a farm of 800 acres. 

Brooks, Simon, Chandler's Valley p. o.. Sugar Grove, was born in Connecticut March 
20, 1789, and married Sarah Littlefield April 15, 1813 ; she was born in Massachusetts 
October 13, 1791. They came to Sugar Grove in 1817. They had a family of nine 
children ; two — Sally M. and John — were born in Vermont, and seven in Sugar Grove. 
William, De.xter G., Mary Jane, and Hiram are now living. Mrs. Sarah Brooks died 
July 10, 1875 ; Simon Brooks June 10, 1875. John Brooks married Fanny French in 
1841 ; she was born in Vermont in 1818. They have two sons — Perry L., born in 
1844 ; John F., born in 1857. Perry L. enlisted in the army August 9, 1862, and was 
discharged June 5, 1863 ; re-enlisted September 3, 1864, discharged June 2, 1S65. He 
married Addie Crandall. John F. married Emma T. Brooks. 

Brown, Absalom (deceased). Grand Valley p. o., Eldred, was born in New York in 
1815, and settled in Warren county in 1846. He married Jane Bradley, of Chautauqua 
county, N. Y., who was born in 1813. Mr. Brown died in 1878, and his wife died in 
1885. They had a family of four children born to them — Ellen L., Emerson (deceased), 
Milton E., and F"ranklin H. Mr. Brown was largely engaged in lumbering and farm- 
ing, and left a farm of one hundred and fifty acres. 

Brown, Alexander, Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Garland, town of 
Pittsfield in 1833. In September, 1870, he married Mrs. Samantha, widow of Heman 

. His parents were John and Matilda Jane McCray Brown; the former was 

born in Lancaster county, and the latter in Crawford county, and they were married at 
Titusville. He settled in Youngsville in 1833, coming from Franklin county. Mrs. 



History of Warren County. 



Brown died in 1870, and her husband in November, 1880, aged eighty-seven years. They 
had a family of seven children, four of whom now survive — George W., Anna M., Al- 
exander, and Oliver P. Anna M. married Arthur McKinney. 

Brown, Seymour, Chandler's Valley p. o.. Sugar Grove, was born in Mayfield, Ful- 
ton county, N. Y., July 4, 1823, and died March 27, 1863. He was a son of Jacob 
and Anna (Ferguson) Brown, and settled in Youngsville in September, 1851. He was 
married in 1853 to Abigail Brown, who was born in 1835. They had a family of five 
children born to them — Wellington S., Annie D., Walter F. and Edgar W. (twins), and 
Willard T. Abigail Brown was a daughter of Samuel and Diantha (Foster) Brown. 
She was born in Massachusetts and her husband Samuel was born in New Mavfield, N. 
Y. They were married in 1808 and settled in Warren county in 1819, nine miles south 
of Warren, on the Allegheny River. They had a family of fourteen children born to 
them. He also had a family of five children by his first wife, making nineteen in all. 
Eight of the last fourteen children are now living — Nathaniel, Lydia, Solomon, Polly, 
Huldah, Adaline, Cyrus F., and Abigail. The father, Samuel, was born in 1779, and 
died in 1864. Diantha was born in 1792 and died in 1874. Fourteen of the children 
remained residents of the county, and at the death of the mother she had thirteen chil- 
dren living, seventy-two grandchildren, and twenty-six great-grandchildren. 

Brown, Thomas S., Sugar Grove, was born in Brokenstraw township in 1844. He 
was married December 30, 1875, to Sarah Bates, who was born in 1850. They have 
had two children born to them — H. Grace and Charles Ralph. Sarah was a daughter 
of Charles E. and Ruth (Davis) Bates. Ruth was born in 1823, and her husband was 
born in Warren county, N Y., in 1818. They had a family of six children born to them 
— Sarah D., J. Byron, Walter H., Seldon D., Maggie A , Clara C. Ruth was a daughter 
of Isaac and Margaret (Andrews) Davis, who were early settlers in Youngsville. Thomas 
S. Brown was a son of Solomon and Esther (Stuart) Brown, of Sugar Grove, and a 
grandson of Diantha and Samuel Brown. The father of Charles E. Bates was George 
Bates, who came to Youngsville from Warren county, N. Y., in 1822. In those early 
days he was a surveyor. He was one of the first abolitionists in the county. He died 
in 1859. 

Brown, George W., Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Crawford county, on 
April 4, 1827. He was a son of John and Matilda Jane (McCray) Brown, she of Titus- 
ville, and her husband, John, of Franklin county. They settled in Brokenstraw town- 
ship in 1839, and lived there until their death, at a ripe old age, a few years ago. They 
had a family of seven children, four of whom are now living — George W., Anna M., 
Alexander, -and Oliver P. Mr. Brown was coroner of the county for three years, and 
also held other minor offices. And it is said by the peo[)le of his county that (ieorge 
W. Brown is one of the most successful organizers of temperance movements, and mu- 
tual aid, protective and equitable societies; and his record shows that he has organized 
337 organizations of working divisions. He is also a weekly contributor to all the prom- 
inent newspapers. He settled on his present homestead in 1867. He was married in 1858 
to Mrs. Sarah C. Whiting, who was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., in 1827. They had 
two sons, who died at an early age. In early life Mr. Brown was engaged in farming 
and lumbering, but his later life has been devoted to the interests of the public. 

Brown, Solomon, Chandler's Valley p. o., Sugar Grove, was born in Genesee county, 
N. Y.; he was a son of Samuel and Diantha (Foster) Brown ; he was born in Mayfield, 
Fulton county, N. Y., and she in Massachusetts. They were married in 1810, and came 
from Genesee county, N. Y., to Warren county in 1819, and settled on the .Mlegheny 
River nine miles below Warren. They had a fiimily of fourteen children, and five by 
his first wife, and eight of the last wife's children are now living — Nathaniel, Lydia, 
Solomon, Polly, Huldah, Adaline, Cyrus F., and Abigail. Samuel was born in 1779 
and died in 1864; Diantha was born in 1792 and died in 1874 ; sixteen of the children 
were residents of the county at the time of her death ; she had thirteen children then 
living, seventy-two grandchildren, and twenty-six great-grandchildren. Solomon Brown 
in 1839 married Esther Stuart, of Sugar Grove, who was born in 1820. Tliey had eleven 
children: one died in infancy; David E. enlisted in company D, iiith Pennsylvania 



Brief Personals. 



Vols., in November, 1861, and was killed at the battle of Antietam in 1862, aged twenty- 
two years ; now living, Aha M., Thomas S., Julia Ann, Joshua P., Jane, Cyrus F., Rob- 
ert L., Solomon, Adelbert, and Esther L. Esther was a daughter of William and Eliz- 
abeth (Dalrymple) Stuart; Elizabeth was from Colerain, Mass.; was born in 1792 and 
died August 23, 1873; William was born in Ireland February 28, 1784, and died in 
1883. They had a family of twelve children; now living — Margaret, Esther, Ann, 
Thomas J., and Jane. William was a son of James and Catharine Stuart, of Ireland, 
who settled in Sugar Grove in 1808, with six sons and four daughters; two of the sons, 
William and Robert, served in the War of 181 2. 

Brown, Nathaniel, was born in Mayfield, Montgomery (now Fulton) county, N. Y., 
August 13, 1812. With his parents, Samuel and Diantha (Foster) Brown (for whose 
record see preceding notice of Solomon Brown), he settled on the Allegheny River in 
1819. He was engaged on the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers in the lumber business for 
forty years, thirty-four of which he acted as pilot. He is now a retired farmer, as well 
as an e.\pert pilot. On December 31, 1834, he married Margaret L. Stuart, who was 
born in 1819. They have had seven children — William S., Samuel W., Diantha, Fill- 
more D., James E., Jane, and Nathaniel Sumner. Two of the sons — William S. and 
Samuel W. — enlisted and served in the late war, the former under General Hancock, 
and the latter under General Sheridan. 

Brown, Oliver Perry, Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Garland, Pittsfield, 
Warren county, April 12, 1841. January 22, 1868, he married Marion Delphina Patchin ; 
they have had a family of four children — Guy Livingston, Kyle Agasiz, Oliver Lyal, 
Iris Florentine. Mrs. Brown was a daughter of Aaron and Polly Pearse, and was born 
in Sugar Grove. Mr. Brown was a son of John and Matilda Jane McCray Brown. 
The latter were married near Titusville in 1820. John was born in Lancaster county 
in 1793, and settled in Youngsville in 1833 ; he purchased a farm in Brokenstraw, where 
he died in 1880, and his wife in 1870. They had a family of seven children, four of 
whom are now living — George W., Anna M., Ale.xander, and Oliver P. The latter 
now owns and occupies the old homestead ; engaged in breeding blooded horses, general 
farming, and dealing in cattle and sheep. 

Bucklin, Cornelius Penn, Tidioute p. o., Glade, was born in Tidioute m 1862. He 
was a son of William D. and Hannah (McCue) Bucklin, who were married in 1856. 
She died in 1869 leaving a family of three children, two of whom are now living — Will- 
iam N. and Cornelius P. His paternal grandparents were Parker and Minerva Bucklin, 
of Chautauqua county, N. Y. Cornelius P. Bucklin became the successor of Wm. H. 
Mabie, in 1883, who was then a dealer in general dry goods, boots, shoes, and clothing. 
He was married in 1880 to Ella Hammond, who was born at Greenport, Long Island, 
N. Y. They have had one daughter born to them — Maude. Cornelius is a member of 
Eden Lodge No. 666 of the I. O. O. F., also Tidioute Lodge No. 204 of the A. O. U. 
W., and a member of St. Paul's Universalist Church ; now engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness in Jahu Hunter & Son's block. 

Brown, Elisha, Ackley Station p. o., Pine Grove, was born in Providence, R. I., in 
1810. Prudence Wilbur, his wife, was born in Mass., m i8io They were married in 
New England and came to Sugar Grove about the year 1837, and about two years later 
to Pine Grove. The old Bible record shows their children as follows : John, born Jan- 
uary I, 1830, died March 13, 1866; Colvin, born April 5, 1832 ; William, born May 22, 
1834, married Susan Plum; Edwin, born May 30, 1836, now in Michigan; Mary E., 
born October 20, 1838, died October i, 1844; Levi, born February 28, 1844, married 
Nancy McCoy and has three children — John, Mary E., and Bert ; Mary E., born No- 
vember 3, 1846, married Joseph Reynolds ; Ellen, born July 3, 1849 ; Susan, born June 
24, 1852, died May 27, 1874. Elisha Brown came to Pine Grove a poor man. In the 
lumber and agricultural pursuits he was successful, and at the time of his death, June 
15, 1878, was in comfortable circumstances. His farm comprised 103 acres of good 
land lying on the " Cable Hollow " road, on which his widow still resides. Elisha 
Brown was a man whose opinion was frequently sought, and his advice followed. His 
example shows in his sons, who are thrifty, prosperous farmers. 



History of Warren County. 



Bull, David, Freehold, was a son of John and Patience (Gray) Bull, who were 
natives of Nottinghamshire, England, and came to America in 1851, settling in Warren 
county. They had a family of eight children — George, Isaac, Hannah, David, John, 
Frank, Elizabeth, and Samuel. Frank enlisted in the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Com- 
pany H, was taken prisoner at Sulphur Springs, and died in prison at ColumlDus, Ga. 
David Bull was born in Nottinghamshire, England, in 1835, and in 1857 married Mary 
Gray, who came from Nottinghamshire in 1850. They had a family of eight children 
born to them, only two of whom are now living — Sarah A. and Josephine. 

Burroughs, jr., Frank R., Columbus, a physician and surgeon, was born in Columbus, 
Warren county, in 1859. He read medicine at Corry, and graduated from the Buffalo 
Medical College in 1883, and settled in Columbus in the practice of his profession. He 
was married in 1883 to Julia Clark, of Columbus. They have had one child born to 
them — Ellen L. Frank R. was a son of F. R. Burroughs, who was also a doctor, and 
Sarah (Merriam) Burroughs. F. R. was a native of Vermont, and Sarah, his wife, was 
born in Columbus, where they were married in 1854. F. R. died in 1865. He was a 
graduate of the university at Castleton, Vt., in 1848, and first settled in Lottsville ; and 
in 1850 he settled in Columbus, and there became a prominent man in his profession, 
both in county and State. 

Burroughs, Fitch, West Spring Creek p. o., was born in Chenango county, N. Y., in 
1829, and settled in Warren county in 1851. His father was Amasa Burroughs, born 
in Columbus county, N. Y., in 1797, and who married Phiance Nowland, of Dutchess 
county, N. Y. They had eight children born to them, seven of whom are now living. 
Amasa was in the War of 181 2. Fitch Burroughs married Margaret Eldred, who was 
born in Spring Creek in 1834, and died in 1856. He married for his second wife Jane 
Williams, of Columbus. They have four children — Margaret, Frank M., \\'ilniot A., 
and Gertrude. He has held the offices of constable, collector, school director, and 
auditor. 

Butterfield, Francis A., was born in Washington county, N. Y., in 1817, settled in 
Chautauqua county, N. Y., and died October 21, 1886, from asthma, and was buried in 
the Forest Hill Cemetery at Fredonia, N. Y. He was married on July 4, 1837, to 
Polly Burniiam, of Ashwright. She died in i860, leaving a family of five children — 
Orville O., Lucy L., Julia L., Charlotte J., and Mary Eliza, three of whom are now 
living. CharlotteJ, and her husband were burned to death in the Prospect disaster on 
December 24, 1872. Francis A, was again married in 1861 to Phoebe A. Mark, of 
Mina, Chautauqua county, N. Y. They have had two children bom to them — 
Francis (deceased), and John W. (who settled in Spring Creek). Mr. Butterfield set- 
tled in Spring Creek in 1S69, and now owns and occupies a farm of fifty-five acres. He 
was a contractor in the late war, and the only one not killed between Nashville and 
Memphis. He also acted as provost marshal in the Cumberland district. 

Cady, Reuben Paine, Warren p. o.. Glade, was born in Windsor county, Vt., August 
27, 1816. When a boy he went to Essex county, N. Y., where he lived until 1838. 
Then he went to Cattaraugus county, N. Y., and in 1848 to Deerfield township, War- 
ren county. In 1868 he removed to Glade, where he has since resided. He married 
Charlotte E. Hammond, who bore him four children — Calista E. (who married Clar- 
endon Hull; Mr. Hull died in the war, and his widow subsequently married W. C. 
Arthur), Hubert (who died while in the army), Scott A., and Lulu I. Mr. Cady, during 
early life, in Deerfield, was a lumberman, farmer, and mechanic. He is a licentiate of 
the Christian Church, but of late years has preached but little. 

Campbell, James M., Enterprise p. o.. Southwest, was born in Jamestown, Chau- 
tauqua county, N. Y., in 1843. He was married in 1865 to Adaline Ware, who was 
born in Venango county. They have had a family of eight children born to them — 
Edward, Emma, Lillian, Sarah, Ruth, Belle, John, and Maud. Emma married John 
Coburn, and they had one daughter born to them — Carrie. James M. Campbell was 
a son of William V. and Almeda (Hlakesley) Campbell. .-Mmeda died in 1846, leaving 
four children — Margaret (born in 1839), Martin, James, and John Q. William V, 
married for his second wife Maria Burnett, in 1849. They have had a family of seven 



Brief Personals. 



children born to them — Marietta, Austin, Walter, Jane, Clarinda, Rinnie, and Delia. 
Mr. Campbell settled and purchased his present farm in 1866. 

Campbell, Jeremiah S., Enterprise p. 0., Southwest, was born in Schoharie county, 
N. Y., in 181 2. He was a son of Patrick and Susan (Webber) Campbell, who settled 
in Jamestown, N. Y., in 1813, and in 1817 they came to Warren county, where they 
settled. They had a family of eleven children born to them. Those now living are 
Betsey, Jeremiah, William, Susan, James, Abraham, Nicholas, and Nancy. Patrick 
Campbell was a blacksmith, and died in Southwest in 1848; his wife, Susan, died in 
1832. Jeremiah was married in 1832 to Lucinda Burnett, who was born in Crawford 
county in 1818, and died in February, 1870. They had a family of eighteen children 
born to them, nine of whom are now living — Elizabeth, Davis, Johnson, Melissa, 
William V., James, Mary M., Harvey, and Ella E. Jeremiah S. Campbell married for 
his second wife Harriet Barron, who died in 1881. Two of his sons, Davis and 
Johnson, enlisted in Company I, Pennsylvania Bucktails, and John was wounded. Mr. 
Campbell was a blacksmith by trade, but later in life became a farmer. He was a very 
successful river pilot for thirty-five years. 

Cargill, David, was one of the pioneers of Elk. He came here in 1824. In the 
family were his wife Betsey and five children. The children were John (who went to 
Michigan and died there), Betsey (who married Leve Leonard), Albert G., Rebecca 
(married John E. Woodbeck), and James (now dead). The following children were 
born after the family had settled here — Nancy (who became the wife of James 
Lowery), Sarah (who married Dr. William Hollister), Nathan, and two children who 
died in infancy. David Cargill died about thirty years ago, but his widow survived 
him about twenty-two years. Albert C. Cargill married Nancy Webb, of Elk, by whom 
he had a family of three children. His life has been spent on the river and in the 
lumber woods. Mr. Cargill is a life-long Democrat of the Jacksonian type, honest and 
earnest in that which he believes to be right. He never would consent to town office, 
nor has he ever associated with any church society. 

Case, Franklin R., Corydon, was born at Sagertown, Crawford county, March 20, 
1830, while his father's family were temporarily stopping at that place. The family 
residence, however, was at Westfield, N. Y. Franklin came to Corydon in 1853 to "run 
the river" during the rafting season, and to work at his trade, that of a mason, at other 
times. He was married in 1855 to Esther L. Tomes, a daughter of Benjamin Tomes, 
by whom he has had two children — Theodore L., who died in 1871, aged fifteen years, 
and Adda L., who is still at home. Mr. Case was elected justice of the peace in 1865 
and has held that office ever since, with the exception of a single year (1885). He has 
recently been elected again and called upon to enter upon his fifth term of five years. 
He has been town clerk for four years, and has served as secretary of the school board 
for eighteen years. Mr. Case is a Democrat in politics, and his election to office occurs 
in a town generally having a Republican majoritv. Tliis attests his popularity among 
his town people. He is also a trustee of the M. E. Church, and one of the building 
committee, although his convictions tend strongly toward Universalism. 

Carter, J., Bear Lake p. o., Freehold, was born in Columbia county, N. Y., in 1829, 
and settled in Warren county in 1838. He was married in 1854 to Mary Howies, by 
whom he had a family of twelve children, eleven of whom are now living. Mr. Carter 
enlisted in the Eighty-second Pennsylvania Regiment, was captured and taken prisoner 
at Shenandoah Valley by Mosby, but with one other man made his escape. The rest 
were never heard from ; was again captured on the Weldon Railroad by Willcox's 
brigade of sharpshooters, December 31, 1864, and remained a prisoner in Pemberton 
and Libby prisons, Richmond, forty-seven days. He has been an almost constant suf- 
ferer from chronic diarrhoea, rheumatism and a kind of scrofulous sore on his leg. 

Chaffee, Elliott F., Pittsfield, was born in Pittsfield, Warren county, in 1839, and 
was a son of Albert and Anna (Mead) Chaffee, who were married in 1835. Anna was 
a daughter of John Mead. Albert Chaffee was born in Connecticut and settled in east- 
ern Pennsylvania with his parents at an early day. He learned the carpenter trade and 



History of Warren County. 



on settlement here he engaged in the clock manufacture, and later he became a farmer. 
They had a family of seven children, two of whom are now living — Elliott F. and An- 
drew. Elliott F. Chaffee embarked in the manufacture of carriages and wagons in 1865. 
He erected his fine residence in 1881, and that same year he became engaged in the 
handle manufacturing business. He was married in July, 1864, to Elizabeth Brown. 
They have had one son — Charles Chaffee. Mrs. Chaffee was a daughter of William 
Brown. 

Chapin, Daniel Webster, Columbus, was born in 1852. He was married in 1873 
to Emma Barry. Mr. Chapin was a son of Daniel, jr., and Nancy (Smith) Chapin, of 
Venango, Erie county, where they were born in 1816. They were married in 1836, 
and had a family of si.\ children, five of whom are now living. They settled in Colum- 
bus in 1855. Daniel died in 1875 at the age of sixty-one years, and his wife Nancy 
died in 1884. Daniel was a son of Daniel and Alice (Barrett) Chapin, of Otsego county, 
N. Y. They settled in Erie county in 1828, where they died. Daniel Webster Cliapin 
is now a farmer and occupies the old homestead. 

Chapman, Rensselaer, Russellburgp. o., was born January 26, 1807, at Tioga county, 
and came to Warren county May i, 1834, and located at Russellburg. He married 
Harriet F., daughter of Luke D. Turner, by whom he had ten children — Benjamin F., 
who died, aged three years ; Lydia D., who married James G. Marsh, of Warren ; Rich- 
ard W. died, aged eighteen ; Lewis T., Maria B., now the wife of Dr. Satterlee, of Cus- 
ter City; Jo R., Phebe E., who married D. M. Howard ; Luke S., died aged five; Kate 
E., married C. E. Cobb ; and William E., now residing at Russell. Rensselaer Chap- 
man was a shoemaker at Russell for many years. Although not a politician he has al- 
ways been a staunch Democrat. Luke D. Turner, father of Mrs. Chapman, was also 
one of the pioneers of Pine Grove, having come there in 1827 with his wife Elizabeth 
(Cook) Turner and five children. He went to Venango county after a residence here 
of but four years, and he died there in 1869. His widow lives at Russell, aged eighty- 
eight years. 

Chase, William G., Russellburg p. o., Pine Grove, was born in Dutchess county, N. 
Y., in 1819, and with his father's family came to Pine Grove about the year 1827. Will- 
iam Chase the father was twice married, and by his wives had thirteen children, five of 
whom were born in Pine Grove. William G. Chase married Pamelia Satterlee. a daugh- 
ter of Salmon Satterlee, by whom he had a family of eight children — Martha, Alvora, 
Sarah, Harrison, Alzina, Charles, and two who died before receiving a name. William 
G. Chase commenced his life poor and with but little education. By industry and 
economy he has built up a comfortable home, and now owns a fine farm of about sixty 
acres. Mr. Chase is a consistent Democrat and a member of the Methodist society. 

Cheeney. Thomas L., Enterprise p. o., Southwest, was born in 1840, and was a son 
of Jonathan Stovvell and Alice (Gilson) Cheeney. Alice was born in Rome in 181 5, 
and her husband Jonathan Stowell was born in Connecticut in 1803 and died July 18, 
1885. They had'a family of nine children born to them, eight of whom are now liv- 
ing — Thomas L., Mary E., Eliza A., Jonathan, jr., Martha, Ruth, Emma A., and 
Henry D. Alice was a daughter of Thomas and Eleanor (McGuire) Gilson, of Deer- 
field township. Mr. Cheeney settled here about 1827. Thomas L. married Nancy A. 
Soule, who was born in Milford, Otsego county, N. Y., in 1841. They were married in 
1866. Nancy was a daughter of Elder Isaac and Lear (Brownell) Soule. Elder Isaac 
settled in this county in 1846 and died in i860, leaving a widow and three children — 
Peter J., Betsey M., and Nancy A. 

Clapj). John M., Tidioute p. o.. Glade, was born in Mercer in 1835. He is a son of 
Rev. Ralph and Sally (Hubbard) Clapp. Ralph Clapp was born in Martinsburg, N. 
Y., in 1801 and died at President, Venango county, in 1865. He was a Methodist 
minister of great ability and considerable celebrity. Sally Hubbard was born in Cliam- 
pion, X. Y., and died in Asbury Park, N. J., in 1886. They were married in Champion, 
N. Y., in 1824 and settled in Venango county in 1846. 'i'hey had a family of six chil- 
dren — Edwin E., Charles C, Emeline F., Caroline, John M., and Ellen G. Edwin 
E. Claj)]) now resides near the old homestead in Venango county. Charles C. Clapp 



Brief Personals. 



died in 1843 aged sixteen years. Emeline F. Clapp was married to E. R. Shankland, 
and died in 1865 leaving a family of four children, three of whom are now living — 
Edward C, Ralph M., and Emeline F. Caroline Clapp was married to J. L. P. Mc- 
Allaster and has a family of five children — Ralph C, Eugene L., Clinton P., Edwin 
E., and Emma G., and now resides at Ann Arbor, Mich. Ellen G. Clapp was married 
to James McLain and had a family of five children — Mary, Charles J., Margaret S. 
(died in 1873), Ralph, and Efl"ie(died in 1878), and now resides in New York city. John 
M. Clapp was married in 1865 to Anna M. Pearson, of New Castle. Their children 
were Ralph M. (born in 1866, died in 187S), Frances P., born in 1869, Alice J., born 
in 1873; and John H., born in 1880. John M. Clapp commenced business with his 
father at a very early age, and in i860 purchased his father's property and continued 
the business in his own name. In 1862 he recruited a company for the army and went 
out as captain in Colonel Chapman Biddle's regiment — 121st P. V. In August, 
1863, he was discharged from the army on surgeon's certificate of disability, and re- 
turned home. Soon after his marriage he located in New Castle, and was for some time 
in the milling business. In 187 1 he went to Tidioute, engaging in the production of 
petroleum, in which occupation he has proved a success. He has for .some years taken 
an active part in Free-masonry, and has taken all its degrees ; is also a member of the 
G. A. R., A. O. U. W., and other societies of a similar nature. These organizations 
have been pleased to award him their highest honors. He has contributed largely to 
schools, churches and charitable societies, and is highly respected by all his neighbors 
and acquaintances. A strictly temperate man, and a man of undoubted integrity, his 
success is a bright example to our young men. 

Clark, jr.. Green, Sugar Grove, was born in Sugar Grove in 1835, his parents being 
Green and Betsey Brown Clark, who came from Rensselaer county, N. Y., and settled 
here about 1829. Green Clark, sr., was born in 1794 and died in 1875 ; his wife was 
born in 1796, and resides in Spring Creek. Green Clark, jr., married Ann Gibbs, of 
Sugar Grove, in 1857 ; she was born in Chenango county, N. Y., in 1837 ; they have 
three children — Eva S., Bessie, and Harriet. Mr. Clark engaged in the manufacture 
of lumber in 1862, which business he still continues, having a steam mill of forty horse 
power, which he erected himself, with a planing-mill combined, manufacturing all grades 
of lumber, moldings, and fancy finishing stock for builders' trade. 

Clark, James, Jane, his wife, and their children — Isabella, James, John, Alexander, 
Lewis, and William — came from Scotland to Warren county ni 1846, and settled on a 
farm in Glade township. They have mostly lived there and in Warren, with the excep- 
tion of Lewis, who went to Cincinnati, O. They have filled their position, in life with 
industry, uncompromising integrity and fair success. William died in 1872; Lewis in 
1878; James Clark, sr., in 1882; Jane, his wife, in 1879, and Isabella in 1885. James 
and John now reside in Warren, and Alexander on the old home farm. 

Clark, Dr. Robert C, Columbus, is a physician and surgeon and was born in Craw- 
ford county in 1855. He read medicine at Union City, Erie county, and was a grad- • 
uate from the medical department of Wooster University, Cleveland, O., in the class of 
1881. He was married November 18, 1884, to Cora A. Dean. She was a daughter of 
Benjamin and Helen M. Dean. Benjamin was born in Taunton, Mass., and his wife 
Helen was born in Fairport, N. Y., and died in 1873. Benjamin was born in 1817 and 
settled in Columbus in 1833 with his parents, Benjamin and Hannah (Allen) Dean, who 
were natives of Plymouth, Mass. They had a family of eight children, two of whom 
are now living — Job. P. and Benjamin, jr. Dr. Robert C. Clark was a son of .\ndrew 
and Mary (Campbell) Clark, who were born and married in County Tyrone, London- 
derry, Ireland, who immigrated to America and settled in Crawford county, with a family 
of five children — Mary C, Bessie, Dr. Robert C, Joseph, and Charles H. .Andrew 
was born in 1821, and his wife Mary (Campbell) was born in 1824. They were married 
in 1846, and settled in Pennsylvania in 1851. 

Clendenning, Joseph, Ackley Station p. o.. Elk, was born in County Monohan, 
Ireland, on March 17, 1827. He emigrated from Ireland in 1851, and in the year 
following came to Quaker Hill. Two or three years later he bought a farm and com- 



History of Warren County. 



menced a permanent residence in the township. In July, 1853, he united in marriage 
with Jane Clendenning, by whom he had a family of eleven children — Esther, James, 
Laura, Emma, Andrew, John, Nellie, Harry, Etta, and two who died in infancy. Mr. 
Clendenning is one of the most prominent and popular men of Elk. There is no town 
office but which he has been called upon to fill. There is no trust in the township 
that can be placed with any citizen that has not been placed with him, and in every 
case he has given satisfaction. Joseph Clendenning commenced life poor, but industr)' 
has put him in comfortable circumstances. He had such an education in the old 
country as was afforded boys there, and no more. The family from which he came 
were Irish Presbyterians, but he is not connected with any church society. In politics 
he has always been a Republican. 

Cobb, E. I., East Branch p. o., was born at Spring Creek, Cobb's Corners, in 1836. 
He married Amanda Logan, of Corry. They have three children — Flora E., Clinton 
M., and Varney C. His father, Ira, was born in Rutland, Vt., in 1808, and married 
Jerusha Jewett, of Vermont. They had ten children, six of whom are living; Myron 
was killed at the battle of Antietam; Zackway was killed at Spottsylvania Court House; 
remains not recovered. 

Colby, H. H., was born in New York in 1824, and was married Februar)- 25, 1849, 
to Susan Williams. They had four children ; Mrs. Colby died September 27, 1858. For 
his second wife he married Sarah Driggs on November 3, 1858. They had four children; 
three of them are now living. Mr. Colby was a resident of Warren county for thirty- 
five years; he died December i, 1885, leaving a wife and seven children, and a farm of 
100 acres to his two sons, U. S. and William G. Colby, of Eldred, Warren county. 

Colby, J. W, East Branch p. o., Eldred, was born in Erie county in 1834, and 
settled in Warren county in 1842. He married Electa Green, of Onondaga county, 
N. Y. She died in 1871, leaving a family of eight children — Anion, Eunice, Frank, 
John D., Elmer E., U. S. Grant, and Wesley; one of the children died in infancy. Mr. 
Colby married his second wife, Josephine Terrill, in 1876; she was born in Crawford 
county. Mr. Colby is now engaged in farming and lumbering, and now owns a farm 
of 106 acres. 

Cole, Peleg S., Russell p. o.. Pine Grove, was born in Herkimer village, N. Y., 
January 8, 1808. At the age of fifteen years he left home and went to Penn Van, 
Yates county, N. Y., and there entered a printing office to learn the business. After a 
few years' residence there he went to Geneva, and thence to Rome, N. Y. In 1837 
Mr. Cole came to Warren and took sole proprietorship of the People's Monitor, which he 
published for about eight years, when he sold his interest to Mr. Cowen. The Afo/iifor 
w-as a weekly publication. After this sale Mr. Cole became landlord of the " Diamond 
House," whicii he conducted until just before the outbreak of the late war. Having a 
tract of land on "Jones Hill," in Pine Grove, he decided to live there, and engaged in 
farming, and he has since resided on this farm. In Yates county he married Louisa 
Brown, who bore him four children — .Albert, Harvey, Alonzo, and Sariette. His wife 
died and he then married Mar)' Forbes, by whom he also had four children — James, 
Henrv, Lucreatia, and Louisa. Mr. Cole has always been a Whig and a Republican in 
political life. During his residence at Penn Van, Yates county, N. Y., he was a mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church. 

Conklin, jr., John, Tidioute p. 0., Deerfield, was born in Poultney, Steuben county, 
N. v.. May 7, i8ig. His father was John Conklin, a native of Vermont, who settled 
in Deerfield m 1826 and engaged in the lumber business; he died at Conklin Run in 
1839, leaving a family of four sons and three daughters — Hiram, Henry, John, James, 
Eliza, Roxana, and Hannah. John, jr., embarked at the early age of seventeen in 
the manufacture and shipping of lumber, and became an extensive land owner and 
dealer. Owing to misplaced confidence in a ])artner, who had the disposing of his 
interests, he was a great financial sufferer, but still holds possession of some 3.000 acres 
now in controversy. He married Emma Pricein 1844; she died in 1876. Tliey had a 
familv of five sons — James, Henry, John, jr., J ose|)h, and Eugene. Joseph married 
Mary Chambers; James married Ida Morrison; Henry married Amanda Covell ; and 



Brief Personals. 



John married Mary Amy. Mr. Conklin united with the Methodist Episcopal Church 
in 1844, and devoted much time as layman in church work, and soon became active in 
establishing places of worship; he preached for over twenty years, and is now an ardent 
worker in the cause of his Master. He is still engaged in the land and lumber business. 

Connely, Sidney S., Pittsfield, is a druggist, general grocer, and fancy goods dealer, 
and also deals largely in patent medicines. He was born in Deerfield in 1852, and was 
married in 1875 to Ellen E. Mead, a daughter of John Mead. They have had two 
children born to them — Rufus N., born in 1880, and Leon S., born in 1882. Sidney 
S. Connely was a son of John F. and Aurelia (Trask) Connely, who were born in War- 
ren county. They had a family of three children born to them — Helen E., Newton 
I., and Sidney S. Newtim was born in 1850, and died June i, 1S85. Helen E., born 
in 1S48, married R. Bliss in 1883. John F. Connely died February 22, 1854. He was 
a son of Isaac and Mary Connely. Isaac was a prominent man of his county ; was a 
judge of the same, and died in 1864. Sidney S. Connely embarked in the mercantile 
business in July, 1879. His mother, Aurelia, died May 3, 1862. 

Cooney, John, Irvine p. o., Brokenstraw, was born six miles from the city of Cork, 
Ireland. His parents were Daniel and Mary Mahoney Cooney, who were born and 
married in Ireland; Daniel was born in 1780. Mary died in Ireland, leaving a family 
of six children, three of whom are now living — James and John in this country, and 
Daniel in Ireland. Daniel, senior, married for his second wife Mary Shehan, in 1830, 
and had two children ; one died in Ireland, and the other, a daughter, is living in 
Pennsylvania. Daniel and Mary (Shehan) Cooney left Ireland about 1856. Daniel 
died in Warren county in 1864, and Mary died in 1885 at Silver Lake, aged 108 years; 
she always enjoyed good health up to the time of her death. John Cooney left Ireland 
and settled at Susquehanna county in 1844, and in 1846 he became engaged in the 
building of railroads as contractor, etc., a business he followed for several years. In 
1866 he settled in Irvine and built a store and embarked in mercantile business, in 
which he still continues. He was married in 185 1 to Bridget Collins, of Lockport, 
N. Y. They have had a family of twelve children, nine of whom are now living — 
four daughters and five sons. Mr. Cooney has been justice of the peace for several 
years, and town supervisor; also postmaster of the town he lives in at present, and has 
been engaged in the lumber business, to a large extent, for railroad supplies. 

Cornen, C. A., Ybungsville p. o.. was born in Connecticut in 1844. He settled in 
Venango county as a butcher and packer in 1862, and in 1863 he was induced by his 
judgment to embark in the oil producing business. He accordingly leased a section, 
which proved successful, and then purchased a tract of 165 acres near Oil City in 1868. 
In 1872 Messrs. C. A. & D. Cornen purchased 210 acres in McKean county, and later 
they made a purchase of 550 acres in Forest county ; this latter purchase is yet unde- 
veloped. They now have seventy producing wells, all of which except seven are flowing 
wells. He has never failed in finding the object of his search. D. Cornen was born in 
Connecticut in 1855, and settled in Warren in 1883. C. A. settled in Voungsville in 
1883, where he erected his residence in 1886. 

Covell, Charles, Tidioute p. o., Deerfield, was born in Washington county, N. ¥., 
Feburary 3, 1835. He was a son of Nathaniel and f^liza (Densmore) Covell. Eliza 
died May 20, 1840, leaving a family of three children. Nathaniel was a son of Dr. 
Joseph Covell, who came to America with General La Fayette as a surgeon in the 
Revolutionary army. Charles Covell settled in AVarren county in 1853, coming there 
from Saratoga county, N. ¥., and there engaged in the lumber business and farming. 
He was married July 11, 1857, to Esther Cauvel, of Venango county. They have 
had a family of three children born to them — Amanda A., Amelia A., and Charles A. 
Amanda A. married James Lewis, and Amelia A. married Whitley W. Greenlee. He 
died in 1883, leaving a widow and two children. Amelia then married her second 
husband, Seth Ganyes. Charles Covell enlisted in Company K., 12th Pennsylvania 
Cavalry, in 1862, under Colonel Pierce, and served to the close of the war, and was 
discharged July 24, 1865, at Philadelphia. He was elected justice of the peace in 1882 
for a term of five years; has been assessor for four terms, and also held other oflices. 



History of Warren County. 



His wife was a daughter of Christian and Mary (Lama) Cauvel, of Venango, Penn. 
Amanda A. has four children — three daughters and one son — Maud A., AdaZ., Xettie 
A., and Wilham H. Lewis. AmeHa A. has two sons — Earl A. and C'harles W. 
Greenlee. Charles A. married Ella Higley September 8, 1886. Joseph Covell had 
twenty-one children — nineteen sons and two daughters. Charles Covell's brother's name 
was Andrew J. Nathaniel Covell was born October 24, 1782; Christian Cauvel was 
born March 6, 1798; died October 6, 1870. Mary Tama Cauvel was born November 
16,1812; died July 5, 1886. Esther Cauvel was born April 28, 1841. Nathaniel Covell 
was a soldier in the War of 1812. 

Crocker, Michael McKinney, Brokenstraw, Youngsville p. o., was born in Cone- 
wango in 1849, and was a son of Francis O. and Eliza (McKinney) Crocker. Eliza 
McKinney was a daughter of Michael and Margaret McKinney. Eliza was born in 
Warren county, and her husband, Francis O., was born in Vermont, in 1809. They 
have had a family of ten children — six sons and four daughters. Two sons enlisted — S. 
James and Rienz. Sidney James was a prisoner in the rebel prison for ten months dur- 
ing the late war. Francis O. Crocker has held the office of tipstaff of the court for the 
past thirty years. Michael M. Crocker was married in 1872 to Eveline D. Chandler, 
who was born in 1852. They have had a family of tliree children — Roy A., born in 
1873; Raymond R., born in 1876; and Clair E., born in 1884. Eveline D. was a 
daughter of the old settlers, John W. Chandler and Abigail (Smith) Chandler, of Chand- 
ler's Valley, Sugar Grove township. They had a family of five children — three daugh- 
ters and two sons. John W. died in 1880. The children now living are Orville Del- 
phine, Perry L., Eveline D., and Mertie. John W. was a son of John and Mabel (Was- 
son) Chandler, who came from Orange county, N. Y., about 1810. John and Mabel 
had a family of twelve children. John was born in 1787 and died in 1867, and Mabel 
was born in 1791 and died in 1875. Chandler's Valley took its name from this family. 
Michael Crocker was elected county commissioner in 1885, and his term does not ex- 
pire until 1888; he has held manv of the minor offices of his town. He purchased his 
present homestead of ninety acres in 1877, then heavy timber land, but now is under 
fine improvement. 

Cummings, George D., West Spring Creek p. o., cleared and owns a large tract of 
land in Spring Creek, in which place he was born. In 1868 he married Sue Woodbury, 
of Pittsfield. He is a son of M. Perry, who was born in Bristol connty, Mass., in 1813 ; 
settled in Spring Creek in 1836, and married Sarah Yager, of Otsego county, N. \'., in 
1837. Tiiey have two children — George D. and Mary A. 

Cumings, Henry H., Tidioute, was born in Monmouth, Warren county, 111., De- 
cember i, 1840, of New England parents. He removed to Madison, Lake county, O., 
in 1852, where Henry H. received his education, being a graduate of Oberlin College, 
of the class of 1862. He enlisted in July, 1862, in the 105th Ohio Vol. Infantry, and 
served under Buel in Kentucky, in 1862, taking part in the battle of Perryville, Ky., 
October 8, 1862 ; was post ((uartermaster at Mumfordsville, Ky., during the winter of 
1862-63 ; rejoined his regiment — which was a part of the 14th Army Corps — in April, 
1863, and partici])ated in all its campaigns and battles till mustered out in June, 1865, 
having served under Rosecrans, Thomas, and Sherman, through Kentucky, Tennessee, 
Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, closing witii the grand review of the army 
in Washington, D. C, in May, 1865. He was promoted to captain, and assigned to 
Co. K of his regiment in March, 1864. He came to the oil region in September, 1865 ; 
settled in Tidioute, June, 1866, being at that time engaged with Day & Co., in which 
firm he soon became a partner, in the oil refining business and ship[)ing of crude and 
refined oil. The firm dissolved in 1873, when he formed a partnership with Jahu Hun- 
ter, as Hunter & Cumings, in the jjroducing of oil, and various other enterprises, which 
they are still engaged in. H. H. Cumings married Charlotte J. Sink, who was born in 
Rome, N. Y., and married in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1867. They have a family of five chil- 
dren — Harriet Emily, Charles A., Henry H., jr., Ralph, and Laura Frances. Henry 
H. was a son of Charles and Emily (Amsden) Cumings. She was a native of Vermont, 
and her husband, Charles, was born in Brookline, Hillsboro county, N. H., in 1814. 



Brief Personals. 



Charles Cumings was the son of Benjamin Cumings, born in Holhs, N. H., August 24. 
1781. 

Curtiss, Marvin W., Sugar Grove p. o., was born in Busti, Chautauqua county, N. 
Y., in 1848, and is the son of Sidney R. Curtiss, and grandson of Ransom and Mary 
Pratt Curtiss (she a sister of L. H. Pratt). Marvin Curtiss came to Sugar Grove in 1864, 
and in 1870 married Grace Guygnon, of Sugar Grove. They have two children — 
Gertrude and Alice. He settled in the borough in i88o, and in 1884 he engaged in 
the mercantile trade, purchasing a store; in 1885 he sold his interest in the stock, 
and in October of the same year he purchased a half interest in a steam saw, plan- 
ing, stave, shingle, and flouring and custom merchant mill. The firm is Curtiss & Davis, 
dealers in flour and grain. 

. Dalrymple, Clark, Sugar Grove, was born in Massachusetts and removed to Sugar 
Grove with his father in 187 1, and was married to Elizabeth Schoff in Brokenstraw in 
1818, and unto them were born nine children — eight sons and one daughter — Mary Ann, 
now the wife of Judge Acocks, of Pittsfield ; David, Mark, William F., Clark, jr., Reu- 
ben, Oliver, Noah H., and Sheldon N. Clark was a son of David and Fannie (Clark) 
Dalrymple, who, with a family of eight children, removed from Massachusetts and set- 
tled two and one half miles southwest of Sugar Grove village, on the farm where his 
son Clark spent his life, and where Noah H. and Reuben now reside. The children 
were Mark C, David, Clark, Oliver, Chauncy, Mrs. Anna York, Mrs. Betsy Stuart, 
Mrs. Fannie Gregg. Mark C. was the first sheriff of Warren county. Clark died in 1869 
aged seventv-five years, and his wife Elizabeth died in 1883 aged eighty-eight. Oliver, 
the son of Clark, is the famous Dalrymple Dakota farmer, having in crop about thirty 
thousand acres of wheat. 

Dalrymple, 'Squire David R., Pittsfield, was burn in Conewango township March 18, 
1826, and married in 1846 Susan Foster, of Sugar Grove, who was born in 1830. Tliey 
have four children — Phebe E., William W., R. B., and Nat A. Phebe married Gar- 
wood Bedford ; William married Kate Campbell ; R. B. married N. Brown ; and Nat 
A. married Miss Moore, of Ohio. David R. was son of Mark C. and Phebe Greene 
Dalrymple. She was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., and he was born in Colerain, 
Mass., in 1779; they were married at Troy, N. Y., in 1809. Phebe died Septem- 
ber 17, 1841, leaving six children — Mrs. Lydia A. J. Foster, David R., and Mrs. 
Jerusha J. C. Ford, now living. Mark C. Dalrymple settled in Sugar Grove in 1814. 
He became the first sheriff of Warren county in 1819, and served three years. He 
was a leading and influential man of the county. He settled in Pittsfield in 1828, 
where he died. He married a second wife, Mrs. Van Arnam, and after her death 
married Eliza Whitaker. He died in April, 1873. David R. Dalrymple enlisted in 
Company I, 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry, in 1864, and served till the close of the war 
under Colonel Schoonmaker. He was elected justice in 1855 and is now serving his 
thirtieth successive year; he has been commissioner two terms, and assessor nine years, 
and has held all the other minor town oflices. He has been a farmer and lumber 
manufacturer and shipper. 

Dalrymple, Frank H., was born in Sugar Grove, and is a son of David and Mary B. 
Dennigan Dalrymple. She was born in 1822 in Longford, Ireland, a daughter of Michael 
and Catharine Bannan Dennigan, who settled in Sugar Grove in 1838. David was born in 
1821, and his wife in 1822, and they were married in 1842. They have had a family 
of six children, five of whom are now living — Sheldon C, Elizabeth E., Catharine, 
Watson D., and Frank Henry. David has been a lumber manufacturer and shipper, 
and stock grower and dealer; he has a homestead of 210 acres. He was a son of Clark 
and Elizabeth Schoff, who were married in Brokenstraw in 1816; he was born in Cole- 
rain, Mass. They had a fimily of nine children — David, Mark, William F., Clark, jr., 
Reuben, Oliver, N. H., S. H., and Mary A. (Mrs. Judge Acox). Clark settled with his 
parents in Conewango in 181 1. Clark's father, David, came with his family from Cole- 
rain, Mass., in 181 1 ; his children were David, Mark, Clark, Chauncy, Ann, and Fanny. 
Mark Dalrymple was the first sheriff" of Warren county. Oliver Dalrymple, the great 
wheat grower of Dakota, is a brother of David, and an uncle of Frank H. 



History of Warren County. 



Dalrymple, Mark, Sugar Grove, was born in Sugar Grove in February, 1823. He 
married, October, 29, 1844, Eunice Fancher, of Dryden, Tompkins county, N. Y., who 
was born in 1823. Their children were Wilham C, Newland, Mark, Silas A., Grant 
O., Mary E., Elizabeth, Alice, Harriet, Viola, Ada and Ella. Viola has taught several 
years ; also Elizabeth and Ada several terms. Mr. Dalrymple has been one of the lead- 
ing farmers of his town, and is now retired and lives in the borough. He was a son of 
Clark and Elizabeth Schoff Dalrymple. They were from Colerain, Mass., and were 
married in Brokenstraw. They had a family of nine children — David, Mark, William 
F., Clark, jr., Reuben, Oliver, N. H., S. N., and Mary A. Clark died in 1869, aged 
seventy-five years, and his widow died in 1883, aged eighty-eight years. Clark was son 
of David; he with his wife and children settled in the county in 181 1. The children 
were David, Mark, Chauncy, Clark, Mrs. York, and Fanny. The son Mark was the 
first sheriff" of Warren county. The Dalrymple family are prominent and noted farmers 
of the United States — Oliver and his brothers and nephews being large wheat growers 
in the W'est. 

Dalton, Andrew, Sugar Grove, is a general farmer, and was born in County Long- 
ford, Ireland, March 16, 1805. He was a son of James and Catharine Coffe Dalton. 
Andrew left Ireland and landed in New York in 1825. He married Ann Denning, of 
Ireland, in Brooklyn, N. Y., and spent five years in New York city, Hudson, and Al- 
bany, and in 1830 settled in Sugar Grove as a farmer. His wife died March 7, 187 1, 
leaving a family of nine children, eight of whom are now living — Catharine (married 
Thomas P'erguson and is dead), Bridget, Mary Ann, Michael, Thomas, James, Eliza- 
beth, Margaret, and William. Mary A. married Isaac Knapp ; Elizabeth married M. 
Curnell. Andrew Dalton has been a successful farmer and stock grower, having a 
great fancy for fine horses. 

Curtis, Elliot M.,Tidioute p. o., Glade, was born in Bridgeport, Conn., in i83i,and set- 
tled in Tidoute in 1866, and in 1868 he became a book-keeper in the bank of Grandin & 
Baum, and in 1870 he became cashier in the Grandin Banking House, and still remains 
there. He was married in 1867 to Ellen Stone, of New Milford, Conn. They have 
had a family of three children born to them — Harriet L., Elliot S., and Stillman W. 
Mr. Curtis enlisted from Bridgeport, Conn., in April, 1861, on the three months call, as 
a lieutenant, served his time, and re-enlisted as captain in the Ninth Regiment and served 
for three years. He was promoted to major and served from 1864 to March, 1866, as 
major of the Fourth Regiment, First Army Corps (Hancock's) U. S. Veteran Volun- 
teers. 

Darling, Lewis H., Sugar Grove, is a general druggist and pharmacist. He first en-^ 
gaged in the business in Chandler's Valley in i88i,and in 1886 settled in Sugar Grove. 
He was born in Chandler's Valley in 1857, and was married in 18S0 to Nettie E. Goodban, 
by whom he has had two children — Mabel and Sadie. Mr. and Mrs. Darling were 
both graduates of the State Normal School at Edenboro, Erie county, in the class of 
1879. They have both taught school for several terms. Lewis H. was a son of S. S. 
and Sally M. (Brooks) Darting. 

Davis, Erastus A., Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Youngsville in Au- 
gust, 1837. He was married on March 28, i860, to Adelia Hamblin. They have a 
family of three children — Minnie C, Emma H., and Archie G. Adelia Davis was a 
daughter of David and Elsie (Davis) Hamblin. Mr. Davis was councilman for seven 
years, burgess one term, a school director for three years, and also held other minor 
town and district offices. He was a son of William W. and Mary A. (Blakesley) Davis; 
she was born in (kanville, Washington county, N. Y., July 13, 1806, and dietl June 12, 
1881, and her husband, William W., was born in Westmoreland county in 1798. They 
were married on December 31, 1823, and had a family of six sons and three daughters — 
Emeline, Charles C, C. B., Prudence, Selden L., E. A., Ruben B., William P., and 
Cordelia A. William W. Davis was an early and successful river pilot, farmer and lum- 
berman. Two of his children — Cyrus B. and Erastus A. — are engageil in the manu- 
facture of carriages, wagons, and sleighs, and carriage smithing and rejjairing in Youngs- 
ville. They first engaged in 1858, purchasing the business of C. B. Davis, who first 



Brief Personals. 



became engaged in 1857. Cyrus B. Davis was married in 1849 to Laura Hull, of 
Youngsville. They have four children. Cyrus B. was born in 1829. 

Davis, Emry, Sugar Grove, a resident of Sugar Grove, Warren county, was born at 
Busti, N. Y., in 1827. He was a son of Emry and Amy (Aiken) Davis. He was a 
native of Wardsboro, Vt., and his wife was born in Pittstown, N. Y.; they died in Busti, 
he in i860, and she in 1870. Emry married Martha L. Robertson, of Busti, Chautau- 
qua county, N. Y., in 1854. They have had a family of three children born to them — 
Arabella, Adams, and James. Arabella married C. M. Short, a banker of Sugar Grove. 
Adams was a graduate of the Sugar Grove Seminary, the commercial department 
in the class of 1886. Mr. Davis was a member of the New York l^egislature in 1S62, 
and supervisor, and has also held other offices in Busti, N. Y. He settled in Sugar 
Grove in 1870, and in 1S72 he engaged in the manufacture of Hutch's universal cough 
syrup, Davis's home relief for pain, Dr. A. H. Davis's family pills, and Wilson's rheu- 
matism remedy, with offices at Jamestown, N. Y., and Sugar Grove. 

Davis, William A., Youngsville p. 0., Brokenstraw, was born ni Youngsville on 
April 18, i8i8. He was a son of Abraham and Ruth (Mead) Davis, who were mar- 
ried on November 12, 1807, in Warren county. They had a family of six sons and two 
daughters — Elijah, born in 1813; Darius, born in 1815; William A., born in 1818; 
Asahel, born in 1824; P. Fillmore, born in 1825; Willard J., born in 1828; Susan 
Whitney, born in 1809; and Anna Devendorf, born in 1820. Abraham Davis was 
born on Long Island in March, 1782, and was a son of Elijah and Desiah Davis. His 
father wks a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and settled in Warren county about the 
year 1801. Abraham's father had a family of nine children, only one of whom is now 
living — Mr. James Davis, now eighty-two years of age. William A. Davis was married 
on February 22, 1839, to Prudence A. Blakeslee, who was born in Crawford county in 
1820. They have had a family of six children — Robert E., born on December 23, 
1839; Reuben P., born on May 17, 1842; John W., born on November 25, 1844; 
Laura A., born on September 8, 1848; Susan H., born on August 12, 1853; Charles 
L., born August 31, 1868 ; Laura A., married in 1866 to Burt Hotchkiss. Susan H. 
was married in 1872 to G. Y. Ball; Robert E. married Harriet A. Hamblin in 1859; 
Reuben P. married Agnes A. Carrie in 1866, and John W. was married in 1867 to 
Sarah Holt. William A. Davis now owns and occupies the old homestead of two hun- 
dred acres, which was purchased by his father in 1814. Prudence was a daughter of 
Reuben and Prudence Blakesley, who were born and married in Washington county, 
N. Y., and settled in Crawford county in 1817, where they died. 

Davis, Willard J., Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw (first), was born in Youngsville, 
Warren county, in 1828. He was married in 1850 to Laura Littlefield, who was born 
in Brokenstraw township in 1829. She died in March, 1868, leaving a family of three 
children — Walter L., Homer F., and Mary Alice, who was married in 1881 to Mr. J. L. 
Babbitt, of Grand Valley. Willard J. Davis then married his second wife, Meada Root, 
of Farmington, in September, 1869. They have two children — Grace, born in 1870; 
and Joe. Mr. Davis is a representative man of his town ; was a justice of the peace 
for five years, a school director for twenty-four years, and is active in all interests 
relating to his town. He was reared on his father's farm, but at an early age gave his 
attention to the culture of bees, and is now the largest apiarist in \Vestern Pennsylvania, 
and is also engaged in general farming. He was a son of .-Vbraham and Ruth (Mead) 
Davis. She was born in Meadville on August 16, 1789, and her husband, Abraham, 
was born in New Jersey on March 22, 1782. They were married on November 12, 
1807, and had a family of ten children — Elijah, born in 1813 ; Darius, born in 1815 ; 
William A., born in 1817; John, born in 1819; Asahel, born in 1824; P. Fillmore, 
born in 1825 ; Willard J., born in 1S28 ; Elsie, born in 1808; Susan, born in 1809 ; and 
Anna, born in 1820. Elsie died in 1850, and John in 1840. .Abraham died on March 
14, 1863, and his wife, Ruth, died on January 25, 1867. Abraham was an early 
teacher, and became a successful farmer. He was also interested in the lumber busi- 
ness, and shipped lumber to New Orleans via the Allegheny River. He was a son of 
Elijah and Desiah (Littell) Davis. Elijah settled in Warren county soon after the close 



History of Warren County. 



of the Revolutionary War. They had a family of six sons and three daughters, only 
one of whom, the youngest, is now living — James, now eighty-two years of age. Eiijah 
was born in 1757, and participated in the War of the Revolution, and died in the 
northern part of the county in 1823. 

Dean, Daniel A., Columbus, was born in Cazenovia, Madison county, N. Y., in 
1822. He was a son of Harvey and Maria (Bostwick) Dean. Harvey was born in 
Massachusetts, and Maria, his wife, was born in Rhode Island. They settled in French 
Creek, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where they died. They settled in French Creek in 
1825, and had a family of si.v sons and three daughters. Three of the sons, Charles, 
Seymour, and Harvey, enlisted and served in the army. Charles died while in service, 
and Seymour was wounded. Daniel A. Dean was married in 1845 to Cordelia Coe, 
of Chautauqua county, N. Y. She died in 1852, leaving two children — James and 
Mary C. Daniel then married his second wife, Mary Jane Holmes, of Leon, Catta- 
raugus county, N. Y., in 1856. They had a family of four children born to them — 
Robert, Charles, Jesse, and Clara, who is now a teacher. 

Deming, Andrew J., West Spring Creek p. o., Spring Creek, was born in Otsego 
county, N. Y., in 1834, and came to Warren county in 1837. He is a farmer, and now 
owns and occupies a farm of twent)-one acres. He married Sarah E. Tucker, of Spring 
Creek, by whom he had a family of three children — George E., Miriam A., and Frank 
R. Andrew J. Deming enlisted in the 42d Pennsylvania Reserves ; was wounded at 
Fredericksburg in 1862; taken prisoner in front of l^etersburg, Va., August 19, 1864, 
and exchanged on the 4th of March, 1865. 

Dennigan, Patrick, Sugar Grove, was born in County Longford, Ireland, in 1820. 
He was a son of Michael and Catharine (Bannan) Dennigan. They were born and 
married in Ireland, and with a family of three daughters and two sons immigrated to 
America and settled in Columbia county, N. Y.,in 1826, and moved to Sugar Grove in 
183S, where they both died — he in 1848, and she in 1873. Two of their children were 
born here, and but two are now living — Patrick and Bridget (Mrs. David Dalrymple). 
Patrick married in 1850 Jane E. Melius, born in Claverack, Columbia county, N. Y., 
who was born in 1822. They have a family of four children — Charles, Arabelle, 
Catharine M., and Mary E. Arabelle married Joseph Kidd in October, 1880. 

Dennison, Judge James, Sugar Grove borough, was born in Schenectady county, N. 
Y., in 1817. He was a son of Ezekiel and Margaret (Pulver) Dennison, of Schen- 
ectady county, N. Y.; they both died in Cordand county, N. Y. James married in 
1849 Rhoda Martin, of Western, Oneida county, N. Y., who was born in 1830. They 
have eleven cliildren now living — Arthur W., Will E., Martin, Edgar, Elsworth, Clay- 
ton, Barbara J., Florence, Helen, Kate, and Gerda. Jacob, Robert, and Mary have 
died ; Jacob and Robert enlisted in the army and were both brevetted captain for 
bravery in service : Mary was a teacher. Judge Dennison settled in Sugar Grove 
township in 1850. He was elected school director in 1851 and continued in that office 
for seventeen years; he was associate judge from 1866 to 1871, and county auditor for 
six years. He purchased his present homestead of ninetv-two acres in the borough in 
1883. 

Dewey, Daniel A., of Columbus, was bom in Sherburne, Chenango county, N. Y., 
May 27, 1821. He was a son of John and Maria (Whittaker) Dewey. Maria was 
born in Rhode Island, and her husband, John, was born in Lebanon, Conn. They 
were married in Chenango county, N. Y., and with two sons. Richard and Daniel A., 
settled in Columbus in 1824. They had a family of five cliildren born to them, three 
of whom are now living — Daniel A., Wilhani, born in 1826, and Melissa M., born in 
1829. The mother, Maria, died in i860, and her husband, John, in 1870. Daniel 
Dewey was married in 1847 to Maria Louise Lawrence, who was born in Providence, R. 
I. They have had a family of five children bom to them — Nellis Edgar, Daniel M., 
Lola M., Lillie M., and Lottie P. Mr. Dewey was justice of the peace for five years, 
and from early age has always been an active and energetic business man of his town. 
He has been engaged in many enterprises. He first was a teacher and professor of 
])enmanship ; was also a lumber mercliant, shipper and manufacturer, and engaged in 



Brief Personals. 



milling, and the building of mills. He also owned the Columbus Hotel, which he con- 
ducted in 1847. He became engaged in the mercantile business and was in the same 
until 1875. 

Deming, J. O., West Spring Creek p. o., was born in Unadilla, Otsego county, N. 
Y., in 1827. He was a son of Josiah, who was born in Connecticut in 1792, and died 
in 187 1. He married Assenette Mudge, of Schoharie county, N. Y., who was born in 
1793, and died in 1878. They had ten children, eight of whom are now Uving. J. O. 
Deming had six children, five of whom are now living — L. L., A. A., Addie, Clyde, 
and Mattie. He has held the oflice of auditor and school director. 

Demmon, Lyman, Russellburg p. o., Pine Grove, was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., 
in the year 1800, November 15. He married Polly La Due, who bore him children as 
follows : Hiram, born September 19, 1824; Marriette, March 23, 1830, married Truman 
Johnson; James W., born February 10, 1834; Sarah Jane, born June i, 1845, married 
John W. Agrelius ; the last three children were born in Pine Grove. Lyman Demmon 
died March 7, 1875. ^'^ ^^'^'^ ^''^ lives, at the advanced age of sixty-nine years. Mr. 
Demmon was a lumberman and farmer of the tow n, and a man that stood well in the esti- 
mation of his fellow-men. Hiram Demmon, the oldest child, married Margaret Ann Wil- 
son, by whom he had three children — Will S., Mariette (who died soon after birth) and 
Ada. Hiram Demmon, by honesty and industry, has fairly earned the comforts of life 
he now enjoys. Formerly he was a member of the Methodist Episcojial Church, but 
now is class-leader of and a member of the United Brethren's Church. James W. 
Demmon married Lucinda Farnesworth, who bore him four children. His wife died 
March 4, 1881. In March, 1885, he married Minnie G. Andrews. Mr. Demmon is a 
prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Russell, and is at present 
steward of the church. 

Dible, John, Warren p. o.. Pleasant, is a wagon maker and farmer, and was born in Al- 
sace, France, June 24, t836. He was a son of Jacob and Magdalena (Jacobs) Dible, who 
settled in Pleasant township in 1847. His father was a miller by trade, but after com- 
ing to this country engaged in farming, and cleared the largest part of 100 acres oppo- 
site Warren. He had a family of five children — Magdalena, John, Saloma, Jacob, and 
Henry. John Dible learned his trade in Warren. He now owns and occupies the old 
homestead farm in Pleasant township. He was married August 5, 1861, to Mary A. 
Amann, a daughter of George and Catherine (Eisler) Amann, of Pleasant township, by 
whom he has had a family of six children — Lewis J., Isabelle M., Clara L., Benjamin 
F., Janet E., Gertrude G. Clara died at the age of one year and seven months. 

Diefendorf, Doctor S. C, Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw. a physician and surgeon, 
settled in \Varren county in 1881, coming there from California, and in 18S4 he settled 
in Youngsville, in the practice of his profession. He was a graduate from the Geneva 
Medical College of New York, in the class of 1867 and 1868, after which he first set- 
tled in Syracuse, N. Y., and in 187 1 he went to California. He was born in Jefferson 
county, N. Y., in 1847, and was inarried in 1878 to Hattie A. Smith, a daughter of 
Horace and Martha Smith, of Geneva, 111. They have two adopted children — Adel- 
bert and Roberta. 

Dietch, Nicholas, Warren p. o., Pleasant, sexton of Oakland Cemetery, was born in 
Alsace, France, May 30, 1836. He was a son of Nicholas Dietch and Johanna (Gro.ss) 
Dietch. He located m Warren county in 1852, and has resided in Pleasant township 
since 1858, and for twenty-one years has been sexton of Oakland Cemetery. He was 
married in 1858 to Francis Foltz, a daughter of Marcus Foltz and Elizabeth (Ownes), 
of Pleasant township. They have had a family of fifteen children born to them — Joseph 
N., Lorena S., Elizabeth M., Anna M.. Adelia B., Theodora E., Charles E., Agnes F., 
Fred N., Henry F., Alice J., Lillie R., Dora B., Kate M., and Mary J. 

Dinsmoor, Silas, Warren p. o., Elk. — The Dinsmoor family was among the pioneer 
families of Elk township. Of the children, David was one of the foremost men. They 
came here many years ago. On the farm which was owned by David during his life- 
time was a valuable deposit of coal, which had been opened several years betore it came 
into his possession. In his familv were ten children, viz. — Winfield, Louisa, Silas, Eu- 



History of Warren County. 



gene, Byron, Charlie, Alice, Myron, Susan, and Clara. Of these children all but Byron 
and Susan are still living. The farm has passed to the ownership of Silas, who now 
occupies it. Originally it comprised 1,500 acres. The coal found here is bituminous, but 
its distance from any railroad, and by reason of the great consumption of gas as a heat- 
ing element, no special inducement offers for its extensive operation. The annual prod- 
uct varies from 1,200 to 1,500 tons. Its quality, however, is excellent, and it is remark- 
ably free from all objectionable deposits incident to coal deposits. 

Dickinson, James Harvey, Ackley Station p. o., Pine Grove, was born in the town 
of Lisle, Broome county, N. Y., December 12, 1819, where he lived till about the year 

1840, when he came to Jerusalem, Yates county. \\'hile residing at the latter place he 
married Mary Ann Rider, and came to Pine Grove, locating in the east part of the town 
on a tract of 100 acres, nearly all timber. He bought and operated the old " Andrews 
mill," using water power up to about fifteen years ago, since when steam power has 
been used. By his first marriage Mr. Dickinson had three children — Elizabeth, Charles 
G., and James. His second wife was Sarah Ann Neate, by whom he had one child — • 
Mary L., who, since the death of her mother, has charge of the household affairs. Mr. 
Dickinson comes of good stock, noted for generosity and thrift. He contributed liber- 
ally toward the erection of the United Brethren Church at " Cable Hollow," and is 
steward of the society. As a lumberman and farmer he has been successful, and enjoys 
the comforts of life, earned by his own industry. 

Donaldson, Andrew, Barnes p. o., Sheffield, was born in Kittanning, Armstrong county, 
March 3, 1800, and was married to Christina Dougherty April 20, 1826. They came 
to Sheffield in 1848. Their children now living are Margaret, James, Hannah, and 
John. Andrew Donaldson died August 17, 1867 ; his widow and eldest son, James, 
reside on the old homestead. James enlisted in Company D, iiith Pennsylvania Vols., 
in i86r, under the command of E. M. Pierce, but afterwards commanded by Captain 
Alexancier, of Warren. The first producing oil well was drilled in this town on the Don- 
aldson farm, 1881, since when an aggregate of eleven wells have been drilled, and their 
products afford a handsome revenue for the family. 

Dunham, Myron, Enterprise p. o.. Southwest, was born in Southwest townshi[) in 

1841. He was a son of John and Elizabeth (Campbell) Dunham. Myron was married 
in 1864 to Velona .^mes, who was born in Crawford county. They had a family of two 
children born to them — Maitland M. and Stella. Maitland was a graduate of the Ran- 
dolph Academy in 1886, and is now a medical student. Myron w-as elected county com- 
missioner two terms, served in the building of the county court-house, and was appointed 
postmaster in 1870, which office he still holds, and by a statement rendered July i, 1S86, 
shows but a balance due the government of two cents. He is engaged in a general mer- 
antile business, in which business he has been engaged since 1865, antl which he still 
carries on. His father, John Dunham, was drowned in the Allegheny River in 1842, 
leaving a widow and eight ciiildren, seven of whom are now living. His wife, Elizabeth, 
was born in 1809. John was engaged in farming and was also largely interested in the 
manufacture of lumber. 

Dupree, Hugh, Youngsville p. o., Hrokenstraw, was born in Brokcnstraw, on Feb- 
ruary n, 1810, and was a son of Richard and Elizabeth (Miller) Dupree. Elizabeth 
was born in Juniata, and Richard, her husband, was born in Northumberland county. 
They were married in Brokenstraw in 1809, and have had a family of nine daughters 
and five sons, of whom five sons and four daughters are now living — Hugh, John, Ben- 
jamin F., Enoch, Josiah W., .\nn, Susan, Adaline, and Martha L. Hugh and Martha 
L. have remained single, and their mother, during the latter days of her life, was cared 
for by them. She died in 1864 at the age of seventy-two years. Her husband, Rich- 
ard, died May 10, 1847. He was born in 1787, and settled in Brokenstraw April 12, 
1798, with his stepfather, John Andrews. Richard settled at Matthew's Run, in 1821, 
where he purchased a large tract of land. His sons, Hugh and Benjamin F., have held 
most of the town offices, and are now engaged in farming. 

Du])rey, Richard M., Chandler's Valley j). o.. Sugar Grove, was born in Brokenstraw 
township in 1843, the son of John and Samantha (Evens) Du])rey. She was born in 



Brief Personals. 



Sugar Grove December 25, 1820; they were married in 1839. John was born in Bro- 
kenstraw township. They have had six children, three of whom are now living — De- 
forest, born in 1840; Richard M., born in 1843; and Loana, born in 1846. Saman- 
tha died in 1883. They settled in Sugar Grove in 1859. Deforest married Almena 
Hazelton in 1870, and they have four children. John Duprey was a son of Richard 
and Elizabeth (Miller) Duprey; he was born in Northumberland county and she in Ju- 
niata county. They were married in Brokenstraw in i8og, and had a family of nine 
daughters and five sons — Hugh, John, Benjamin F., Enoch, Josiah W., Ann, Susan, 
Adaline, and Martha L., now living. Elizabeth, born in 1792, died in 1864; Richard, 
born in 1787, was drowned in the Allegheny River in 1847 ; he settled on the Broken- 
straw in 1798, with his stepfather (John Anderson) and his mother. 

Durant, William, Fentonville p. o., Pine Grove, a native of Massachusetts, was born 
January 8, 1797, and came to Pine Grove prior to 1824. In 1829 he married Mary Porter, 
granddaughter of Samuel Anderson, with whose family she hved at the time of their 
marriage. The children of this marriage were Nathan Porter, born in 1831, and died 
in 1847 ; Charles K., born in 1838; William, born in 1840, and died in 1875; Martha 
C., born in 1844, married Charles H. Wilsie, esq., of Pine Grove; Nathan P., born in 
1847 ; William Durant died in 1869. His widow still resides on the farm with her son 
Charles. Mr. Durant during his long residence in the town was highly respected by 
his fellow men. In early days he engaged in lumbering in a small way, but latterly he 
conducted a farm of 148 acres on the Conewango, a few miles north of Russell. 

Eldred, Edgar J., Spring Creek, was a son of George F. Eldred, who was born in 
London, England, in 1797, and came to .\merica in 1819, and settled in Warren county 
in the same year. He married Laura Cady, who was born in Vermont. Edgar J. 
is one of the well-to-do farmers of Warren county, and now owns and occupies a 
farm of 507 acres; he is also largely interested in the raising of stock. He was married 
in 1862 to Helen M. Howard, and to them have been born four children — Agnes M., 
Grace M., Edith M., and Ethel M. Mr. Eldred has served as constable for three terms, 
and has also held the office of school director, and also that of auditor, assessor, and 
commissioner. George F. Eldred was one of the early setders of Spring Creek, and for 
many years cast the only Whig vote in the town. 

Ellis, Benjamin, hotel owner and proprietor, located at Chandler's Valley; was born 
in Gerry, Cattaraugus county, N. ¥., in 1830. He was a son of William W. and Clarissa 
Foster Ellis ; he was from Massachusetts, and she from Vermont. They married and 
settled in Chautauqua county, N. ¥., in 1824, and in 1845 settled in Sugar Grove, 
where they died, he in 1874 and she in 1876. They had a family of eleven children, 
four of whom are now living — Rowe W., Mrs. Whitcomb, Benjamin, and Mrs. G. R. 
Nobles. Benjamin married, in 1850, Sophronia Salmon, who was born in Warren 
•county; she died in March, 1870, leaving two children — Edmund and Fremont. 
He married his second wife, Kate McLain, in 1871 ; they have one daughter, Jennie. 
Mr. Ellis was town commissioner six years, school director two terms, and a county 
commissioner six years. In early life he was a farmer and lumberman. In 1885 he 
erected his present hotel in Chandler's Valley, of which he is now proprietor. His 
grandfather, James Ellis, came to America with General Burgoyne in Revolutionary 
days, and soon deserted and joined General Washington's forces. He died in the serv- 
ice in the War of 1812. His wife was the mother of twenty-four children. The grand- 
father, Benjamin Foster, was a soldier in the Revolution. 

Emerson, C. H., Spring Valley p. o., Eldred, was born in Connecticut in 1817, and 
settled in Warren county in 1861. He was married in 1840 to Abigail Smith, of Chau- 
tauqua county, N. Y., who was born in 1820. They had a family of nine children, four 
of whom are now living — Mary Jane (Proper), Polly Lureta (Putnam), Milo, and Rob- 
ert D. His parents were Abraham and Jane (Sanders) Emerson. They had a family 
of ten children, seven of whom are now living. Abraham .served in the W'ar of 1812, 
and died in 1838. C. H. Emerson is one of the representative farmers of his town, and 
now owns and occupies a farm of one hujidred and seventy-five acres. 

English, William, Kinzua, p. o. Elk. — In the year 182 1 there came from Lycoming 



History of Warren County. 



county, to Kinzua, the family of John E!ngHsh. Besides the pioneer, John, there was 
his wife Mary (Hamhn) English, and their children — Mary, Elizabeth, William, Jo- 
hanna. The children born after they settled here were Fanny, Sally, Susan, Rice H., 
James, and two or three others, who died while yet infants. John the pioneer, and 
Mary his wife, both died in 1868. William English married Mary Palmeter, who bore 
him seven children — Mary Ellen, Orrin, Solon, George W., Charles, Alice, and John. 
William English is to-day one of the leading men of Kinzua. His early life was spent 
in the lumber woods and on the river, and as time advanced he developed the land into 
a good farm. The oil production has also helped him. Mr. English has always taken 
a great interest in all town affairs, and has held various of the township offices. Both 
he and his wife are prominent and respected members of the M. E. Church, and con- 
tribute largely of their means to its support. Rice H. English, a younger brother of 
William, was born in 1832. He married Sarah E. Tuttle, by whom he had a family of 
four children. He too has been prominent in town affairs, having held the office of 
justice for nearly fifty years. They are both firm Democrats. These brothers com- 
menced poor, as did the whole family, and their accumulations so far in life have been 
the result of their own personal industry and thrift. 

English, Claudius, Kinzua p'. o., Elk, was born in Lycoming county, and came to 
Kinzua about the year 1832. He married Betsey, a daughter of Jeremiah Morrison, 
and by her had a family of thirteen children, eleven of whom grew to man and woman- 
hood. These children were Lebius, Margaret, Thomas, Sarah, Robert, Henry, Eliz- 
abeth, Rachel, Sylvester, Josephine, and John. Robert, one of these sons, still resides 
in Kinzua, on the Kinzua Creek. He married Caroline White, a daughter of Eben 
White, and by her had a family of seven children, all but one of whom is now living. 
Robert English is a self-made man. When he entered married life he had little or no 
capital, but by industry, energy, and economy he has built up a comfortable home, sur- 
rounded by family and friends. In the town he is universally respected by all who 
know him. He has frequently held town offices, but does not aspire to political prefer- 
ment. By choice he is a Republican. He is not a church member, but his wife is a 
member of the M. E. Church society. Claudius, the father, died about twenty years 
ago. 

Erickson, Frederick, Dugall p. o., Pittsfield, was born in Sweden in i860. He is a 
son of Charles and Mary Elizabeth Peters Erickson; they were born and married in 
Sweden, and settled in Pittsfield in 1S66. They have a family of nine children — Chris- 
tine, Charles Oscar, Samuel, Andrew, Frederick, Hannah, Mary, Minnie, and Elizabeth. 
Frederick was appointed deputy postmaster ,in the newly-established ]50st-office at Dugall 
in 1866, and his brother postmaster ; they are engaged as general merchants at that place, 
the firm being Erickson Brothers. 

Evans, Henry H., Tidioute p. o.. Glade, the oldest merchant of Tidioute, and is now 
engaged in the boot and shoe business, and also in the general clothing trade. He was 
born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1828, and settled in Tidioute November 4, 1856, 
and engaged in the mercantile business under the firm name of Evans & Kemble, and 
in 1865 the firm was changed to Evans Brothers, and again in 1867 back to Evans & 
Kemble. In 1871 they sold out and Mr. Evans became book-keeper for the People's 
Savings Bank, and ir 1876 he became engaged in the sale of his [iresent class of goods — 
boots, shoes of all grades, gents' and boys' clothing, and all grades of rubber goods. 
Henry H. married Mary Kemble, of Crawford county, January i, 1852. They had a 
family of si.x children born to them — Mariett, I.ydia A., Susan E., Mary, Alice, Gus 
B., and William P. Lydia A. and Mariett were graduates of the State Normal school 
at Edinborough. Erie county, in 1875. They have taken a high stand as teachers, and 
are now holding prominent positions as teachers. The four others are graduates of 
the graded schools of Tidioute. .Mr. Evans was school director for twelve years, was 
a member of the council for three years, assessor for two years, and ])ostmaster for six 
years. Henry H. Evans was a son of Peter and Elsie (Hadley) Evans. Elsie was liorn 
in Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1810, and her husband Peter was born in Lancaster 
county in 1804. They were married on January i, 1828. He died in 1882, and his 



Brief Personals. 



wife in 1883. They had a family of eight children born to them, four of whom are now 
living — Henry H., Elizabeth, George, and Stephen H. (who enlisted in Company F, 
i4Sth Pennsylvania Vols., in 1862, served as first lieutenant, was disabled, and resigned 
in 1863. He was appointed postmaster upon the resignation of his brother, Henry H. 
Evans. 

Ewald, Henry, Tidioute p. 0., Glade, dealer in watches, clocks, jewelry, silver ware, 
and musical instruments, and a practical watch maker, engraver, and jeweler, having 
served a four year apprenticeship in Germany. He was born May 21, 1847, in the 
city of Alzey, Rheinhessen, Germany. He came to New York in 1865 at the age 
of eighteen, followed a business call to Petroleum Centre in 1866, and settled in 
Tidioute in 1867, establishing the business in which he is now engaged. He was the 
only son of Fredrick Leopold Ewald, one of the government officers, who died in his 
native city in 1879. Henry married Alice A. Hadley, who was born in Adrian, Steu- 
ben county, N. Y., at Faxton, in 1870. They have had a family of seven children born 
to them — two sons. Fredrick Henry and John B., and five daughters, Effie, Rosamond, 
Winnie, Pearl and Julia. 

Ewer, Asa, Columbus, was born in Cattaraugus counfy, N. Y,. August 9, 1824, and was 
a son of Asa Ewer, who settled in Columbus in 1848 as a carpenter, and later became a 
farmer, and in 1883 he retired from active life and settled in the borough. He was 
married September i, 1851, to Nancy M. Howard, who was born in Columbus, Che- 
nango county, N. Y., on February 2, 1832. They have had three children — Alston 
De Elmer, born in 1852; Isaac Mt. Vernon, born in 1861 ; and Lily Blanche, born 
March 31, 1868. Mrs. Nancy M. Ewer was a daughter of Isaac and Sally (Bassett) 
Howard. Sally was born in Sharon, N. Y., in 1800, and Isaac was born in Rhode 
Island in 1795. They were married at Shelburne, N. Y., in August, 1820, and settled 
in Columbus in 1827. Isaac died on October i, 1880. They had a family of six chil- 
dren born to them, five of whom are now living — Mary E., Hiram D., William B., 
Nancy M., and Ivory F. Mrs. Sally Howard was a daughter of Symon and Mary 
(Tillotson) Bassett, of Connecticut, who settled in Columbus, where they died leaving 
a family of four children, of whom Mrs. Sally Howard is the only one surviving. 

Falconer, James A., Chandler's Valley p. o.. Sugar Grove, was born in Sugar Grove 
in 1840. He was a son of James and Christina (Stuart) Falconer, who were born in 
Scotland, where they were married in 1833, and with two children settled in Sugar 
Grove in 1837. They had a family of six children born to them, four children now 
living — Mrs. Christina Weld, Mrs. May Clark, James A., and Penuel. James Fal- 
coner, sr., was born in 1799 and died in 1886. His wife was born in 1803. James A. 
Falconer married Clarissa Jane Morley, who was born in Harmony, Chautauqua county, 
N. Y., in 1839. They were married February 9, 1869, and have had a family of five 
children born to them — Patrick Archibald (born in 1870), Sarah Ann (born in 1873), 
Ida Rebecca (born in 1875), Rose Christina (born in 1877), Francis Morley (born in 
1880). Clarissa J. was a daughter of Vilas and Rebecca (Bo we) Morley. He was born 
in Cayuga county, N. Y., and his wife was born in Rutland county, Vt. 

Farnsworth, sr., Thomas, Sheffield, was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., and his 
young life was spent there. He died in 1841, and his wife, Nancy, died in 1879, aged 
eighty-three years. He had a family of twelve children by Nancy Heron, whom he 
married at an early day. Of these children, Thomas, jr., was the fourth child. The 
family came to Sheffield in 1838, where Thomas, jr., married Malvina Corwin, of Brad- 
ford, and by whom he had eleven children, nine of whom are now living. He is a sub- 
stantial and self-made man, and has, until late years, been a farmer and lumberman; 
but during the last few years he has operated in oil, producing the same from his own 
farm, in the north part of the town. Of these wells fourteen are on other lands, leased 
to other producers, from which he derives a royalty. The others were sunk and are 
operated by himself 

Fisher, Samuel H., Enterprise p. o.. Southwest, was born in Stafford, Genesee 
county, N. Y., in 1821. He was a son of Abner and Rebecca (Morse) Fisher. Abner 
died in Chautauqua county, N. Y., and his wife, Rebecca, died in Genesee county, 



History of Warren County. 



leaving a family of five children. Samuel H. Fisher was married in 1842 to Ulyssa E. 
Fuller. They have had three children born to them — Rebecca (who married John 
Keeler, and died, leaving one daughter — Ulyssa), Rosalie M.,and John W. Mr. Fisher 
settled on his farm of 150 acres in 1863. He enlisted in the 211th Regiment, Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers, in 1864, and was discharged at the close of the war. He was 
wounded in the front at Petersburg, and now receives a pension. 

Flasher, William S., Pittsfield p. o., Deerfield, was born in Mercer county in 1853. 
He married Esther L. Chambers in 1876. They have a family of three children — 
George Albert, William Stewart, and Benjamin Leroy. Mrs. Flasher was a daughter of 
Stephen and Elizabeth Chambers, of Crawford county. Mr. Chambers enlisted in the 
army in 1861, and was killed in battle. William at an early age learned the cabinet 
trade, and purchased his present homestead farm in 1880. He was a son of Benjamin 
and Fanny (Price) Flasher, who were born in Center county and settled in Warren 
county. They had a family of four children, two now^ living — William S. and Mary 
Jane. 

Flatt, Amos, Corydon p. o., was born in Muncey, Lycoming county, November 
28, 1803, and came to Corydon about 1828. He married Nancy Morrison, the 
oldest daughter of Abel Morrison, by whom he had five children, as follows: A 
son who died in infancy. May 19, 1837, unnamed; John W., Morrison, Louis De F., 
Francis E. John W. was born May 9, 1838. He enlisted August 5, 1862, in Com- 
pany C, Ind. Pa. Vols., and served to the close of the war; then married S. A. Lyle, 
of Kinzua, by whom he had three children. Morrison was born March 24, and mar- 
ried Ellen J. Forbes, of Corydon, by whom he had six children. Louis De F. Flatt 
married Celia Lyle, of Kinzua, by whom he had seven children. Louis De F. 
enlisted September 11, 1861, in Company D, First Pennsylvania Rifles, 13th Pennsyl- 
vania R. V. C; was wounded June 27, 1862, at Gaines's Mills, Va., and captured and 
confined in the rebel prisons at Libby and Belle Island. He was paroled August 3, 1862. 

Fletcher, John G., North Warren p. o., Farmington, is a farmer, and was born in 
Sterlingshire, Scotland, .April 28, 1820. He was a son of John and Jeanette (Graham) 
Fletcher. He immigrated to the United States in 1850 and located in Warren county 
in 1854, and settled on the farm which he now occupies, most of which he has cleared, 
and upon which he has made all of the improvements in the buildings. He was mar- 
ried June II, 1841, to Jeanette Taylor, a daughter of David and Mary (Thompson) 
Taylor, of Glasgow, Scotland, by whom he has had a family of four children — Jeanette 
(now Mrs. Wesley King), Ida (Mrs. S. Clark), Archie, and Lizzie (who is now Mrs. 
Stephen Bradley). 

Forbes, Alfred, Corydon, was a native of New York State, and came with his family to 
Corydon in March, 1832. The children were Salona, Belvin, Diantha, Jarvis L., Laura, 
Levi, Porter, and Almeda. Jarvis L. Forbes married Martha Morrison, a daughter of 
Abel Morrison, and was the first white female child born in Corydon. The children 
born to this marriage were Laura (who married George Howard), Hector, Herbert, 
Francis (who married Hiram Lloyd), Nellie (who married Ben Barnett), and Minnie 
(who married Dr. Miller, of Clarendon). Alfred Forbes, the jiioneer, went to Iowa in 
1843, taking all of the family, with the exception of Jarvis L. Belvin, another son, has 
since returned from the West. Jarvis Forbes has been a carpenter by trade for many 
years. He is a Democrat naturally, but inclines toward prohibition. Alfred Forbes, 
the father, was a practicing physician and surgeon during his residence at Corydon. 

Foster, Natiian A., Lander p. o., Farmington, is a farmer, and was born in Virgil, 
Cortland county, N. Y., October 21, 1839. He was a son of Nathan and Polly 
(Ohnstead) Foster, who were of Puritan stock. He located in Farmington in i860, 
in May, 1886, lie bought Elihu Johnson's farm, containing seventy acres, where he 
now resides, one-fourth of a mile east of Farmington Center ; he now owns tlie two 
farms. He has been married twice. His first wife w'as Jane Putnam, a daughter of 
Edson and Lizie (Kna])p) Putnam, or Faimington, by whom he had two children — 
Mary L. and Bessie A. His second wife was Mary A. Johnson, a daughter of Elihu 
and Salintha (Jones) Johnson, of Farmington. 



Brief Personals. 



Fox, Joseph H., Russellburg p. o., Pine Grove, was born in Onondaga county, N. 
Y., May i, 1813. Lorinda Akeley, his wife, was born in Plymouth, Vt., February 11, 
1822. They were married in 1840. Joseph H. Fox came to Pine Grove about the 
year 1830. The locahty in which the family has since lived is in the east part of the 
town, on high ground, and is generally known as " Fox Hill." The children born to 
them are as follows: George, born June 7, 1842, died from accidental causes in Sep- 
tember, 1877; Addison, born October 5, 1843; Fanny, born March 12, 1845, mar- 
ried A. D. Blood; Levi, January 17, 1847'; Lewis, June 13, 1848; Herbert, March 

13, 1850, died April, 1851 ; Alice, born September 20, 1851, married J. B. Holt, of 
Glade; Hubert, born June 17, 1853 ; Herman, July 10, 1855; Elva, born December 

14, 1857, died during infancy; Thurston, born July 20, 1858; Rollin, born October 
7, 1861 ; and Eva L., born January 15, 1863. Joseph H. Fox died on February 8, 
1868, front injuries received from a falling limb only two days before his death. He 
was a man who was highly respected and successful in life, and died possessed of con- 
siderable real and personal estate. 

Francis, Aaron VV., of Columbus, was born in Erie county in 1836, near the line of 
Columbus. He settled in Columbus borough in 1872. He was married in 1858 to 
Lovanch A. Spencer, of Warren county. Aaron W. Francis was a son of H. D. and 
Eliza (Walton) Francis. Eliza was born in Chenango county, N. Y., and died in 1859. 
Her husband, H. D., died in September, 1884, aged seventy-six years. They had a 
family of five children born to them, three of whom are livings Aaron W., Clara, and 
L. H. Mr. Francis also had one daughter by his second wife, Anna C. Aaron W. 
Francis commenced business as a farmer in early life; later he became a railroad con- 
tractor and builder, a business which he followed for over nine years, engaged in several 
important contracts in the West as well as in the East. He purchased the custom and 
merchant mill of Columbus in 1872. It was originally built in 1824, and is located on 
the Big Brokenstraw. He now owns several buildings in the borough, and is a large 
real estate owner in Corry. He conducts a large flour and feed store at Corry. 

Franklin, Delos, North Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Jefferson, Schoharie 
county, N. Y., on October 20, 1847. He was a son of Ansel and Rebecca (Shelma- 
dine) Frankhn, who settled in Farmington, Warren county, and cleared and improved 
a farm on which they resided until the time of their death. They had a family of three 
children — Benjamin, Cordelia (deceased), and Delos. Delos Franklin was brought 
up in Farmington, and settled in Conewango in 1873, and on the present farm in 1881, 
which he has partly cleared and improved. He was married in 1876 to Agnes Logan, a 
•daughter of John and Helen Logan, of Farmington. They have had two children born 
to them — Ella and Ansel. 

Frantz, Philip, North Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Conewango on June 
19, 1849. He was a son of George and Barbara (Geiselbricht) Frantz. His parents 
were natives of Alsace, France, who settled in Conewango in 1848, and his father cleared 
and improved the farm on which he now resides. He was born on September 24, 181 2, 
and was married twice. His first wife was Barbara Geiselbrecht, by whom he had six 
children — George, Christian, Barbara, Philip, Emeline, and Mary. His second wife 
was Salome Witz, by whom he had a family of eight children — Saloma, Fred, Samuel, 
Albert, Louisa, Christian, William, and Henry. PhiHp Frantz was married in 1877 to 
Susanna Gross, and to them have been born three children — Roy E., Ernest F., and 
Clara L. Susannah Frantz was a daughter of Christian and Catherine (Swartz) Gross, 
of Conewango township. Mr. Frantz settled on the farm on which he now resides in 
1877, and has cleared and improved a part of it. 

Fuellhart, John, Tidioute p. o., Deerfield township, was born in Grand Duchy Hes- 
sen-Earnstaet, Germany, April 15, 182 1. In 1842 he married, in Germany, Christine 
P. Freidenberger, and in 1854 they immigrated to America, settling in New Jersey, 
where he became employed in the State service as civil engineer for 1855-56, and in 
1857 settled in Pennsylvania, and through his friend, Mr. Ferris, became engineer for 
the P. and E. Railroad for 1862-63. ^^ 'he fall of 1863 he made the survey for the 
Oil City and Irvington Railroad, and was commissioned by that company to purchase the 



History of Warren County. 



right of way ; in 1864 he assisted in constructing the road, and in 1866 he retired from 
public service and purchased his present homestead in Deerfield township, two miles out 
of Tidioute. He now owns 700 acres of land. They have had eight children, five of 
whom are now living — Maggie, Julia, Emma, Charles, and Henry ; the three who died 
were William, John C, and William. 

Fuller, Jacob C, Kinzua p. o., Elk, was born in Sussex county, N. J., in the year 
1835. Prior to having attained his majority he was employed on a farm. He after- 
wards engaged in the flour-mill business. In 1859 he married Pauline Van Scoden, by 
whom he had one child — Justin. The family came to Kinzua in i86i, when Mr. Fuller 
purchased the old Merritt home, and by the acquisition of other lands now has a farm 
of 156 acres, devoted to general agriculture, and of recent years oil producing. Although 
not an old resident, Mr. Fuller has taken an active part in the affairs of the town, and 
has held the office of town commissioner for twelve years. He is a staunch Democrat 
in politics. 

Gage, Ora C, Russell p. o.. Elk, although not among the old pioneer residents of 
Elk, yet the position which he has taken among his fellow townsmen, and the efforts 
he has made for the advancement and well-being of those whom he is surrounded by, 
places him among its prominent citizens. Mr. Gage was born in New York State, and 
came to Glade some years ago. His mother married for her third hu.sband Jason An- 
drus, better known as "squire" Andrus, one of the most prominent men in the east- 
ern part of Pine Grove, which some years ago was taken from Elk. In the Gage family 
were several children — Mary Elizabeth, who is now dead ; Rev. Joel W., of the United 
Brethren Church of Sugar Grove ; Rev. Orange James, of the United Brethren Church 
of Finley's Lake ; and Ora Calvin, who is by occupation a farmer, yet is a conspicuous 
and prominent member of the same church society. Ora C. Gage married Jennie Am- 
ann, a daughter of Martin Amann, of North Warren, and by her had a family of four 
children. Their farm property presents as fine appearance as any in the town, and gives 
evidence of the thrift and energy of its ow-ner. Mr. Gage is still a young man, but prom- 
inent in the councils of the township. 

Garcelon, P. M., Spring Creek, was born in Androscoggin county. Me., in 1827. 
He was married in 1851 to fane Warner, of Tidioute, and settled in Warren county in 
187 1. His wife died in 1863, leaving two daughters — Charlotte D. and Lillian L. 
He was married the second time in i88i to Maranda Garcelon. He had the offices of 
school director and postmaster from 1871 to 1885. In 1S71 he opened with his brother, 
W. Garcelon, a large general store. W. G. died in 1876. Mr. Garcelon also has a 
large interest in all farming and lumbering pursuits. His father, who was known as 
Captain Peter, was born in 1787, served in the War of 1812, and died in 1867. He had 
a family of thirteen children, five of whom are now living — (iolder, Lucy A., Catherine, 
Dorcas, and P. M. 

Gardner, R. Loren, Lander ]). o., Farmington, is a farmer and was born in .Scho- 
harie county, N. Y., August 14, 1847. He was a son of Henry and Catherine (Ruland) 
Gardner, who were among the ])ioneers of Farmington. They for a time resided in 
Crawford county, and also in Schoharie county, N. Y.; later in life they returned to 
Farmington, where they resided until the time of their deaths. They owned and occu- 
pied the farm on which R. Loren Gardner now resides. They had two children — Di- 
antha and R. Loren. R. Loren's paternal grandfather was David Gardner, a pioneer 
of Farmington, who in later life removed to Oil Creek, and died there. R. I^oren Gard- 
ner was married November 21, 1871, to Emma \\'hite, a daughter of Orange and Nancy 
Robbins White, who were early .settlers in Farmington. 'ITicy have had one child liorn 
to them — Edith P. 

Garfield, Samuel, Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, manager and keeper of the Rouse 
Hospital and Warren county farm ; was born in 1851, at Busti, N. Y. He is the son of 
Jose];h and Lucy P. Garfield, and was married in 1876 to Agnes, daughter of Richard 
E. and Laura Brow n, of Farmington. He then removed from Chautauqua county, N. Y., 
to Farmington, Warren county, and on .\pril i, 1882, the Warren county commissioners 
appointed Mr. and Mrs. Garfield as superintendent and matron of Rouse Hospital. 



Brief Personals. 



Gautz, Andrew, Warren p. o., Conewango, is a farmer and was born in Alsace, 
France, on June 3, 1837. He came to America in 1855, and settled in this county, 
where he worked as a farm hand for several years. He was in the late War of the Re- 
bellion, enlisting in 1863, in Company F, 151st Pennsylvania Vols. He was wounded 
in the hip at the battle of Gettysburg, and was honorably discharged after ten months' 
service. After his return he resided in Mead township for four years. He settled on 
the farm on which he now resides in 1869, which he cleared and improved himself, 
clearing in all in this county about 100 acres. He was a son of Andrew and Mary ( Yehl) 
Gautz. Andrew was married in 1863 to Mary Stringer, daughter of John and Mary 
(Arnold) Stringer. They have a family of seven children — Celia, Lizzie, Hattie, Frank, 
Leonora, Samuel, and Charlie. Mr. Gautz is an active member of the G. A. R. 

George, Benjamin, Tidioute p. o., Triumph, was born in Columbia county, O., February 
17, 1817. He was a son of Thomas and Sarah (Gansalus) George, who were born in 
Pennsylvania and died in Ohio. They had a family of nine children born to them, four 
of whom are now living. Benjamm married Harriet St. John in 1857; she was born 
in 1832. They had two children born to them — Margaretta (born in 1859) and Ben- 
jamin A. (born in 1874). They settled on their present farm in 1857, which Benjamia 
purchased in company with his brother, Russel St. John, who died, willing his half in- 
terest to his sister, Mrs. Harriet George. Harriet was a daughter of Ansel and Mar- 
garetta (Woods) St. John, who had a family of ten children born to them, three of whomi 
are now living — Harriet, William, and Fanny. One brother, Samuel St. John, enlisted 
from Ohio in 1861, and served up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1862. 
Benjamin George married his first wife, Anne Frasier, in 1841. She died August 29, 
1851, leaving a family of three children — Henry B. (born in 1847), Thomas C. (born 
in 1843), and Sarah (born in 1842). Henry B. was murdered July 25, 1SS4, at [oliet, 
111. Thomas enlisted in Captain Brown's company (he was a son of the -Abolitionist 
John Brown) and served through the war. He was in the Anderssnville prison for 
eleven months. Mr. George's farm is thought by many to be a rich oil section, not yet 
developed. He settled in a dense forest in 1857, and now has a large tract of heavy 
timbered land adjoining his residence. 

Gibbs, William, Corydon p. o., was one of the first settlers of Corydon, having im- 
migrated from New Jersey at a very early day. His children were John L., Nancv, 
who married S. H. Hull, of Warren ; Morris, William, Cynthia, who married Benjamin 
Tome ; George, at the time of his death a resident of New Albany, Ind. William Gibbs 
was a lumberman and farmer, and for many years a justice of the peace of Corydon. 
S. H. Hull, who married Nancy Gibbs, built the hotel at Warren now known as the 
Carver House. 

Gilson, Rufus P., Barnes p. o., Sheffield, the second child of John Gilson, the early 
settler in Sheftield, was born on January 15, 1833. He married Martha L. Blanchard, 
a daughter of Jasper P. Blanchard, formerly of Sheffield. They had a family of five 
children — Charles, Alma N. (who married Thomas Matthewson), Delia (who married 
George Noblet, of Forest county). Carver, and Cemer T., both of whom live at home. 

Gilson, Dr. Willis O., Spring Creek p. o., was born in Crawford county in 185S, and 
is a son of C. B. and Margurita Moore Gilson. He read medicine at Cleveland, and 
was graduated from the Western Reserve Medical College of Cleveland in 1883; he 
settled in Spring Creek, where he has a large and increasing practice. He is also pro- 
prietor of a drug store, opened in 1885. He was appointed postmaster in 18S6. He 
married Jessie J., daughter of Wm. Baker, of Spring Creek, in 1885. 

Goodwin, Jacob Ransom. Pittsfield, was born in Brokenstraw November 8, 1816. 
He was a son of Jacob and Mary Kinnan Goodwin. Mary was born in New fersey 
and died in 1858, and Jacob was born in Concord, N. H., in 1770 and died in 1847. 
He was married in 1792, and settled in Conewango in 1793. They liad a family of 
nine children born to them, three of whom are now living — Hannah, Poliv, and Jacob 
R. Jacob Goodwin, sr., was drafted and served in the War of 1812. He was a mill- 
wright by trade. Jacob R. Goodwin, jr., was married in 1851 to Octavia R. Matthews, 
who was born in Mayfield, Fulton county, N. Y., in 1823. They have had a femily of 



History of Warren County. 



four sons born to tliem — Edgar, Adelbert, Curtis M. (who was married in 1883 to 
Arvilla Fancher, by whom he has had two children — Paul and Ruth O.), and Fred D. 
Octavia was a daughter of Alinas and Catherine (Bovee) Matthews, who came from 
New York State and settled in Freehold in 1835, where they died, leaving a family of 
four children. 

Gorman, George W., Tidioute p. o.. Triumph, was born in Trium])h in 1859. His 
parents were Benjamin and Alvira Clelland Gorman, she born in Chautauqua county, 
N. Y., and he in Crawford county in 1818 ; -they were married in 1848, and have a 
family of five children — Nathan, Sarah E., Angeletta A., Mary J., and George W. 
Benjamin Gorman was a son of Michael and Sarah Gilson Gorman. They had a fam- 
ily of thirteen children, three sons and two daughters of whom survive — Benjamin, 
Peter, Michael, and the two daughters. They settled in Deerfield township in March, 
1819. Michael was born in Pennsylvania. His parents immigrated from Ireland be- 
fore the Revolution ; his son William served in the army during the Revolution, and 
afterwards settled in Ohio. George W. Gorman married Margaret Lott, of Tidioute, in 
1882, and they have a family of three children — Josephine, Clarence, and Gertrude. 
He was a graduate of Saint Bonaventure College in 1867, and became a civil engineer. 
He was employed on different railroads, and settled on his present farm in 1882 — the 
old homestead of his oarents. His wife was a daughter of Henry and Charity Lott. 

Goudy, Dr. Samuel P., Garland p. o., Pittsfield, a physician and surgeon, was born 
in Monroe county, O., in 1847. He read medicine in Crawford county with Dr. J. J. 
McMellen, and graduated from the medical college in 1881, and settled in Garland in 
the practice of his profession. He was married in 1873 to Jane Robinson, of Albion, 
Erie county. They have had one child born to them. Dr. Samuel P. Goudy was a 
son of Isaac and Mary (McMillan) Goudy. He was born in Pennsylvania and Mary 
his wife was born in ISIaryland, and died in Ohio in 1863, aged fifty-three years. Isaac 
died in West Virginia in June, 1878, leaving four sons and one daughter — David, Isaac, 
Virginia, John, and Dr. Samuel. 

Gould, Morgan Lewis, Ackley Station, p. o. Pine Grove, was born in Wayne county, 
N. Y., in the year 1819, and in the year 1834 came to Pine Grove with the family of his 
father, Daniel Gould, for whom the extreme northeast jjart of the town is to this day 
called " Gould Town," this family being its earliest pioneer. Morgan Gould married 
Rachel Seekins, daughter of Stephen Seekins. also a pioneer family of tlie town. Mor- 
gan L. Gould was one of a family of eight children, sons and daughters of Daniel Gould. 
When the family settled in Gould Town there was no cleared land between their home 
and Conewango Creek. Mr. Gould is a member of the United Brethren Church. 

Graham, Margaret, Garland p. o., Pittsfield, was born in Garland in July, 1810. 
She was a daughter of George and Isabella (McCormick) Long. George Long was 
born in Virginia and was a son of Colonel Cookson Long, one of the honored ofticers 
of the Revolution. George also served in the Revolutionary War as a private. At the 
close of the war Colonel Cookson Long returned to Virginia, where he died. His son 
George settled in Lycoming county, where he was married about 1792, and had a fam- 
ily of ten children, only two of whom are now living — Hugh (born February 2, 1802) 
and Margaret (born in 1810). (ieorge came to Warren county in 1800, where he re- 
sided until the time of his death, which occurred in 1854. Mrs. Margaret Graham was 
married in 1837 to Samuel Graham; he was born in 1805. They had a family of four 
children born to them, only two of whom are now living. Samuel (iraham died April 
13, 1884, after a successful business life. The greater part of his life he was engaged in 
the lumber business. 

Grandin, William J., Tidioute p. o., CJlade, was born in Venango in 1S38. He was 
a son of Samuel and Sarah (Henry) Grandin. Samuel was born in New Jersey in 1800. 
They were married in 1832, and his wife died in 1852, leaving a family of five children, 
four of whom are now living — John Livingston. E. B., William J., and Maria (who is 
now the widow of Mr. Nevhart; she has two children — Emma and Adriah). Samuel 
settled in Tidioute in 1840, where he now resides in the eighty-sixth year of his age. 
He was a general merchant anil lumberman, manufacturer and dealer, and was one of 



Brief Personals. 



the first men who was interested in the production of oil in his section. He retired from 
active business Hfe in i860, his sons becoming his successors, when they soon closed the 
merchandise trade, and he became an independent banker. The sons became bankers, 
oil producers, refiners, and dealers. They also invested largely in western lands, and 
have now a farm in Dakota of thirty-eight thousand acres, which is run largely as a grain 
farm. Messrs. J. L. and E. B. have a grazing farm of twenty-eight thousand acres also 
situated in Dakota. They are also large land owners in Pennsylvania, and are now 
residents of Tidioute. William J. Grandin married Mary Breeisholtz, of Ulster county, 
N. Y., in 1S63; she died in 1878, leaving a family of four children — Frank, Charles, 
Willie, and Mary. He then married his second wife, Annie Merkle, in 1881. They 
have had one child born to them — Guy. 

Gray, Robert M., Sugar Grove, a retired farmer of Sugar Grove, was born in Union 
City January 8, 1813. He was a son of James and Polly (Miles) Gray, of Huntington 
county, who settled in Sugar Grove in March, 1823. They had a family of two chil- 
dren — Robert M. and Harriet. James Gray died June 30, 1858, and Polly, his wife, 
died in December, 1863. James held many of the town and county offices. His 
parents were from the north of Ireland, and settled in Waterford. Polly was a daughter 
of Robert and Catherine Miles, who were early settlers in Sugar Grove. Robert M. 
Gray married Hannah Wells October 4, 1843. She died in 1863, leaving a family of 
four children — Florence, James M., Harriet, and Hugh F. (who married). Robert M. 
then married his second wife, Sarah Parratt, May 9, 1869; she died in September, 1882. 
He then married his third wife, Mrs. Mary A. Vickery, January 16, 1884. She was 
born in Litchfield, Herkimer county, N. Y. 

Gregg, Thomas, Chandler's Valley p. o.. Sugar Grove, was born in County Antrim, 
Ireland, in 1830, son of William and Jane (Davidson) Gregg. William died in Ireland, 
leaving a widow with si.x children. The mother with two daughters and the son, 
Thomas, then nine years old, came to America in 1839. They all had ship fever, and 
the mother died in a hospital in New York. The three children came to Beaver 
county, where the sisters, Jane and Margaret, died. A brother, James, came in 1840, 
via Canada, with his family, and died, leaving four children. Thomas settled in Sugar 
Grove in 1S41, and in 1852 married Salona Gibbs, of Sugar Grove ; she died in 1869. 
In 1870 he married Lena Redell, who was born in Sweden. He purchased his present 
homestead in July, 1870. 

Gregory, Charles H., Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, owner and proprietor of the 
Fairmount House at Youngsville, was born at Oxford, Chenango county, N. Y., in 
1834. He was a son of Asa and Arena (Spencer) Gregory, who settled in Farmington 
in 1839, where Asa died in 1855. aged fifty-six years. They had a family of twelve 
children. Those now living are Ezra, Lavina, Uretta, Betsa A., and Charles H. 
Charles H. Gregory was married in 1854 to Delia Smith, who died in 1857, leaving 
one child, who died at the early age of ten months. He then married for his second 
wife Mrs. Rosetta H. Gregory, widow of his brother, in 1858; she died in i860, leav- 
ing three children by her first husband — Rodolphus, Daniel, and Inez. Mr. Gregory 
then married his third wife, Mrs. Elvira (Spencer) Davis, in 1861, and she died in 1862, 
leaving one son by her first husband. He then married his fourth wife, Mrs. Lucy 
Soules, of New York, in December, 1866. Mr. Gregory settled in Youngsville in Octo- 
ber, 1878, as proprietor of the Fairmount Hotel, and in July, 1882, purchased the hotel 
property, and is to-day one of the popular landlords of the county. He has a fine 
livery for the accommodation of his guests and the public. He is a man of large busi- 
ness qualifications and has extensive experience in various branches of business. He, 
after the death of his third wife, enlisted in Company 12, Ohio Independent Battery, 
and served to the close of the war, and was discharged at Columbus, O. He emi- 
grated to Kansas in 1856, and met with flattering prospects at Kansas City; but his 
plans were changed on account of sickness, and he came back to Sugar Grove. 

Green, Thomas, Irvington p. o., Btokenstraw, was born in Philadelphia in 1836. He 
was a son of Samuel and Susan Green, who were natives of Philadelphia. They had a 
family of three sons and one daughter. Samuel and Susan died in Philadelphia. 



History of Warren County. 



Samuel's grandparents (Green) were from England, and of the staunch Quaker order, 
and settled in Burlington, N. J., from England. Thomas Green was married on Sep- 
tember 20, 1874, to Clarissa A. Skinner, of Waterford. They had a family of four chil- 
dren; three are now living — Henry, William Baldwin, and Virginia — and one child died 
in infancy. Clarissa was a daughter of Stephen and Clarissa R. Skinner. Thomas 
Green settled in Irvine, Warren county, in 1875, as joint freight agent for the P. and 
E., B. N. Y. and P., the N. Y. Lake Erie and Western Railroads, and Empire Line Com- 
pany, and now has under his employ six men. 

Green, Sterling, Kinzua p. o.. Elk, was born in Pine Grove October i, 1816, and 
the oldest of ten children of Seth W. and Sarah (Portman) Green. Seth W. Green 
came from the Eastern States, settled at Pine (irove about the year 18 13, where he 
married his wife, Sarah Portman, and lived there a number of years engaged in lumber- 
ing, and running the same down the river, sometimes as far as New Orleans. His 
mode of coming back was in a barge as far as Pittsburgh, thence in a keel boat to 
Warren, taking three months to make the trip. After living a few years in Pine Grove 
he moved to Morrison's Flats, below Warren. From there he moved in canoes to the 
head of Kinzua valley, then known as Morrison's Mills, owned by James, Ephraim, 
and Samuel Morrison. He finally moved one mile below, on Sugar Run ; engaged in 
farming until his death, which occurred August 8, 1848, at the age of fifty-si.x years. He 
left a family of ten children, who are as follows : Sterling, Wellington, Lloyd, Sarah 
Jane, Thomas, Artemus, William, James, Jesse, and Mary Ann. Sterling Green, the 
oldest son, in 1842 started in the lumber business with M. McCullough, of Pittsburgh, 
and A. H. Sunimerton, of Warren, at the Hazeltine Mills, one mile below Corydon. 
Afterward, in 1848, he assumed proprietorship of the Morrison House, in Warren, 
formerly kept by Richard Orr. Two years later he bought land in Kinzua and 
moved there, where he built the first hotel in 1851, which made a comfortable home for 
lumbermen and travelers. His first wife was Polly Cornelius Fogies. Their children 
were J. Wesley, George W., James S., Sarah J., and Mary Ann, the two last named 
dying before they reached womanhood. On March 23, 1878, his wife died of heart 
disease. Three years after he married Mrs. Doctress Louisa Green, of Jamestown, N. Y. 
The life of Sterling Green has been a varieil experience of ]iioneer hardships incident to 
a first settler. He commenced when fifteen years of age to go with his father to Pitts- 
burgh on rafts, and to push back in a canoe, a tiresome operation of two weeks' time, 
or more, lying on the shores at night and pushing against the current all day a canoe 
loaded down with provisions and articles for family use, there being in those primitive 
days no steamboats or railroads. In after years he became one of the leading mer- 
chants of Kinzua; was postmaster for eighteen years; frequently held town offices, and 
is now, at the age of seventy, one of the trustees of the M. E. Church society. 

Grosch, Christian, Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Conewango on May 3, 
1849. He was a son of George and Barbara (Kiel) Grosch, both natives of Bavaria, 
Germany. His father was born on January 4, 1820, and was a son of Andrew and 
Ricky (Enger) (}rosch. He came to .\merica in 1845 and settled in Conewango, where 
he cleared and improved the farm on which he now resides. He was married on April 
22, 1847, to Barbara Kiel, a daughter of Michael and Susan (Huscher) Kiel, who .settled 
in Conewango in 1839. He has had a family of five children born to him — Delia, Chris- 
tian, George, Dora, and William. Christian settled on his present farm, whicli consists 
of III acres, in 1873, and cleared and made all improvements himself He was 
married on December 29, 1872, to Mary Ka.shmer, a daughter of .\dani and Otilda 
Kashmer, of Conewango. They have had five children born to them — Fred, Ann, 
Albert, George, and Frank. 

Gross, George J., Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Conewango townshi]) on 
March 26, 1849. He is a son of Daniel and Philopena (Martin) Gross, who were early 
pioneers in the township of Conewango. He was married on April 8, 1879, to Sarah 
Arnold, a daughter of John and Saloma (Weiler) Arnold, of Conewango. He has 
lived on tiie farm on which he now resides since 1879. 

Gross, Joim A., Warren ]). o.. Conewango, was born in Brokenstraw on May 15, 



Brief Personals. 



1846. He was a son of Daniel and Philopena (Martin) Gross. His paternal grand- 
father, Martin Gross, was a native of Prussia, and settled in Conewango at an early- 
day. He had a family of four sons — Jacob, George, Daniel, and John. Of these 
Daniel had a family often children — Philopena, Daniel N., Elizabeth, Mary, John A., 
George, Sarah, Carrie (deceased), William, and Henry. Mr. Gross settled on the farm 
now occupied by his son, John A., in 1S46, and cleared and improved it, where he 
resided until 1886, when he removed to Glade township, where he now resides. 

Grander, Daniel, Warren p. o., Conewango, is a farmer and lumberman, and was 
born in Conewango township on January 16, 1840. He settled on the farm, w-hich he 
now owns and occupies, in 1868. He was a son of Henry D. and Mary E. (Gross) 
Grunder, who were natives of Bavaria, Germany, and settled in Conewango in 1832 on 
the river road, and cleared and improved a farm on what is now known as the academy 
land. They later removed to Pleasant township, where Henry D. engaged in the lum- 
ber business, and where he died in March, 1871, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. 
He had a family of seven children born to him — John, Mary, Elizabeth, Henry, Cath- 
erine, Daniel, and Lewis. Daniel was married three times. His first wife was Sophia 
F. Geer, a daughter of Benjamin and Narcissa (Stedman) Geer, of Conewango. They 
had two children born to them — Mary and Irena. His second wife was Caroline 
Milex, and his third wife was Mary Gross, a daughter of Daniel and Philopena (Martin) 
Gross, and by whom he had two children — Caroline and Harry B. 

Grunder, John, Warren p. o.. Pleasant, is a farmer, and was born in Allegany 
county, N. Y., February n, 1827. He was a son of Henry D. and Mary Elizabeth 
(Gross) Grunder, who settled in Conewango in 1832. John Grunder was brought up 
as a farmer from the time he was five years old, and has been a resident of Pleasant 
township since 1S48, where he has been engaged in lumbering and farming. He was 
married in 1856 to Elizabeth Grunder, a daughter of John and Catherine (Meyers) 
Grunder, of Allegany county, N. Y., and by her had a family of three children — 
Edward H., John, and Hyett. 

Hale, Danford, Ackley Station p. o.. Pine Grove, was born in Brattleboro, Wind- 
ham county, Vt., in 1833. He married Lurina Ames, and had two children — Charles, 
who was killed by a falling limb, and Cynthia, who was born in Pine Grove, but now 
deceased. The family came to Pine Grove on May 25. 1830. In 1847 Mr. Hale, 
after the death of his wife, Lurina, married Louisa Aiken, by whom he had four 
children, viz.: — Francis A. (who married Anna M. Adams), Florence A. (who mar- 
ried George McCoy), David J. (who married Hannah Cable), and Emerson J. Dan- 
ford Hale was a successful farmer, and at the time of his death was comfortably situated. 
His farm was among the best in the county, and consisted of 170 acres. It is now 
divided between his sons Francis and David, they having purchased the shares from the 
other heirs. 

Hale, William, Ackley Station p. o.. Pine Grove, a native of Vermont, was born at 
Brattleboro, in the year 1801, and immigrated to Warren countv with his uncle in or 
about 1830, and settled in Pine Grove. He married Mehitable Thurber, who bore him 
eight children, viz.: — Joseph, Edward T., Mary Jane (who died at the age of nineteen 
years), Sarepta (who married Thomas C. Hunt), and the other four died in infancy. 
William Hale died on April 27, 1883, and Mehitable, his wife, died in 1879. Edward 
Thurber Hale married Eliza, a daughter of Lewis Jones, of Farmington, by whom he 
has had three children. His farm comprises 143 acres, lying but a short distance from 
Conewango Creek, and here Edward T. Hale resides, surrounded with comforts that 
during his well spent life he has fairly earned. 

Hall, Galbraith A. I., Sheffield, a son of Orris Hall, and one of the early settlers in 
Warren county, was born on July 11, 1841. He was married at the age of twenty-five 
years to Flora Bell (a daughter of William Bell, of Wanen), who bore him six children, 
all of whom are living. They are Orris P., Belle E., Mary Ella, Josephine M., Gal- 
braith A. I., jr., and Katie V. In 1865 and 1866 Mr. Hall w^as in Alabama growing 
cotton, but this venture, although not a failure, was not particularly lucrative. After 
this he returned to Warren, and for two years remained there, after which he removed 



xl History of Warren County. 

to Sheffield where he since resided. The tract of land owned by Orris Hall has recently 
been sold to the Pennsylvania Gas Company for a consideration of $82,500. 

Hallock, A. D., Garland p. o., Spring Creek, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., 
in 1844, and settled in Warren county in 1861. He married Sarah E. White, of War- 
ren county, and to them have been born four children — Velta, Myra, Siles, and one 
child who died in infancy. Mr. Hallock is a carpenter by trade, but is now engaged in 
farming and owns and occupies a farm of sixty-three acres. He was a son of Jesse J., 
and Lovina (Van Buren) Hallock. Mrs. Hallock was born in Herkimer county, N. Y. 
They had a family of nine children born to them, five of whom are now living — Lucy 
J., Elizabeth Ann, A. D., J. L., and Alice L. 

Hamilton, James C, Sugar Grove, was born in Sugar Grove in March, 1832, and 
married Lucy Pratt, a daughter of L. H., and Julia Pratt, in i86o. She died in De- 
cember, 1864, leaving two children, only one of whom is now living — Edgar R. 
James C. married his second wife, Eliza F. Younie, in April, 1870. They have had 
one daughter born to them — Margaret S. Mr. Hamilton has been justice of the peace 
for fifteen years, and has been notary public since 1884, and has held most of the town 
offices. He was surveyor for twenty years. James C. was a son of John and Catherine 
(Brown) Hamilton. She was born in Belfast, Ireland, and John was a native of York 
county. They were married in Sugar Grove, in the first frame house that was ever 
erected in Warren county (still standing near the present residence of J. C. Hamilton), 
in 181 5. They had a family of seven children born to them, four of whom are now 
living — John B., Mrs. A. C. Jackson, Mrs. Frazine, and James C. Mr. John Hamil- 
ton came from Franklin and settled in Sugar Grove in 1827. He was sheriff of Ve- 
nango county before the division, and afterward associate judge of Warren county. 

Hamilton, John B., Sugar Grove, is a retired gentleman, and was born in Sugar 
Grove in 1827. He was a son of John and Catharine (Brown) Hamilton. John Ham- 
ilton was born in York, York county, in 1782, and his wife was born in Belfast, Ire- 
land, March 13, 1789. They were married in Warren county in 181 5. They had a 
family of seven children born to them, four of whom are living — Mrs. Jane D.Jackson, 
Mrs. Emeline C. Frazine, John B., and James C. Two of the children died at an early 
age. John Hamilton died October 29, 1857, and his wife, Catherine, died September 
27, 1862. John Hamilton settled in Sugar Grove in 1827. His wife came to War- 
ren county about 1804 with her brothers, David, John, William, and James Brown. 
John Hamilton, sr., was sheriff of Venango county before the division ; he was also 
side judge of Warren county and an early teacher. 

Hanchctt, Newton N., 'I'idioute p. o., owner and proprietor of the Hanchett House 
in Tidioute, was born in Erie county in 1843, son of Cyrus and Mary (Reed) Han- 
chett. Cyrus was born in New York State, and Mary in Erie county. They both died 
in Erie county in 1852, leaving a family of six children. Newton married Mary 
Bakley, of Crawford county, in 1864; they have one son — Frank. They setrted in 
Tidioute in 1865, he for a time laboring for others, but finally engaging in oil s]iecula- 
tions till 1874, when he embarked in the hotel business. In 1883 he purchased his 
present hotel, located on Main street, one block from the depot ; it is the popular house 
of the borough. 

Hanpin, Charles, Dugall p. o., Pittsfield, was married August 11, 1880, to Betsey 
Pier. They have had one child born to them — Herby D. Betsey was a daughter of 
Calvin and Eliza (Hitchcock) Pier, who came from Harmony, N. Y., and settled here in 
1861. They had a family of four children born to them — Ada, Emily Manerva, Will- 
iam, and Betsey. Charles Hanpin was a son of Daniel and Sarah (Cooper) Hanpin. 
Sarah was born in New York city, and her husband, Daniel, was born in England in 
1827, and settled in Sugar Grove in 1832 with his parents, James and Catharine (Clark) 
Hanpin. Daniel and Sarah Hanpin had a family of two children born to them — Al- 
zada and Charles. Sarah was a daughter of Nathan and Martha (Brooks) Cooper, who 
were born in England. 

Harmon, Hosea, is a resident of Sugar Grove village, and was born in Rensselaer 
county, N. Y., at Sand Lake in 1818, and setded in Sugar Grove with his parents in 



Brief Personals. xli 



1830. His parents were Nason and Anna (Bennett) Harmon. They had a family of 
thirteen children born to them, three of whom are now living — John, Hosea, and Sarah 
(who is now the wife of Amasa Baker.) Nason died in 1855, and his wife, Anna, died 
in i86g. Hosea married Sally Johnson, who was born in Oneida county, N. Y., in 
1827. They were married at Freehold in 1846, and have had two children born to 
them, one son who died at an early age, and Emma, who married J. P. Miller. Mr. 
Harmon was compelled to labor from early age to aid his parents. He worked on a 
farm for three years at the rate of three dollars per month, and at the age of nineteen 
and one half years he purchased his time for one hundred dollars of his father, and by 
his perseverance and frugal habits he has reached great wealth worthy of imitation. 

Harrington, Murry W., Sugar Grove, the only furniture dealer and undertaker in 
Sugar Grove, was born in Jamestown, N. Y., in 1848, and settled in Sugar Grove in 
1871, there engaging in the furniture manufacturing business under the firm name of Van 
Dusen & Harrington. In 1873 he purchased his partner's interest and has since con- 
ducted the general furniture and undertaking business. In 1869 he married Ida 
Pickard, of Salisbury, Vt., who was born in 1848. They have a family of three children 
— Lynn P., John F., and Lucina P. Murry W. was a son of Horatio W. and Lucina 
L. (Deland) Harrington. They were born in Jamestown, N. Y. She died in 1850, 
leaving one son. By a second marriage Horatio W. had five children. 

Hazard, David G., Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Washington county, 
N. Y., on June 27, 1810. He was a son of Sylvester and .^nn Hazard, natives of 
Rhode Island, who settled in Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1814. David G. settled in 
Brokenstraw in 1837, as a carpenter and builder. He was married on August 15, 1843, 
to Drusilla Mead, who was born on October 31, 1820. David G. died on March 7, 
1874. They had a family of four chil(iren, three of whom are now living — Armitta A., 
Francilla A., and Cassius A. Armitta A. was married in 1868 to Samuel R. Broughton. 
They have three children — Fannie T., Orrin, and Frank. Cassius A. was married in 
1886 to Cora L. Sabin. Mrs. Drusilla Hazard was a daughter of William and Susannah 
(Davis) Mead. William was born in Northumberland county December 23, 1784, and 
died September 19, 1852. He settled in Brokenstraw in 1806, where he lived and died. 
His wife was born in New Jersey March i, 1784, and died October 28, 1865. William 
served in the War of 1812. Susannah was a daughter of Elijah and Desiah Davis, who 
settled in Warren county in the year 1801. Elijah served in the Revolutionary War. 
They had a family of nine children, of whom James Davis is now the only surviving 
one. He was born on October 2, 1804, and now resides at Youngsville. William and 
Susannah Mead had a family of six daughters and two sons, four of whom are now 
living — John, born November i, 1808; Julia A., born December 7, 1813; Drusilla, 
October 31, 1820, and Susan, born February 27, 1823. Drusilla's grandparents were 
among the first settlers at Meadville, and the place took its name from them. 

Hazeltine, David D., Matthew's Run p. o., Sugar Grove, is a lumber manufacturer 
and farmer, and was born in Sugar Grove in 1853. He was married in June, i88i, to 
Emma F. Abbott, a daughter of Francis and Catherine Abbott. They have had two 
sons and one daughter born to them — Kate Naoma, Ivan A., and Francis H. David 
D. was a son of Harden and Polly (Stilson) Hazeltine. He was born in Brattleboro, 
Vt., in 181 1, and died in 1882. His wife, Polly, was born in i8n. They were mar- 
ried in 1835, and had a family of nine children born to them, six of whom are living — 
Pardon, Clinton, Susan, Abner, Almena, and David D. Pardon and Clinton enlisted 
in Company F, 151st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served on nine month's 
call. Abner enlisted in 1S63. Polly was a daughter of David and Mary (Burroughs) 
Stilson, who settled on Stilson Hill in 18 14. They had a family of nine children, four 
of whom are now living — Harry H., David, Betsey, and Polly. 

Hunter, Jahu, Tidioute p. o.. Glade, was born in Limestone township, Warren 
county, in 1830. He was a son of Matthew and Sarah (Magill) Hunter, who was born 
in Warren county. Their parents came from eastern Pennsylvania, and settled here 
about iSoo. They had a family of ten children, five of whom are now living, Jahu 
and four sisters. His parents died on the homestead farm. Jahu married Margaret R. 



History of Warren County. 



Magee, of Limestone township, January i, i860 — a daughter of Alexander G. and 
Nancy (Smith) Magee. They had two children — Livingston L. and Leila L. Leila 
L. died in 1883, aged eleven years. Jahu was reared on his father's farm in Limestone 
township, and was engaged in making and marketing pine timber from 1S50 to 1857 ; 
then came to Tidioute and engaged in the mercantile business until i860. He then 
disposed of his mercantile business and entered into the business of producing crude 
petroleum ; also the manufacturing and shi])ping of sawed lumber. He again became 
engaged in the mercantile business in 1868, under the firm name of Mabie & Hunter, 
and continued a successful business until 1882, when he disposed of his interest to his 
partner, W. H. H. Mabie. He was one of the original stockholders of the Tidioute 
Savings Bank. He was also one of the charter members of the Tidioute and Economy 
Bridge Company, that built the fine wire suspension bridge spanning the Allegheny 
River at Tidioute in 1873. He owns some stock in the Tidioute Chair Factory. He is 
interested in the Missouri Lumber and Mining Company. He is also a member of 
the firm of Hunter & Cumings, who have been engaged in producing crude petroleum 
since 1S73. He built him a very pleasant home in Tidioute, on the corner of Mani 
and Walnut streets in 1876, where he now resides. 

Hertzel, William A., Warren p. o., Mead, is a farmer, and was born in Pleasant town- 
ship August 7, 1853. He was a son of George and Emeline (Schuler) Hertzel, who 
were natives of Alsace, France, and early settlers in Pleasant township. Later they 
moved to Mead township, where they cleared and improved the farm which is now 
owned by Emeline Hertzel, and occupied by William A. and his brother Philip. His 
paternal grandparents were Christian and Saloma (Asher) Hertzel, who came to Warren 
in 1833, and settled in Pleasant township in 1835, on the farm now occupied by their 
son, Philip Hertzel. They had a family of six children — -George, Jacob, Philip, Mar- 
tin, Andrew, and Mary; of these, George had a family of five children — Sally, Eme- 
line, George, Philip, and William. W'illiam A. Hertzel was married August 5, 1877, to 
Ella Gant, a daughter of John and Mahala (Morrison) Gant, of Mead township. They 
have had two children born to them, Harry and Cora. 

Highhouse, William, Warren p. o.. Pleasant, brick manufacturer and farmer, of the 
farm of Highhouse & Baker, was born in Sa.xon Germany, .\ugust 30, 1829, and set- 
tled in Pleasant township in 1870, and located on the farm he now occupies, most of 
which he cleared and improved himself; the same year he embarked in the manufac- 
ture of brick with his brother Ernest, which partnership existed up to 1885. In 1882 
he started in his present kiln, and in January, 1886, E. N. Baker became associated with 
him, under the firm name of Highhouse & Baker, manufacturing a million or more of 
brick annually. 

Hill, Samuel, Garland p. o., Pittsfleld, proprietor of the Johnson House, at Garland. 
He was born in Ireland in 1850, and was a son of David and Margaret (.Moore) Hill, 
who were born and married in the north of Ireland, and emigrated to America, and set- 
tled in Upper Canada in i86r. They had a family of nine children born to them ; three 
brothers came to Warren county; David came in 1865, Robert in 1866, and Samuel 
first settled in Crawford county, in 1868. They first engaged in the oil business. Rob- 
ert became a lumber manufacturer, and is now a member of the firm of .\ndrews & 
Hill. David is now engaged in the hotel business in Canada. Samuel was married in 
1876 to Caroline Lopez Johnson, widow of James Johnson. She had two daughters, 
Hattie (was married in 1881 to D. D. Horn), and Blanche. Samuel Hill is now engaged 
in the hotel and farming business. 

Hinsdale, Charles, Sugar Grove p. o., Farmington, is a farmer, and was born in 
Farmington September 25, 1841. He was a son of Harmon and Fanny (Hurd) Hins- 
dale, who were natives of Cayuga county, N. Y., who settled in what is now known as 
Farmington, in 1841, on the farm which is now occu])ied by his widow, in the center of 
the west part of the town, which his father cleared and improved, and on wliich he 
lived and died, his death occurring in 1885, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. He had 
a family of four children. Charles Hinsdale was reared in Farmington, where he has 
always resided. He settled on the farm which he now occupies in 1 868, and on which 



i 



Brief Personals. xliii 



he has made all the improvements He was in the late War of the Rebellion, enlisting 
in 1863, in what was known as Baldwin's Company, and was on guard duty at Ham- 
burg and Washington, and was honorably discharged, on account of disability, after 
seven months' service. He was married in 1864 to Eugenia, a daughter of William and 
Sally (Temming) Rowland, by whom he had a family of seven children, all of whom are 
now living. 

Hodges, Robert A., Lander p. o., Farmington, is a farmer, and was born in Oneida 
county, N. Y., June 30, 1829. He was a son of Abram and Esther (Kennedy) Hodges, 
who settled in Sugar Grove township in 1837, and lived and died there. They had a 
family of six children — Sally, Hazard, Dexter C, Polly, Abram, and Robert A. The 
latter was married August 26, 1859, to Melvina Miles, a daughter of David and Polly 
(Smith) Miles, of Sugar Grove. Her father, David Miles, was the first white child born 
in Warren county. Mr. Hodges has had a family of eight children — Martha E., Elmer, 
Fred, William, Clyde, Charles, Mary, and Hattie. Mr. Hodges located in Farmington 
on the farm which he now owns and occupies in 1870. 

Hodges, William, Russellburg p. o.. Pine Grove, came from Pittsburgh to Warren in 
the year 1814. He had with him a family, among them a son, John Bryant Hodges, 
who married Rachel Fountain. They had seven children, viz.: Walter, who died at the 
age of twenty-one years; William, and John A., married Phebe, daughter of John Ake- 
ley, of Russellburg; Eliza Jane, who married James Benson, of Randolph ; Elizabeth, 
who became the wife of George S. Benson, also of Randolph ; Rachel Maria, who mar- 
ried Frank Mabbett, and Maria, who married George A. Walkley, of Russellburg. 
William Hodges married Phoebe Akeley, daughter of Joseph Akeley, a pioneer, and 
had but one child, Martha E., who died during infancy. His wife died in July, 1882. 
Mr. Hodges then married Mattie Fry, of Oswego county, N. Y. John B. Hodges died 
June 2, 1880. His wife, Rachel, died November 12, 1876. For thirty years prior to 
1875 William, son of John Bryant Hodges, was a blacksmith, and by frugality and in- 
dustry acquired a comfortable fortune. Subsequent investments have increased this to 
goodly proportions. Mr. Hodges, although not a church member, is an earnest Chris- 
tian. In political life he has chosen the Republican party, and has held town offices at 
various times. His grandfather William built the court-house at Warren about the year 
1826. 

Holman, John J., Germany p. o.. Elk, and Harriet, his wife, with their children, 
Harriet, Mary Ann, John, Thomas, George, Susan, William S., Benjamin F., and Henry 
C, came from Monroe county, N. Y., to Quaker Hill about 1845 or 1846. John J., 
the father, went to Oregon some two or three years later, and died there in 1865. John 
jr., Susan, and Thomas went to Illinois, where they now reside. Henry C. lived in 
Chautauqua county, N. Y. Benjamin F. died in the army. William S. Holman still re- 
sides in Elk, and is one of the substantial citizens of the township. He married Mary 
A. Jones, a daughter of Reuben Jones, by whom he had a family of four children. By 
occupation Mr. Holman is a farmer, and is an essentially self-made man. In the affairs 
of the town he has taken an active part, and is frequently called upon to hold town 
office. Mr. Holman is a firm Republican. 

Holt, Peter, Cornplanter p. o.. Elk, was born in Lancaster, England, April 2, 181 1, 
and was one of the sons of William Holt, whose family settled on the Conewango in 
1829. In 1833 Peter came to Elk to work on a mill, and there met Susan B. Howard, 
whom he married in 1834. His wife was an orphan child, who lived with the Pound 
family. The children of this marriage were Elizabeth (who was burned to death), Mary 
Jane, Manley D., William H., James B., Alva M., Peter C, Susan A., Albert O., Cora 
E., and one child that died unnamed. In 1850 Peter Holt built the mill on Cornplanter 
Run, which was recently burned. In the lumber woods he was a pioneer and has oper- 
ated largely during the last half of the century, having owned nearly two thousand acres. 
Since 1864 he has turned his attention to farming. His residence is situated on the 
bank of the Allegheny opposite the reservation. At an early day Mr. Holt took an ac- 
tive part in the affairs of the town, but advancing years have compelled him to retire. 

Holt, William, Glade p. o.. and Ann, husband and wife, Peter, David, Abel, Eliza- 



History of Warren County. 



beth, Hugh, Catherine, William, James B., and Ann, children, came from, Lancashire, 
England, to Glade soon after 1830. James B. now resides on a good farm on the Con- 
ewango, in Glade. He married Alice Fox, of Pine Grove, who bore him one child, 
Jennie B. Holt. James B. Holt is a substantial farmer, and has dealt some in the lum- 
bering business. In politics he has favored the Democratic party, but is now a Prohi- 
bitionist. He is a member of the U. B. Church. 

Horner, Thomas, Pittsfield, was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He was a son of 
Thomas and Mary (Barr) Horner, who emigrated to America in 1848, and settled at 
Painted Post, Steuben county, N. Y. They had a family of eight children — Mathew, 
Mary, John, Thomas, Willie, Jennie, James, and George. Thomas, jr., married Ann 
Elizebeth Pierce in September, 1866 ; they have one son. John M. Horner moved to 
Pittsfield in 1869, as foreman of E. W. Ross's planing-mill, and remained with E. W. 
Ross while he was in business there. He entered tlie employ of McGrew Bros, in 1882, 
as their superintendent, and is in their employ in that capacity at this date. McGrew 
Bros, are engaged in the lumber business in Pittsfield. Horner enlisted from Painted 
Post in Co. C, 107th N. Y. Vols., on July 9, 1862, and served with the regiment through 
the balance of the war, and was discharged at Elmira, N. Y., June 17, 1865, and was 
in all the battles the regiment was in, namely, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, 
Resaca, Dallas, Peach Tree Creek, sieges of Atlanta and Savannah, battles of Averys- 
borough and Bentonville, carried a gun from the day the regiment received them until 
turned over at Elmira, he having been with the regiment every day from the time it 
went out until its return. 

Hopkins, Andrew Joseph, a general merchant of Columbus, was born in Westford, 
Windham county. Conn., February i, 1848. He was a son of James and Nancy E- 
(Parkhurst) Hopkins, who were married in Connecticut, and settled in Columbus in 
March 1850, where he became engaged in the business, that of blacksmithing. They 
now reside in Corry, and have had a family of six children born to the them — A. J., 
John T. (who was born in 1854, on the same day of the week, same day of the month, 
and the same hour of the day, and just six years from the day on which .\ndrew Joseph, 
his brother was born), Abbie A., Louisa, Hattie, and Carrie E. James M. enlisted in 
Co. C, First Engineers, of New York State, under Colonel E. W. Sherrill, ui September, 
1861, and served until the close of the war. Joseph A. enlisted in the same company 
in 1864 and served to the close of the war. Andrew Joseph Hopkins was married in 
1872 to Efifa J. Araidon, who was born in Erie county. She was a daughter of John 
and Charlotte (Curtis) Amidon. They have had three children born to them — Emma 
L., Mary A., and John D. Andrew J. has been school director and constable, and in 
early life he was a tarmer and butcher. He commenced blacksmithing in 1879 in 
Spring Creek, and m 1884 he settled in Columbus, and there also is engaged in the same 
business. 

Horn, Clinton, Sjiring Creek p. o., was born in Spring Creek, Warren county, in 
1822, son of Daniel Horn, who was born in New Jersey in 1788, and died in 1879, and 
Mary Steele, who was born in 1798 and is dead. In 1842 Clinton married Jane Sam- 
ple, of Columbus, Warren county. They have had one child — Estelle. He has a farm 
of 410 acres. 

Horn, Dorr D., Garland p. o., Pittsfield, was born in Spring Creek township in 
1853. He was a son of Hiram and Mary (Watt) Horn. Hiram was born in Spring 
Creek in 1816, and his wife Mary was born in the same township in 1817. They were 
married in 1845, and had a family of three sons born to them — Othello D. (born in 
1848), Ellery D. (born in 1851), and Dorr D. (born in 1853). Dorr D. was married in 
1880 to Hattie Johnson. They have had one daughter — Grace (born May 10, 1884). 
Hattie was a daughter of James and Caroline Johnson. Dorr D. became a clerk for 
the firm of Andrews & Horn, and in 1873 he, with his brother, embarked in the manu- 
facture of lumber, and is now doing business under the firm name of Horn Brothers. 

Horn, Ellery D., Garland p. o., Pittsfield, was born in Spring Creek in 1851. He 
was a son of Hiram and Nancy (Watt) Horn, who were born and married in S[)ring 
Creek. Hiram was born in 18 1 6, and died in March, 1880. Nancy, his wife, was 



i 



Brief Personals. xlv 



born in 1817 and died in i860. They were married in 1845, and had a family of three 
sons born to them — Othello D. (born in 1848), Ellery D. (born in 1851), and Dorr D. 
(born in 1853). Nancy was a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Andrews) Watt. 
Her paternal grandfather was John Watt, who settled in Spring Creek in 1797, coming 
there from Lancaster. Hiram Horn settled in Garland in 1873. He had been suc- 
cessful as a farmer, lumberman, oil producer, and land operator, and in 1873 he became 
engaged in the mercantile business. He held many of the offices of the town. He 
was a son of Daniel and Mary (Steele) Horn, who came from the East and settled in 
Spring Creek in 1790 or 1795. Daniel Horn was sheriff of Warren county in 1825 
and 1828. He was also an early school teacher, and became a large land owner. He 
was born in 1779, and died July 21, 1869. His wife Mary was born in 1791 and died 
in 1870. They had a family of eleven children born to them, seven of whom are now 
living — Sarah, Clinton, Irvin, Martha, Ellen, Mary Etta, and Stephen. Ellery Horn 
was married in 1876 to Flora White, a daughter of Albert T. and Jane White, of Pitts- 
field. They have had three children born to them — Mary E., Hiram Leo, and Dan 
Roy. Mr. Horn is a farmer, and general superintendent of the Horn Brothers' lum- 
ber-mill of Garland. 

Horn, Othello D., Garland p. o., Pittsfield, was born at Spring Creek in 1848. He 
was a son of Hiram and Mary (Watt) Horn, who were born in Spring Creek. Hiram 
was born in 1816, and Mary, his wite, in 1817. They were married in 1845, and had 
a family of three sons born to them — Othello D. (born in 1848), Ellery D. (born in 
1851), and Dorr D. (born in 1853). Hiram Horn died March 17, 1880, and his wife 
died in April, i860, at the age of forty-three years. Hiram was an early oil producer 
and operator in oil lands and lumber, and became a partner in the mercantile business 
of H. Andrews &: Co. He was an active and enterprising business man, and was a son 
of Daniel and Mary (Steele) Horn, natives of Eastern Pennsylvania, who came among 
the very first settlers of Spring Creek, coming there about 1790. Daniel was an early 
teacher, and was also sheriff from 1825 to 1828, and was extensively engaged in the 
lumber business, leaving a large tract of land to his family. He was born in 1779, 
and died July 21, 1859; his wife, Mary Steele, was born in 1791 and died in 1870. 
They had a family of eleven children born to them, seven of whom are now living. 
Othello D. Horn was married in 1874 to Henrietta White, a daughter of William C. 
and Mary White. They have had one child born to them — Winifred. Mr. Horn em- 
barked in the mercantile business in 1873, and is now also engaged in lumber manufac- 
turing and shipping, and is a meinber of the firm of Horn Brothers in the lumber, saw 
and planing-mill business. 

Hosterman, John F., Shippensville p. o.. Elk, was born in Beaver township March 
17, 1833, and was a son of David and Susanna (Reeser) Hosterman, who settled in 
Beaver township in 1829. His father was a tanner by trade, and was engaged in this 
in the pioneer days of Edenburg and Shippensville. He settled in Shippensville in 1835. 
He had a family of five children — Henry, Jacob, John F., Mary J., and David R. John 
F. is a carpenter and millwright by trade, and was married in 1872 to Mary M. Mahle, a 
daughter of Helwig and Frances (Ricenbrode) Mahle, of Washington township. John 
and Mary have had two children — Ulysses H. and Mary L. 

Houghwot, Alexander, Lander p. o., Farmington, is a farmer, and was born in 
Warren, August 27, 1822. He was a son of Daniel and Catherine (Stewart) Hough- 
wot. His father was a native of Staten Island, N. Y., and was a carpenter and joiner 
by trade. He settled in Warren about 181 2, where he worked at his trade for a num- 
ber of years. In 1837 he located in Farmington, and there engaged in farming, where 
he resided to the time of his death. His wife was a daughter of James and Catherine 
(Hord) Stewart, pioneers of Sugar Grove township, and were of Irish descent. Daniel 
Houghwot had a family of ten children, who grew to maturity — Hannah, John H., 
Alexander, Catherine. Rosetta and Rosanna (twins), Jane, Isaac, Daniel, and James. 
Alexander Houghroot came to Farmington with his father. He was married in 1846 to 
Betsey Gregory, a daughter of Asa and Arena (Spencer) Gregory, of Farmington. They 
had a family of three children born to them — Hattie, Kufus K., and Edgar P. Mr. 



xlvi History of Warrex County. 

Houghwot lived on the farm he now occupies for thirty years, a part of which he cleared 
and improved. 

Houghtling, W. H., Bear Lake p. o., Freehold, general hardware merchant, is one 
of the most enterprising business men in the county. 

Houghton, Hiram T., Sheffield p. o., was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., in the year 
1816. His father died when he (Hiram) was fourteen years old, leaving his mother a 
widow with six children, of which he was the oldest. At the age of twenty years, with 
the family of Thomas Farnsworth (his uncle), he settled in Cherry Grove, formerly a 
part of Sheffield, where he cleared a piece of land and built a house for his widowed 
mother, who came about one year after. He stayed until 1842, when he settled on the 
Tionesta Creek, m Sheffield township. He went to Van Buren county, Mich., in 1844, 
and remained there for three years, when he returned with his family to make a visit 
and sell his lands — between three and four hundred acres — of which he had acquired in 
earlier years. But not being able to dispose of them satisfactorily he has since lived in 
Sheffield. He served with credit in the late war for three years, in Company H, Tenth 
Regiment P. R. V. C. His first wife was Sally Ann Aber, by whom he had four chil- 
dren — Phebe I. (Mrs. John Farnsworth), William H., who served three years in the late 
war, in the same company with his father, and was taken prisoner at the battle of Fred- 
ericksburg, since died in Florida with yellow fever ; Mary Ann (Mrs. Frank Collins), and 
Ann Eliza, who died at the age of eight years. For his second wife he married Jane 
Ann Farnsworth, who bore him three children — Ada A., married J. E. Barnes (son of 
Erastus Barnes), who died in Warren, Pa. ; Marvil M. A., married Alonzo P. Barnes, 
and Asa J. The last three reside in Sheffield. Hiram T. Houghton by occupation was 
a carpenter. Before the war he was a Democrat, but since he has affiliated with the 
Republican party. 

Howard, Ezra D., Columbus p. o., one of the early and prominent settlers of Colum- 
bus township, was born in Chenango county, N. V.. in 181 1, and settled with his parents 
in Columbus in 1834, and died July 19, 1886. He was a son of P. C. and Betsey 
(Button) Howard. They had a family of four children, all of whom are now dead. 
Ezra D. Howard was married in March, 1834, to Emeline Vermilyea, who was born in 
Columbus, Chenango county, N. Y. They had a family of seven children born to them, 
two sons and five daughters — Stacy, who married Marilla Berry ; Asa M., who married 
Elizabeth Faulkner; Betsey Angeline, married Henry E. Dodge; Angeline married 
Byron Benson ; Celia ; Harriet, married Thomas Welman ; Alice married H. Mead. 
Emeline (Vermilyea) Howard was a daughter of Jesse and Betsey (Veil) Vermilyea. 

Howard, Henry B., North Warren p. o., Conewango, is a farmer, and was born in 
County Queens, Ireland, in 1809. He was a son of William and Ellen (Brearton) 
Howard. He was reared in Ireland, and in 1837 he immigrated to the United States, 
and located in Troy, N. Y., where he resided for seventeen years. He settled in Con- 
ewango in 1853, on the farm which he now owns and occupies, and which he had pur- 
chased in 1844, and has cleared and improved it himself, with the exception of two acres. 
He was married 1833 to Mary A. McLaughlin, a daughter of James and Eliza (Thomp- 
son) McLaughlin, of County Queens, Ireland. They have had a family of .seven chil- 
dren born to them — Margaret, James, Henry, William J., Eliza, John R., and Thomas. 
Of these children Henry and John were in the late War of the Rebellion. Henry 
served three years in Company H, Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was honorably 
discharged, after which he re-enlisted in Company G, Two Hundred and Eleventh 
Pennsylvania Volunteers as first lieutenant, September 3, 1864, and served to the close 
of the war. He was married on December 13, 1866, to Helen E. Waters, of Warren, 
Pa. John enlisted in Company G, Two Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volun- 
teers, September 3, 1864, and was honorably discharged June 2, 1865. He died Octo- 
ber 31, 1885, from disease contracted while in the service William was married in 
December, 1864, to Louisa Hartsen, of Indiana. 

Howard, Lyman, of Rome, Oneida county, N. Y., with his family came to Quaker 
Hill, Elk townsliip, in the year 1830, and soon after moved to Pine Grove. The chil- 
dren of this family were Sally, Azariah, Lucy, Charles, Lyman M., Clarissa, and Harriet, 



Brief Personals. xlvii 



all born before the family came to Pennsylvania, and Mariette, Hannah, and Sarah, 
who were born in Pine Grove. Sally married Warren Ellsworth ; Azariah married 
Sarah Martin, and after her death Almira B. Myers; Lucy married John Gould; Clar- 
issa married Rolland Martin; Harriet married John Smith; Mariette married John 
Delaney ; Hannah married L. A. Roberts ; and Sarah married Plum Smith. Azariah 
Howard is one of the most respected residents of Pine Grove. He is a substantial 
farmer, having no acres. He has had six children, viz. — Lorinda, Jane (now dead), 
Thomas M., Catherine E., David M., who married Lizzie Chapman, and Flora, who is 
now dead. Mr. Howard is a Republican in politics. He is not connected with any 
church society. 

Howard, William B., Columbus, was born in Columbus, Chenango county, N. Y., in 
1824. He was a son of Isaac and Charlotte (Bassett) Howard. Charlotte was born in 
Connecticut, and her husband, Isaac, was a native of Rhode Island. They were married 
at Chenango county, N. Y., in 1819, and emigrated to Columbus, Warren county, in 1827, 
and purchased the farm two miles east of the borough. Isaac, who was born in 1795, 
died in i88i, leaving his widow (who was born in 1800) and five children — Mary E., 
Howard D., William B., Ivory F., and Nancy M. William B. learned the carpenter's 
trade, and became a contract builder, and has erected many of the best buildings in this 
section. He retired from his profession in 1S78, and became one of the founders of the 
Equitable Aid Union, which was organized March 22, 1879, at which time he was elect- 
ed treasurer. It now has a membership of sixteen thousand. He was married in 1855 
to Martha M. Raymond, who was born in Columbus. She died in 1881, leaving a fam- 
ily of two children — S. Belle and W. Bert. S. Belle married Howard Rowe, and died 
in 1884. 

Howard, William C, Columbus, was born in Sherburne, Chenango county, N. ¥., 
in 181 1. He was a son of John G. and Sally (Whitford) Howard. John G. was born 
in Rhode Island in 1783, and his wife, Sally, was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1788. 
They were married June 14, 1804. Sally died in 1834, and her husband died on May 
20, 1875. They had a family of five children, two of whom are now living — William 

C. and Huldah, now the widow of Mr. Johnson. They settled in Columbus in 1833. 
William C. Howard was married on June 22, 1837, to Miranda Marble, who was born 
in Columbus, Chenango county, N. Y., in March, 1819. They had a family of eight 
children born to them — Jane L., Mary L.. Helen M., S. Jannette, Albert M., Harriett 
M., John Dewitt, Frank O. Jane married J. D. Babbitt, and died leaving one son, J. 

D. Babbitt, jr. Dewitt is also deceased. Mr. William C. Howard has held several 
offices of the town, and is known as " major" throughout the county. He was an early 
blacksmith and gunsmith, and in 1850 he became the station and ticket agent tor the P. 
& E. Railroad, and was also agent for the American Express Company. He is now the 
stock shipping agent at Columbus station for the P. & E. Railroad. 

Hull, John, Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, was born at Camillus, Onondaga county, 
N. Y., in 1807. He was a son of Chester and Sally (Comstock) Hull. She was born 
in Massachusetts and her husband Chester was born in Connecticut. They settled in 
Brokenstraw township in 1819, where they died. They had a family of eight children, 
five of wliom are now living. Chester Hull was a soldier and served in the War of 
1812, and one of his sons was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion. Chester Hull was 
a stone and brick mason and builder and contractor. John Hull was married June 9, 
1831, to Eliza Mead, who was born in 1812. They have a family of four children — 
Sarah, born in 1832 ; Elvira E., born in 1834 ; Nelson W., born in 1841 ; Flora A., born 
in 1849. John Hull has been burgess several terms, councilman for several years, a 
school director, and a lieutenant and captain for several years in the independent com- 
pany of his town. He retired from active business life in 18S0. Eliza Hull was a 
daughter of John and Sarah (Huffman) Mead. She was born at Susquehanna, and her 
husband John at MeadviUe. They had a family of thirteen children, eleven of whom 
are now living and ten now reside in Warren county. 

Humphrey, Reuben, Columbus, was born in Oxford, Chenango county, N. Y., in 
181 2. He was a son of Ebenezer and Polly (Simons) Humphrey, who settled in At- 



xlviii History of Warren County. 

tica, Wayne county, N. Y., in 1813. Polly died in 1813, leaving a family of seven chil- 
dren — Hiram, died 1886; Cyrus, died 1886; Annis, and Reuben are now living. Eb- 
enezer then married for his second wife Mrs. Folsom. They had two daughters born 
to tliem. Reuben settled in Columbus township in 1829. He was married in 1837 to 
Mrs. Rebecca (St. John) Vermilyea, who was born in Genesee county, N. Y., in i8io. 
They have had a family of four children born to them — George A. (born in 1843), Fam- 
ily A. (born in 1848), Elva A. (born in 1850), and Edgar A. (born in September, 1853). 
(Jeorge A. enlisted in Company F, Ninth New York Volunteers, under Colonel Beards- 
ley, in 1861, and died at the hospital at Washington in 1862. Elva married Cyrus 
Shippee, and Edgar is a natural genius. He erected his dwelling where his parents now 
reside, and which is a model house. Mrs. Rebecca had by her first husband, four chil- 
dren, only one of whom is now living — Mrs. Mary Jackman. Rebecca was a daughter 
of Nathan and Martha (Eads) St. John, who settled in Columbus in 1815 or '16. Na- 
than was a Revolutionary soldier and a pensioner. 

Humphrey, Winfield S., Columbus, was born in Columbus, Warren county, May 23; 
1861. He was a son of Horatio E. and Caroline S. (Manwarring) Humphrey. Caro- 
line was born in Genesee county, N. Y., January 19, 1825, and Horatio E. was born in 
Allegany county, N. Y. April 29, 1824. They were married on November 15, 1845, 
and had a family of two sons and three daughters born to them, three of whom are now 
living — Susan, Flora A., and Winfield S. One son, Hiram S.,died July 17, 1875. aged 
twenty-eight years. Horatio E. Humphrey was a son of Hiram and Betsey L. (Hills) 
Humphrey. Hiram was born in Oneida county, N. Y., in 1802, and his wife Betsey 
was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., in 1802. They were married on April i, 1825. 
Betsey died April 9, 1859, and Hiram died June 6, 1886. Mr. Hiram Humphrey was 
a son of Ebenezer and Polly (Simons) Humphrey, who settled in Attica, N. Y., where 
Polly died in 1814. leaving a family of seven children. Ebenezer married for his second 
wife, Mrs. Folsom, widow of Oscar P'olsom. Winfield S. Humphrey was married Sep- 
tember 5, 1886, to Tacie M. Allen, of Chautauqua county, N. Y. 

Hunter, Gates M., Enterprise p. o.. Southwest, was born in Limestone in 1832, and 
was married in 1854 to Sarah Merritt(a sister of Judge Merritt), who was born in Chau- 
tauqua county, N. Y. They have had a family of nine children born to them — Asa M., 
Delbcrt O., Francis M., Effie, Addie, Lincoln, Ulysses, Melissa, Merilla, and Harry 
Gates. Gates M. Hunter was a son of Robert, jr., and Lovisa (Manross) Hunter. Rob- 
ert was born in Warren county, and died in 1845. His wife Lovisa was born in Ver- 
mont and died in 1872. They had a family of eleven children born to them, si.\ of 
whom are now living — H. Jared, G. M., Esther, Elizabeth Candace, and Wilson. Rob- 
€st, jr. was a son of Robert, sr., and Betsey Hunter, and was born in County Cork, Ire- 
land. They settled in Southwest about 1795, and were one of the first families to settle 
there. They had a family of ten children born to them. Gates M. Hunter now owns 
and occupies the old homestead which was deeded in 1832 to his father, but which was 
purchased from the Holland Land Company years previous by his grandfather on con- 
tract. 

Hutchinson, Timothy O., is a farmer of North Warren, was born in Tunbridge, Vt., 
on March 3, 1823, and was a son of Timothy Hutchinson, sr. Timothy O. was reared 
in Orange and Windsor counties, Vt. He is a blacksmith by trade and located in War- 
ren county in 1839, and resided there and at Slieffield for eight years, after which he 
went to reside at Ridgcway, Elk county, where he resided for nearly three years, when 
he returned to Warren, where he worked at his trade up to 1877, when he became en- 
gaged in farming in Conewango, on the farm which he now occupies. He has been 
married twice. His first wife was Cleopatra V. Brown, to whom he was married in 
1848. She was a daughter of John Brown, a pioneer of Sheffield. They had a family 
of seven children, two of whom are now living — Delwin O. and Mary. His second 
wife was Mrs. NLTrian Squires, of Conewango, to whom he whom he was married in 
1883. 

Irvine, Thomas, Pittsfield, was born in Freehold in November, 1835. He was mar- 
ried in 1862 to Adalaide Frisbie, who was born in Homer, Cortland county, N. Y. 



Brief Personals. 



They have had one daughter born to them — Ida M. (who was born in 1863, and was 
married in 1880 to Charles E. Price. They have had two children born to them, Alta 
and Millie). Adalaide was a daughter of Andrew M. and Minerva (Alvord) Frisbie. 
Mrs. Frisbie was born in Homer, Cortland county, N. Y., and her husband Andrew was 
born in Jefferson county, the same State. They settled in Pittsfield in 1858. Thomas 
Irvine was a son of Samuel and Margaret Irvine. Margaret died in 1870, leaving a 
family of seven children, six of whom are now living — Thomas, Martin, Mary A., Jane, 
Charles, Margaret. His paternal grandparents were James and Esther Irvine, who were 
among the early settlers of Warren county. 

Jackson, James M., Warren p. 0., Conewango, was born in what is now Glade town- 
ship on March 5, 1819. He was a son of David and Lucretia (Cannon) Jackson. His 
paternal grandfather was Daniel Jackson, who came from Onondaga county, N. Y., and 
settled in Conewango township in 1797, cleared a small tract of land there and erected 
a grist-mill, and later a saw'-mill. He also erected the first frame dwelling in Warren. 
He held the office of justice of the peace for many years and was a prominent man in 
his day. He had a family of five children — Daniel, Ethan, David, Ebenezer, Rachel, 
and Sylvia. David Jackson kept the tavern in Warren for many years, but in later life 
he engaged in the lumber business and farming. He had a family of six children — 
Marvel B., Timothy, James M., Rebecca, Maria, and Virginia. His wife was a daugh- 
ter of Elisha Cannon, of Philadelphia. David Jackson died in 1S60 in the seventieth 
year of his age. James M. Jackson was brought up in Warren, and now owns and oc- 
cupies the old homestead where his father died. He was married in 185 1 to Mary 
Summers. They have had a family of five children born to them — Louie, David, Willie, 
Harry, and Maude. Mrs. Jackson was a daughter of Langford and Sarah (Bingham) 
Summers, of Farmington. 

Jackson, Joseph Barton, of Irvinton, Warren county, was born in Ripton Hills, 
Derbyshire, England, December 27, 1822, and was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth 
(Barton) Jackson, who came to America in 1829. Thomas was a practical miller, and 
was employed in several mills in New York State, and settled in Youngsville in 1845, 
where the mother Elizabeth died in 1846, leaving a family of six children, five of whom 
are now living. Thomas died in Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1879. Joseph B. Jack- 
son enlisted in the Forty-ninth New York in 1862. He was married in 1852 to Fidelia 
Hoxie, who was born on June 25, 1852. They have had two children — Leon and 
Flora. Joseph B. Jackson settled in Irvinton in 1883, and is now engaged in running 
the Irvine custom flouring mill on the Brokenstraw Creek. 

Jackson, Robert R., Lander p. o., Farmington, is a farmer and was born in Spring 
Creek township, March 30, 1829. He was a son of Elijah and Mary (U'att) Jackson. 
His father was a native of Connecticut, and settled in Spring Creek township in Novem- 
ber, 1797, where he cleared and improved a farm, and on which he resided until the 
time of his death. His wife was a daughter of John Watt, and was born in Penn's Val- 
ley, Lancaster county. Her father was also a pioneer of Spring Creek. Elijah Jackson 
had a family of thirteen children born to him — Sarah, Hannah, John, Mary, Uri, James, 
Ziba, Washington, William M., Alex W., Harriet, Charles M., and Robert R. Robert 
R. was brought up in Spring Creek, where he resided up to 1863, when he removed to 
Farmington on the farm which he now occupies. He was married January 29, 1862, to 
Mary H. Eldred, a daughter of George F. and Laura (Cady) Eldred, of Spring Creek. 
They have had two children born to them — William E. and Nora E. (now Mrs. Frank 
Gregory). 

Jackson, William H., Pittsfield, was born in Harmony, Chautauqua county, N. Y., 
in 1833. He was a son of David and Betsy G. Jackson. Betsy was born in Connect- 
icut, and her husband David was a native of Onondaga county, N. Y. William H. 
Jackson was married in March, 1853, to Lucia Grosvenor, of Freehold township, War- 
ren county. She was a daughter of Nathan and Nancy Booktus Grosvenor ; he was 
born in Philadelphia, and she in Reading. They had two children born to them — Frank 
W., who married Ida Mclntyre, and died in 1S80 of typhoid fever; and Maribell, who 
was fitted for and became a teacher and has taught for ten terms; she was married June 



1 History of Warren County. 

i6, 1886, to B. S. Dunning, of Erie. William H. Jackson settled on a farm near where 
he was born, soon after he was married, but in the fall of i860 moved to Tidioute, in the 
early oil excitement ; was superintendent of some oil wells for nearly five years; during 
that time he was elected assessor of the town of Limestone, and one term collector, 
also school director. In 1867 he was engaged as superintendent of the Rouse Hospital, 
which position he filled for six years. He was engaged in the manufacture of lumber 
in Youngsville for three years, and then moved on to his farm of 140 acres and engaged 
in the breeding of blooded cattle, and in the dairy business. He is now a school director 
of Pittsfield township. 

Jackson. William Miles, Spring Creek, was born in Spring Creek in 1818, and claims 
to be the tirst male child now living who was born in this town. He was a son of Eli- 
jah J. and Mary (Watts) Jackson. Elijah J. was born in Stratford, Conn., in 1772, and 
died in 1845. Mary (Watts) Jackson was born in Penn's Valley, Lancaster county, in 
1784, and died in 1855, leaving a family of thirteen children, four of whom are now liv- 
ing — Hannah, William M., A. W., and Robert R. William Miles Jackson has held al- 
most all of the town offices. He now owns a farm of 204 acres, on which was built the 
first log cabin in Spring Creek, Warren county, by a white man, in November, 1797. 

Jacobs, Dr. Charles A., physician and surgeon, of Youngsville, was born in Mercer 
county, in 1856; was educated at Grove City Normal Academy, read medicine at Mill 
Brook, graduated at the Cleveland Medical Collejie in 1883, and settled in his profes- 
sion at Youngsville in 1884. In 1885 he married Belle Jackson, daughter of G. A. and 
Elvira King Jackson. Dr. Charles was the son of Isaac and Mary N. Lamb Jacobs. 
She was born in Mercer county and he in Ohio, and they were married in 1840. They 
have a family of ten children. One son enlisted in the One Hundredth Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, and was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness and died in 1864. 

Jagger, Enoch F., Sugar Grove, was born in Sugar Grove, and was a son of James 
and Mary (Brown) Jagger. She was born at Warren, on the Allegheny, in 1807, sur- 
rounded by Indians. James was born at Hempstead, L. I., in 1802. They were mar- 
ried in 1827. James settled here in 1817, and died in 1866, leaving a widow and seven 
children ; three sons are now living — David B., Enoch F., and Charles. William died 
leaving a widow and three children. Max, Fred and Florence. Mrs. Eliza died leaving 
two children — Lucy B., and Agnes M. Abbott. Agnes and Harriet Jagger died unmar- 
ried. Enoch V. enlisted in Co. D, 9th N. V. Regiment of Cavalry, in October, 1861, 
and was discharged September, 1862, for disability, from the hospital at Washmgton, 
He has served as assessor, and commissioner, and his father, James, was a justice of the 
peace for many years ; was appointed by the governor ; he was also assessor. Mary 
was a ilaughter of Hon. David Brown and Jeanette (Broadfoot) Brown. Jeanette was 
born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and David was born in Belfast, Ireland. They were mar- 
ried at Franklin, Venango county, in 1802, and settled in Warren, and in i8og settled 
in Sugar Grove, where he built a log house. He also built the first frame house in the 
town in 1816. David and Jeanette had a family of seven children, four of whom are 
now living — Mary. Barbara, Kittie, John 1!.. .\gnes, James, and William 1). Jeanette 
died in 1841, and David died in 1824. David established the first tannery in the town, 
and was a prominent man of the county. He was at one time a justice of the peace. 

Jenkins, Theron P., Russell p. o., Farmington, was born in Farmington, December 
23, 1846. He was a son of Josejjh and Sophronia (Weatherby) Jenkins. His father was 
a native of Boston, was a blacksmith by trade, and settled in Pine Grove in 1823, where 
he worked at his trade until 1S37, when he settled in what is now Russellburg, on the 
farm which is now owned and occupied by Theron J., a part of which he cleared and 
improved, and on which he resided until the time of his death, which occurred .\ugust 
4, 1866, aged sixty years. His children were Weston, Matilda, Almeda, Kldridge, 
Almira, Myron, Rachel, Orlinda, and Theron P. Theron P.'s maternal grandparents 
were Samuel and Abigail (Eddy) Weatherby. who settled in Farmington in 1835. The- 
ron P. succeeded to the homestead farm of his father. He was marrie<l in 1872 to Mary 
.\.. daughter of B. F. and Maria ((Wfiford) Palmeter, of Kiantone, N. Y. They have had 
two children born to them — Frank F. and Willie D. 



Brief Personals. 



Jennings, James B., Tidioute p. o., was born in Venango county, January 7, 1829 
He married Mary Emeline Snyder, of Franklin, daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Rich- 
ards) Snyder, in 1859. They had five children — Cleora J., Harvey J., Albertis, Mattie 
B., and Fred K. He was county commissioner for three years at the tune of the build- 
ing of the court-house ; was also councilman and school director. Mr. Jennings was a 
son of Morgan and Jane (Bradley) Jennings, of Venango county. They had a family of 
ten children, eight now living — Elizabeth, James, John, Robert, Henry, Mary Jane, 
Anna, and Amanda. Mr. Morgan's father was born in 1800 and died in 1879; his 
mother was born in 1808, and died in 1859. Morgan Jennings was a son of Jacob and 
Mary (Morgan) Jennings, who were born in New Jersey, and settled on the Mononga- 
hela River, in Plum township, in 1800. James B. Jennings settled in Warren county in 
1852, and engaged in the manufacture and shipping of lumber; in i860 he became in- 
terested in the production of oil and still continues m that business; in 1886 he entered 
the coal trade in Tidioute, and is at present engaged in lumber, oil, coal, and real estate 
business. 

Jewell, \Villiam, North Warren p. o., Conewango, a farmer and merchant, was born 
in Otselic, N. Y., on September 22, 1830, and was a son of Joseph and Asenath (Cross) 
Jewell. He was reared and educated in Allegheny county, N. Y., where his parents- 
located when he was but six years old. He was married on July 17, 1853, to Mary J.. 
Brooks, a daughter of Simon and Sarah (Littlefield) Brooks, who were among the pio- 
neers of Sugar Grove township. He has one child — Fred. Mr. Jewell settled in Sugar 
Grove in 1857, and became engaged in farming, but the last four years of his residence 
there he was engaged in the mercantile business. He located in Warren in 1874 and 
then embarked in the tnercantile business, which he continued up to i88i, when his son 
Fred became associated with him, and they are now doing business under the firm name 
of William Jewell & Son. Mr. Jewell has held the office of justice of the peace for the 
past ten years, and is a staunch Republican. He adheres to no church except the world, 
and to no religion except to do good. Consequently, the world is his church, and to do 
good his religion. 

Jobes, Samuel, Spring Creek, was married in 1845 t° .f^^^ Ayling, by whom he had 
a family of five children — Jefferson M., William P., Leslie D., Ida Belle, and Emma N. 
Samuel Jobes was a son of John and Polly (Le Seur) Jobes. Samuel Jobes died August 
24, 1886. John Jobes served in the War of 1812 as a drummer. He was born in 1794, 
settled in Spring Creek in 1819, and died in 1885. His wife was born in 1801, and died 
in 1878, leaving a family of twelve children, four of whom are now living. 

Johnson, Curtis, West Spring Creek p. o.. Spring Creek, was born in Busti, Chautau- 
qua county, N. Y., son of John and Fanny (Long) Curtis. He settled in Spring Creek 
in 1870, and married Rose Long of Pittsfield, Warren county. They have had three 
children — James, George, and Lizzie. He is a large manufacturer of and dealer in lum- 
ber, and owns 500 acres. 

Johnson, Frederick J., Chandler's Valley p. o.. Sugar Grove, a prominent Swedish- 
born gentleman, was born October 5, 1818, and married December 29, 1840, Lottie 
Swanson, who was born in Sweden in 1820. With his wife and two children he im- 
migrated to America and settled in Buffalo in August, 1846, having been seventy-one 
days from Sweden to New York; they buried one son at sea. He found work in Buf- 
falo at two shillings per day at first. In 1848 he settled in Sugar Grove on his present 
homestead, and soon after erected his present dwelling, he being a practical carpenter 
and builder. He has built many buildings in the town on contract. They have had ten 
children, but six of whom are now living — Frederica, Sarah Jane, Lawrence A., Flor- 
ence, Matilda, and Manly A. Lawrence A. was a graduate of the Anglestone College 
of Illinois, in 1882, and is now a clergyman in Iowa. Frederick, with two of his broth- 
ers, Andrew P. and Charles M., purchased on first settlement in Warren county, a tract 
of 557 acres in 1849; the brothers sold this interest and went \Vest. Frederick was one 
of the active men in the erection of the Swedish Lutheran Church, and in 1844 was 
prominent in the erection of the Evangelical Church of Sugar Grove township, near the 
Valley. 



lii History of Warren County. 

Johnston, Richard M., Youngsville or Mathews's Run p. o., Brokenstraw township, 
was born in Brokenstraw, in 1848, and married Ellen Jones, of Sugar Grove, in July, 
1872. They have had two children — Irvine and Waldemar. Mr. Johnston was consta- 
ble four years in Mead township. He enlisted in Virginia in the First Virginia Cavalry, 
in 1864, under General Sheridan, served to the close of the war, and was discharged at 
Wheeling. He was a son of Irvine and Ann M. (Dupree) Johnston, of Brokenstraw; 
they were married in 1845, and had a family of seven children, four of whom survive — 
Richard M., Elizabeth, George, and Ida. Irvine died November 19, 1885, aged sixty- 
four years. Mrs. Ann M. Johnston was a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Miller) 
Dupree. He was born in Northumberland in 1787, and settled in Brokenstraw, April 
12, 1798, with his step-father, John Andrews. His wife, Elizabeth, died in 1864, aged 
seventy-two years, having had fourteen children, nine daughters and five sons ; five sons 
and four daughters now survive; all are married but Hugh, the oldest son, born in 1810, 
and Martha L., born in 1837. Richard settled on Mathew's Run in 1821, where he died 
in 1847 ; he had been during his early life a pilot and lumberman, owning a large tract 
of land. His father was drowned in the Allegheny River, near Pittsburgh, and his 
mother married a second husband, John Andrews, and died in Ohio. 

Jones, Augustus, of Columbus, was born in Sweden June 24, 1836. He was a son 
•of S. P. and Hannah (Peterson) Jones, who were born and married in Sweden, and im- 
migrated to .\merica and settled in Columbus in 1851. They had a family of eight chil- 
dren born to them, six of whom are now living — Caroline, Augustus, Eveline, Estella, 
Otto and Oscar (who was born on the ocean in American waters) ; Andrew' and Charles 
died after reaching manhood. Andrew enlisted in the army and was killed at Harper's 
Ferry ; Charles left one son, De Forest ; Eveline married Thomas Sam])le ; Caroline 
married Theo. Chance ; and Estella married Charles Fritz ; the father, S. P. Jones, died 
October 28, 1877; he was born in 1799. The mother, who was born in 1806, is still 
living. Augustus Jones was married in 1880 to Elizabeth Nottingham, who was born in 
Lyndon, Chautauqua county, N. Y. She was a daughter of William and Mary Ann 
Nottingham. Augustus and Elizabeth have had one son born to them, Paul A. Au- 
gustus purchased his homestead in 1865, which he has beautified with ornamental trees. 
He is a stock dealer and shipper. 

Jones, Augustus W., Chandler's Valley p. 0., Sugar Grove, a resident of Chandler's 
Valley, was born in Sweden in 1842. He was a son of Charles P. and Hellen M. Jones. 
They had a family of four children who immigrated to America with them, and settled 
in Sugar Grove in 185 1, and purchased their farm of the Holland Land Company. They 
had a family of six children in all, two of whom are now living, Augustus W. and John 
P. Their mother was born in 1812, and died in 1879. Their father also was born in 
1812. Augustus W. Jones enlisted in the Ninth New York Cavalry in 1861, and was 
discharged for disability in 1862, and in 1863 enlisted in Company M, Twenty-first Cav- 
alry on short notice, and in 1864 re-enlisted in the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and 
served until the close of the war. He has been school director two terms ; was elected 
justice of the peace in 1884. He was married in 1864 to Carrie L. Lawson, who was 
born in Sweden in 1846. They have had a family of three children born to them — Alice 
C, Elmer A., and Claude W. Carrie L. was a daughter of Samuel and Martha Law- 
son, of Sweden. 

Jones, Charles, Chandler's \'alley p. o., Sugar Grove, was born in Sweden, May 30, 
1826, and was a son of Klineg — such being the name given him by the king when he 
became a soldier of the State, his family name being Samuel — Jones. Charles immi- 
grated to America May 6, 1852, being eight weeks on the passage in a sailing vessel, and 
settled in Jamestown, N. Y. In 1856 he married Charlotte Davis, who was born in 
Sweden in 1832. They have had a family of nine children — Alfred, Frank, Richard, 
|ohn, Elmer, Elisha, Mary .Vmelia, Elnora Carrie, and Janet. Mr. Jones was a tailor 
by trade, but became a butcher and farmer. His parents had a family of twelve chil- 
dren, four sons and three daughters of whom came to America, and five are now living 
— Charles, Frank, Augustus, Carrie and Lovisa. Augustus was a soldier in the late war, 
and was wounded, losing an arm, for which he receives a pension. 



Brief Personals. liii 



Joseph Jones, Russell p. o., was a native of Montgomery county, N. Y., born in the 
year 1806. His father's family moved to Yates county, and then Mr. Jones married 
Mary Mott. They came to Elk in 1830, and located on a strip of land that was after- 
ward set off to Pine Grove. The children of this marriage were four boys and three 
girls. Mary (Mott) Jones died November 10, 1861. In February, 1865, Joseph Jones 
married Mary Ann (Caldwell) Dennison, widow of Gilbert Dennison, of Pine Grove. In 
early days Mr. Jones was an e.xtensive dealer in cattle, which business, in connection 
with farming, gained him a goodly fortune, and gave him an e.xtensive acquaintance 
throughout this section of the county. He inherited a considerable estate from his father. 
Mr. Jones has been associated with the old VVhig, and latterly the Republican party, 
having been school director for over twenty years. He is also a prominent member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and contributed largely toward building the church 
edifice at Russells. The children of his first marriage were Eleanor E., Ezekiel C, 
Raymond B., Aaron M., Hannah T., James A., and Mary Alice. The children of Mrs. 
Jones's first marriage were John, Leon, and Ella. 

Kablin, Christian, Warren p. o.. Glade. Lawrence Kablin came to this country 
nearly forty years ago, bringing his children — Lawrence, jr., Barbara, Magdalene, John, 
and Christian. His wife, Barbara, died before the family came, and Jacob, the second 
son, never came to the country at all. Barbara, the oldest daughter, was killed by acci- 
dent a few years ago, and John died at the age of twenty-nine years. Lawrence, the 
father, died in Warren in 1857. Christian Kablin married Magdaline Weiler, by whom 
he had four children. Mr. Kablin has always been an enterprising business man, and 
generally successful. He has held the office of road commissioner in Glade for two 
years ; has been school director also. His membership in the Evangelical Association 
dates back nearly thirty-five years. In business life Mr. K. is a farmer, lumberman, and 
oil producer. 

Kafferlin, Leonhart, Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Bavaria, Germany, on 
April 9, 1818. He came to Warren county in 1855, and worked in a foundry for three 
years, after which he engaged in farming. He settled on his present farm in Conewango 
in 1866. He was married in 1855 to Barbara Spraith, a daughter of John Spraith, of 
Bavaria, Germany, who settled in Conewango, in 1855. Leonhart Kafiterlin has had a 
family of si.x children born to him — Michael, Margaret (now Mrs, Jacob Knupp), Pau- 
line (now Mrs. William Seifert), Charles, Sophia (now Mrs. George Robbleton), and Fred. 
Mr. Kafferlin and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. 

Keller, Jacob, Irvinton p. o., Conewango, was born in Alsace, France, on January 
9, 1828. He was a son of Sextus and Mary (Seigrist) Keller. He came to America 
with his parents in 1848, and settled in Warren, living there until 1855, when he pur- 
chased the farm which he now occupies, and where he has since resided. Se.xtus Keller 
had a family of three children — Jacob, Sextus, and John. Jacob was married in 1852 
to Mary M. Seififert, and to them were born eleven children, of whom six are now liv- 
ing — Jacob E., Mary M. (now Mrs. Frank Schirck), Franklin, Andrew A., Philip H., 
and William A. Mary M. Keller was a daughter of John and Mary (Bucsh) Seiffert, 
who were natives of Alsace, France, and who came to this country and settled in Con- 
ewango, in 1840. 

Kelley, Henderson. Lottsville p. o., Freehold, w-as born in Mercer county in 1831, and 
settled in Warren county in 187 1. He married Sally E. Farnham, of New York, and to 
them have been born four children — Earnest J., Emma A., Nettie M., and Maud R. In 
early days Mr. Kelly was a carpenter and blacksmith, but of late years has devoted his 
entire attention and time to farming. His father, John Kelley, was born in Ireland, in 
1794, and married Elizabeth McElree, of England. They had a family of twelve chil- 
dren born to them, nine of whom are now living. They came to America in 1812. 

Kennedy, Austin I., Columbus, was born in Chenango county, N. Y., in 1820. He 
was a son of Isaac and Catherine (Rector) Kennedy, who were born and married in 
Dutchess county, N. Y., and settled in Columbus in 1834, with a family of nine children. 
The parents died in Erie county, and seven of the children are now living, four sons and 
three daughters ; one son, Madison, enlisted and served in the late war until the close. 



liv History of Warren County. 

Austin I. Kennedy was married in 1842 to Fidelia Hatch, and by her had a family of six 
children, but one daughter of whom is now living — Celia R., who now resides with her 
father. Fidelia, the mother, died in 187 1. Austin I. now owns and occupies the piece 
of land purchased by his father in 1834, and bequeathed to him. The children of Isaac 
now living — are Charles, Madison, Austin, De Witt C, Catherine, Polly E., Julia A. 
Charles is a physician and surgeon at Sylvania. 

Keiker, Conrad, Irvinton p. o., Conewango, was born in Germany, on December 
II, 1817. He was a son of Adam Keiker. He came to America in 1841 and settled 
in Conewango, Warren county, in 1845. He settled on the farm on which he now 
resides in 1861. His wife was Sophia Gross, a native of Germany, and by whom he 
had two children — Allie (Mrs. David Vork), who has two children — Clarence and 
Blanche), and Rosa (now Mrs. Frank Wilco.x), who also has two children — George and 
Frank. 

Kilburn, A. R., Corydon p. o.. Elk. The Kilburn family aie to be numbered among 
the pioneers of Quaker Hill. Frederick Kilburn, the father, was born in Connecticut, 
but went to Cayuga county, N. Y., at an early day, where he married Polly Stanton, 
and they went to Wayne county, N. Y. In 1836 they came to Elk. They had born 
to them a family of four children — Charlotte (who married Daniel Mix), Mahala (wlio 
married Eber Edwards), Clarinda (who became the wife of James Carmer), and Allen 
R. The family lived on the " hill " but one year when they moved on the farm now 
owned by Allen R. Kilburn, near the river. P'rederick Kilburn died in 1861, two }ears 
after the death of his wife. Allen R. Kilburn married first, Margaret McMullen, who 
bore him a family of five children. She died December 11, 1869. In April, 1874, he 
married Fanny Bissell, of Warren, and to them has been born one child. .Allen R. Kil- 
burn from a poor boy has progressed until now he is one of the first men of Elk. The 
want of an early education and poverty were no bar to his advancement. He cared for 
his aged parents in his later years, and freely and liberally did he make the provision. 
In town affairs he has been [jrominent. 

Kinnear, James, Tidioute, was born in Huntington county in 1814. He was a son 
of William and Rebecca (McElvaine) Kinnear. She was born in Juniata county in 
1785, and he was born in Ireland in 1783, a descendant of the Huguenots. He came 
to this country in 1790 and settled with his parents, Alexander and Jane (Ganley) Kin- 
near, in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. In 1819 William, with his family, moved to 
Western Pennsylvania and jjurchased of Corn|)lanter, chief of the Seneca Indians, a 
farm located at the mouth of Oil Creek, Venango county, where Oil City now stands. 
This farm consisted of two hundred acres, and was then an entire wilderness. Here he 
erected a furnace, and after a time sold the same and removed to Tidioute, where he 
bought lands at the mouth of Tidioute Creek, upon which the business part of Tidioute 
borough is now located. Here, in 1827, he erected the first saw-mill in the western part 
of Warren county. He had a fannly of seven children; those now living are William, 
John, Ganley, and James. James Kinnear was married in 1843 to Jennette Parshall, 
who was born in Venango county in 1822. They have had seven children born to 
them. He was captain in the old military organization of the State for many years, and 
was one of the successful early producers of oil. He was one of the foiniders of the 
Tidioute Savings Bank, and an active man in general business. He is now retired. 
His children now living are Charlotte (who married D. S. Thompson), Josephine (mar- 
ried M. P, Getchell), and James Wesley, who graduated from .Allegheny College 
and was admitted to the bar of Warren county in 1885, 

Kinnear Hon, Henry P., Youngsville p. o,, one of the successful business men of 
Warren county, was born in Youngsville July 26, 18 16. He has devoted his business 
life chiefly to the lumber interest, from which he retired in 1882. He was elected 
sherift' in 1843, and again in 1861 ; and was a member of the Legislature in 1846; he 
has also held minor ofiices of the town. He is now a director and the -superintentlent 
of the chartered Point Chautauqua Company on the Lake, which has a capital of 
$100,000, On March 28, 1842, he was married to Abigail Morgan, of Chautaucjua 
county, N. Y. They have had four children — George W., Harry C, C. F, L,, and 



Brief Personals. Iv 



Florence D. The latter married M. D. Whitney. George W. enlisted in Company I. 
One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served to the dose of the 
war. Henry P. was a son of Henry and Margaret Kinnear ; they were born in Ireland 
— he in 1764 and she in 1776 — and were married in Centre county in 1797. They had 
a family of nine children — James, Ann, Margaret, Rebecca, Judge Carter V., Robert, 
Charles, and Hon. Henry P.; one died in infancy. Henry P. is the only surviving one. 
They settled in Youngsville in 1815, and purchased a large tract of land ; in 1816 
Henry engaged in the mercantile trade, being the first merchant in that township. He 
was appointed recorder and commissioner of Warren county by the governor, and also 
acting justice for several years. Mrs. Kinnear's mother, Margaret, was never sick a 
day, and lived until she was 105 years old, when she died from a fall. Henry Kinnear 
died in 1826, and his wife in 1856. 

Kinnear, Wallace D., Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Youngsville in 
1847. He was a son of Judge Carter V. and Rachel R. (Dike) Kinnear, who were 
born in Venango county. He was born in 1808, and his wife in 1806, and died in 
1884. They had a family of three children born to them — Wallace D., Francis D., and 
Mary A., of whom Wallace D. is now the only surviving one. Judge Carter V. Kin- 
near was one of the representative men of his county, not only as a merchant and busi- 
ness man, but was appointed to office by the governor and elected by the people, and 
was also a member of the Legislature in 1852 and 1853. He was a son of Henry and 
Margaret Kinnear, who were born in Ireland and married in 1796. Henry came to 
Pennsylvania in 1790. They had a family of nine children, eight of whom lived to 
maturity — James, Ann, Margaret, Rebecca, Judge C. V., Robert, Charles, and Hon. 
Henry P. Wallace D. Kinnear was married in 1872 to Jennie S. Smith, who was born on 
October 10, 1849. She was a daughter of Chauncey Smith, of Youngsville. They have 
had one son born to them — Francis — born in 1873. Wallace D. Kinnear was educated 
for a merchant, and followed the example of his grandfather and father up to 1882, 
when he disposed of his general dry goods interest and embarked in the hardware, 
stoves, tin, and farming implements trade, doing business under the firm name of Mc- 
Dowell & Kinnear. Mr. Kinnear was elected burgess of his town in 1886. 

Kitchen, Alexander A., Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Scotland on May 
26, 1816. He was a son of Alexander and Margaret (McLean) Kitchen. He is a 
representative farmer of Conewango, and though seventy years of age is still hale and 
hearty. He came to America in 1836 and settled in New York city, where he worked 
at the blacksmith trade for eighteen months. He settled in Warren county in 1837, 
and worked at his trade at Sugar Grove and AVarren for two years and a half He set- 
tled on the farm in Conewango which he now occupies. He was married in 1838 to 
his first wife, Jane McKean (a native of Scotland), and by whom he had ten children — 
Mary, Alexander, James, Jane, Margaret, Charles, Flora, John, Sarah, and William. 
His second wife was Elsie Taylor, of Scotland. 

Knapp, Noah, Lander p. o., Farmington, is a farmer, and was born in Concord, 
Erie county, N. Y., January 20, 1823. He was a son of Hiram and Clarissa (Barrett) 
Knapp, who settled in Farmington in 1838, locating on the farm which is now owned 
by Sylvester Clark, which they cleared and improved. They had a family of five chil- 
dren — Noah, Thomas M., Louisa C, Rosaville, and Lucy C. Noah Knapp's paternal 
grandfather was Deacon Comfort Knapp, who also settled in Farmington in 1834. He 
was a deacon in the Baptist Church for many years. Noah Knapp has resided in 
Farmington since he was eleven years old. In 1847 he purchased the farm which he 
now owns and occupies, and which consists of one hundred acres, twenty-five acres of 
which he has cleared. He was married in 1849 to Almeda Jenkins, a daughter of Joseph 
and Sophronia (Weatherby) Jenkins, of Farmington. They have had a family of four 
children born to thein — Lovisa S., Joseph J., Hiram E. (deceased), and Lulie A. 

Knoph, Henry, North Warren p. o., Conewango, was born on November 6, 1823, 
in Bavaria, Germany. He is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Baker) Knoph, who came 
to America in 1828 and settled in Warren. In 1830 they settled in Pleasant township, 
cleared and imiiroxed a farm of 200 acres there, where they resided until the time of 



Ivi History of Warren County. 

their deaths. They had a family of six children born to them — Emiline, Jacob, Adam, 
Henry, Elizabeth, and Nathaniel. Henry settled on the farm on which he now resides 
in Conewango in 1855, all of which he has cleared and improved himself He was 
married in 1850 to Ann Keil, a daughter of Michael and Susan (Huscher) Keil, of 
Conewango. He has two children Hving — Mary E. (now Mrs. Jacob Leonhart, who 
has a family of four children — Anna M., Dosa, Carrie, and an infant son), and John 
(who married Barbara Baker, a daughter of Henry and Philopena (Zeigler) Baker, of 
Conewango, and by whom he has had two children — Bertha and Louis). 

La Bree, Loren, Kinzua p. o., Elk. Smith La Bree was born in Brintwood, N. H., 
June 24, 1797, and came to Kinzua in 1815, when but eighteen years of age. He found 
work in the woods, at which he continued for one year; returned to his father's and 
served him one year; came back to Kinzua and followed lumbering for many years; 
in fact, he became a pioneer lumberman. In October 1822, he married Susanna Ham- 
lin, by whom he had a family of seven children — Sally, born December 27, 1824, died 
July 28, 1825; Adeline, born December 22, 1829, died August 4, 1833; Loren, born 
April 16, 1805, died July 27, 1839; Rosina, born March 26, 1832, died July 7, 1863; 
Rosetta, born June 19, 1834, married J. O. McManus; Loren, born November 28, 
1840; Archibald, born September 17, 1846, died April 9, 1879. Smith La Bree died 
November 27, i860, and Susanna, his wife, died March 29, 1877. Loren La Bree 
married Mary H. Neff, by whom he had two children — Ethel A. and Harry S. Mr. 
La Bree enlisted and served in the late war, under Captain James. By occupation he 
is a farmer, and his residence is among the best of the town. Both he and his wife are 
devoted members of the M. E. Church. 

Lacy, James D., North Warren p. o., Conewango, is a farmer, and was born in 
Plainfield, N. J., September 16, 1813. He was a son of Silas and Nancy (Parker) 
Lacy. He was brought up in Benton, Yates county, N. Y., and came to Warren 
county in 1849, and settled in Conewango, and located on the farm which he now owns 
and occupies in 1876. He has been married twice. His first wife was Hannah Wells, 
of Louisville, Ky., by whom he had a family of three children- — Mary J., James P., 
and Julia. His second wife was Hannah Hart, of Jamestown, N. Y.,by whom he had 
five children — Orange R., Charles C, Eva B., Ada, and Emma. 

Lake. John M., Sugar Grove p. o., Freehold, was a son of John Lake, who was 
born in Sweden in 1807, and came to America in 1850. By his first wife, Helen Lake, 
he had a family of three children — John M., Christian, and Helen; and by his second 
wife, Sarah Lake, he had one child — Anna Sophia (deceased). John M. was born in 
Sweden in 1836, and married Louise C. Anderson, of Warren county. They had a 
family of three children, only one of whom is living — Charles M., (Henry and George 
deceased). John M. enlisted in the Eighty-second Pennsylvania Infantry and served 
until the close of the war. He is now a successful farmer. 

Langdon, Joseph B., was born in Sugar Grove township in 1834. He is a son of 
Noah B. Langdon and Barbara Brown, sister of Judge Brown and daughter of David 
and Jannett Brown. Noah was born in May, 1803, and settled with his parents in 
1817; they had a family of fourteen children, but two of whom now survive. Noah 
died in 1882, and his wife in 1840, leaving five children, only one of whom is now liv- 
ing — Joseph B. The grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812, being then a resi- 
dent of Genesee county, N. Y. Joseph B. spent thirteen years in California — from 
1854 to 1867 — when he returned and married Margaret Younie in 1872. They have 
two daughters — Jenette B. and Anna Y. Margaret was a daughter of James and Mary 
Jane Younie, of Scotland. Joseph was elected justice of the peace in 1882. 

Lauffenberger, 2d, Jacob, Warren p. o.. Pleasant, is a farmer and \vas born in Alsace, 
France, April 23, 1828. He was a son of Philip and Barbara (Rhinehart) Lauffenberger. 
His father came to this county in 1873. He had a family of eight children — Philip, 
Barbara (deceased), Jacob, John (deceased), Fred (deceased), Sally, George, and Mary 
(deceased). Jacob came to Warren county in 1851, and settled in Pleasant township 
on the farm which he now occupies, all of which he has cleared and improved himself 
He was married June 6, 1856, to Rachel Risley, of Warren, by whom he has had a 



Brief Personals. Ivii 



family of ten children — Amy, Flora (deceased), Charlie, Mary, Carrie, Frank, Jennie, 
Bertie, Louis, and Dora. Mr. Lauffenberger and his wife are members of the Lutheran 
Church of Warren. 

Lauffenberger, ist, Jacob, Warren, is a farmer, and was born in Alsace, France, 
August i8, 1817. He is a son of Frank and Christina E. (Leonhart) Lauffen- 
berger. He came to Warren in 1840, and in 1843 settled in Pleasant township on the 
farm he now occupies. In 1844 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Louisa 
Klein, of Pleasant township. They have one adopted daughter — Lena. Mr. L. and 
wife are members of the Lutheran Church of Warren. 

Lauffer, Martin, North Warren p. o., is a farmer, and was born in Alsace, France. 
He is a son of Martin and Catherine (Gruber) Lauffer. He came to this country in 
1852 and settled in Warren county, locating upon the farm upon which he now resides 
in 1862, most of which he cleared and improved himself In 1854 he married Emeline, 
daughter of Jacob and Emeline (Peters) Dible, natives of Alsace, France, who settled 
in Pleasant township in 1847. i5y this marriage there were six children — Henry, 
George, Albert, John, Clara, and Fred. Mr. Lauffer and wife are members of the 
Luther Church of Warren. 

Learn, Jacob, Ackley Station p. o.. Elk. Levi Learn was a native of Pennsylvania? 
and when a young man went to Wayne county, N. Y. He lived and married there- 
His wife was Margaret Shook, who bore him seven children — Benjamin, Jacob S.; 
Lewis, James, Adam, Mary, and Hannah. They came to Quaker Hill in 1834, and 
the family were quite prominent in early days of the town. Levi Learn died only a few 
years ago. Jacob, who is the oldest son now living, married Hannah Rider, by whom 
he had a family of three children. After her death he married Sarah Northrup, who 
bore him four children. Jacob Learn seems to have taken his father's place in the affairs 
of the town, and his quiet manners, good judgment, and excellent private life have 
made him a person who is generally respected by all who are in any manner associated 
with him. 

Leiter, Warren, North Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Dansville, N. Y., on 
March 5, 1844. He was a son of Joseph and Barbara (Montz) Leiter. His father was 
a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Germany. Warren came to Pennsylvania 
when he was fourteen years old, and settled in Warren in 1861, and in 1862 he settled 
in Crawford county. He returned to Warren in 1872, and then purchased the farm in 
Conewango where he now resides, and which was cleared and improved by his father- 
in-law, Merritt Babcock. He was married in 1872 to Antis D. Babcock, and to them 
have been born three children — Nellie E., Effie V., and Bertie J. Antis D. Leiter was 
a daughter of Merritt and Lucinda (Sturdevant) Babcock, of Conewango. 

Leonard, Levi, Spring Creek, was born in Warren county in 1832. He married 
Cordelia Donaldson, of Spring Creek, by whom he had a family of two children — 
Guy C, and Nora. He has been a justice of the peace for two years last past, and has 
three years to serve ; and was deputy sheriff for thirty years. He now owns a farm 
which consists of sixty acres. Levi L. was a son of Arnold and Emeline (Gillis) Leon- 
ard. Arnold Leonard was born in Warren county in 181 1, and his wife, Emeline, was 
born in Chenango county, N. Y., in 1812. 

Lesser, August, Warren p. o., is a farmer, and was born in Alsace, France, January 
8, 1840. He is a son of Conrad and Saloma (Keller) Lesser. He came with his father 
to Warren in 1851 ; was a resident of Warren eight years, serving as clerk in a grocery, 
and also working at the cooper's trade — assisting in making the first oil barrels used in 
Warren county. In 1873 he settled in Pleasant township on a farm of 100 acres, about 
forty of which he has cleared. In 1862 he married Mary, daughter of John and Mary 
(Gutzel) Lauffer, of Warren; they have six children — Daniel E., Mary E., George A., 
Helena B., Anna J., and Augusta. 

Livermore, George, Bear Lake p. o.. Freehold, was born in Allegheny county in 
1854. He married Mary L. Phillips. In 1884 he commenced the manufacture of har- 
ness at Bear Lake, a business which he followed up to October, 1886, when he engaged 
with H. J. Phillips. They are now doing a fine business in drugs and medicines. 



Iviii History of VVakren County. 



Logan, John B., West Spring Ceeek p. c, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., in 
1862. He married Harriet Morton, of Chautaui|ua county, N. Y. They have had 
nine children, seven of «hom are nowHving. as follows: Merritt A., Martha A., Elbert, 
Harvey I)., Lois Allener, Hattie May. and Bessie. Mr. Logan has held the offices of 
school director and road commissioner. He has a farm of 150 acres. His father, 
Lemuel, served in the War of 1812 ; he was married three times, and left ten children. 

Logan, John, proprietor of the Bradford House, North Clarendon p. o , was born in 
Scotland February 8, 1848, and is a son of John and Ellen (Brice) Logan, who settled 
in Freehold township in 185 i. The subject of this sketch was reared in Warren county, 
and located in Mead township in 1880; he has conducted the Bradford House one 
year. On November 28, 1882, he married Mary, daughter of Lawrence and P",li,cabeth 
(Lauffer) Baldensperger, of Mead. They have had one child — Belle E. 

Long, Hugh, Pittsfield. In the year 1800 Hugh Long's parents, George and Isabel 
(McCormic) Long, settled in Spring Creek township, Warren county, about three miles 
west of Garland on the Big Brokenstraw Creek, and there built the first saw-mill that 
was erected in Spring Creek township; there their son Hugh was born on the 2d of Feb- 
ruary, 1802 ; he was the first white child born in the township. In 1808 or 'og his fath- 
er sold his property to Daniel Horn, and then settled in Pittsfield township, about two 
miles east of Garland, built another saw-mill and cleared up a farm, ujion which he re- 
sided till his death in 1854. His wife died in 1858. He was in the Revolutionary War, and 
present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Ya. Hugh married Eleanor Gray 
October 26, 1826, and bought a farm about one mile from his father's, where he has 
since resided. They have had five children — Harriett, William W., Daniel A., Laura, 
and Cordelia C. They are all living but one — William W. His wife, Eleanor, died in 
September, 1847. His occupation has been farming in the summer, getting out lumber 
in the winter, and rafting it down the river in the spring; he has also hunted some — 
bears, wolves, deer, and almost all kinds of small game being very plenty in his early 
days. He served as justice of the peace ten years, constable four years, school director 
about fifteen years, supervisor, auditor, assessor, etc., for a number of years. But now 
the effects of age compel him to give up worldly affairs and live a retired life. 

Long, James C, Tidioute p.' o.. Glade, a general hardware merchant, was born in 
Butler county in 1845. He was a son of Robert and Sarah (Quinkin) Long, who died in 
Butler county, leaving a family of three children — James C, William, and Eva. He was 
a prominent justice and one of the leading men of his town. James C. enlisted in Co. 
E., 17th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers in 1861, and served for three years, and at 
the end of that time was honorably discharged. He settled in Tidioute in 1867, and 
embarked in the general hardware business, dealing in stoves, tinware, and also engaged 
in the oil business. He was appointed postmaster in 1877, an office which he held un- 
til March, 1886. He has also been town clerk, and has held other minor offices. James 
C. married Mary Leighty, of Irvine, in 1867. They have had a family of four children 
born to them — Fannie, Tilly, Jessie, and Maud. 

Loree, Nathaniel, Warren p. o.. Conewango, was born in Steuben county, N. \'., on 
Sejitember 9, 1817. He was a son of Samuel antl Elizabeth (Hendricks) Loree. He 
was reared in his native county, and in 1864 he settled in Warren county, on tlie farm 
he now occupies, and which consists of 140 acres, 100 acres of which have been im- 
proved, and most of which he cleared himself He was married twice, his first wife 
being Lydia L. Jones, of losko. Micii., by whom he had two children — Rhoda E., 
and Josephine, both of whom arc now ilead. His second wife was Philopcna (Rarick) 
Denny, of Yates county, N. Y., by whom he had si.x children — Eli/abeih (Mrs. .Albert 
Head), Josephine (Mrs. H. C. Dible), Sarah (Mrs. Godfried Gruble), Lucinda (Mrs. 
George Laufifer), and Nathaniel, jr. 

Mathis, Mary (Smith), Warren p. o., (ilade, and her children, P'.lizabeth, Joseph, 
and Stephen, came to Warren county in 1854 and located on theTionesta. George, an- 
other child, came a year early. Mary, the mother, died in 1855. Joseph married Cath- 
erine Mack, a daughter of John Mack, by whom he had a family of six children — 
John, Mary Lena, Joseph, jr., Lydia S., Fred G., and Katv F. Mathis. I'he family re- 



Brief Personals. lix 



side in the north part of Glade on a well-cultivated farm of eighty-six acres. Stephen 
Mathis married Caroline Eberhart, by whom he had a family of five children. Joseph 
was born in 1828, and Stephen in 1830. 

Merritt, C'harles C. Grand Valley p. o., Southwest, was born in Hanover, Chautau- 
qua county, N. Y., on April 3, 1836, and was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Jewitt) 
Merritt, who settled in Ueerfield in 1855, where Elizabeth died, leaving a family of 
seven children, six of whom are now living, and by his first wife, Emma Wright Thomas, 
had a family of twelve children, having in all by both wives nineteen children, fourteen 
of whom are now living, and all of whom are filling prominent positions as clergymen, or 
holding State or county offices. Two of the sons served in the War of 1812. The 
father, Thomas, was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was born in Connecticut, and 
married in Fabius, N. Y., after which he settled in Chautauqua county, N. Y". Judge 
C. C. Merritt enlisted in Co. F, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment Pa. Vols., in 
August, 1862, and served to the close of the war; he was promoted to sergeant and then 
to captain, under Colonel Hiram Brown, of Erie ; he was wounded in two engagements, 
taken prisoner, and held for ten months at Andersonville. He has held the office of jus- 
tice of the peace for fifteen years, and was elected judge in 1885, and has held other 
prominent offices in his town, and is one of the leading men of his county. He was 
married in July, 1856, to Esther L. Hunter. They have had three daughters. 

Love, Jesse, Russell p. o.. Pine Grove, was born in the State of Rhode Island, May 
10, 1816. His wife, Mary Ann, was born March 27, 1823. They were married in 
1839. Their children were Margaret, Sylvester, Robert A. (now sheriff), Betsey M., 
Martha L., Rachel J., Mary L., Laura Ann, Fanny J., Sarah L., Charles, and Amy L. 
Jesse Love died April 18, 1876. Mary Ann, his widow, married Samuel P. Allen, an 
old and respected resident of Pine Grove, in February, 1880. Jesse Love settled in 
Warren county in 1820. He was a self made man, successful in business, and at the 
time of his death in comfortable circumstances. During the several years preceding his 
death he resided in Pine Grove. 

Mabie, W. H. H., Tidioute. The ancestor of the Mabie family was a native of 
Holland, who enlisted on a jirivateer which came on the coast of America, and took a 
Spanish prize near New York. A son, Abraham, married a French lady at New Ro- 
chelle, N. Y., a member of a Huguenot family. From them descended a son, Abra- 
ham, born in 1727, and from him descended three sons, Abraham (grandfather of W. 
H, H. Mabie, subject of this sketch), Joshua and Samuel Mabie. The two latter set- 
tled on a farm near Hinckley Pond, town of Patterson, Putnam county, N. Y. Abra- 
ham settled on a farm in the town of South East, same county. From Joshua descended 
Sylvester Mabie, who was president of the Putnam County National Bank, a position he 
held for many years and at the time of his death in 1885. Also, Jeremiah and Edmund, 
who were prominent owners of a traveling menagerie, who, after accumulating a for- 
tune, settled in Delevan, Wis., dying in 1869. Sylvester Mabie had a son, Henry, who 
represented his county, Putnam, in the Legislature of New York for 1885-6. From 
Abraham Mabie (brother of Joshua and Samuel), descended Samuel Mabie, father of 
W. H. H. Mabie, the subject of this sketch. The latter came to Tidioute in 1865, en- 
gaging as salesman in a store. In 1868 he formed a partnership with Jahu Hunter, 
which continued for fourteen years, and was widely known as one of the leading and 
most successful firms in the county in their line. In 1882, Mr. Hunter's son, L. L. 
Hunter, became partner. In 1884 Mr, Mabie purchased the Hunter half of the mer- 
cantile, timber, and saw-mill interests at Cobham, on the AUeghen)- River, five miles 
from Tidioute, where a large steam circular saw-mill is operated, the product of which 
goes to various New England points, New York, and Brooklyn, as well as Pittsburgh 
and down river points, and ranking among the first lumber concerns of that section, 
Mr. Mabie was married in 186S, to Nannie A. Magee, a native of Pennsylvania. They 
have two children — a son, Clarance A., and a daughter, Grace E. The brothers and 
sisters of W. H. H. Mabie, now reside at Uanbury, Conn., to which place they removed 
in 1866. 

Mahan, James, Lander p. o., Farmington, is a farmer, and was born in Pine Gro\e 



Ix History of VVarrex County. 

township, December 22, 1823. He was a son of John and Mercy (Burget) Mahan. 
His father was a native of Ireland, and started for this country with his parents, when 
but a small child, and landed at Philadelphia. His parents died in Philadelphia with 
yellow fever in 1789, and he was brought by an uncle to Deer's Eddy, below Broken- 
straw, where he lived with an aunt, and experienced many hardships. He was a soldier 
in the the War of 181 2, and settled in Pine Grove in 1823, and in 1825 settled in what is 
now Farmington, on the farm which is now occupied by James Mahan and his brother, 
David, which he cleared and improved himself, and upon which he lived and died. His 
death occurred on May 27, 1S82, at the age of eighty-six years. He had a family of 
five children who grew to maturity — James, David, William, Peter, and Harrison, all of 
whom live with their families in Farmington. James Mahan occupies a part of the origi- 
nal homestead. He was married in 1847, to Catherine Brooks, a daughter of Ephraim 
and Hannah (Elder) Brooks, of Chenango county, X. Y. They have had two children 
born to them — Willard P. and Cora, (now Mrs. Dr. H. H. Cowles). His maternal 
grandfather was Garrett Burget, a son of Peter Burget, both of whom settled in wliat is 
now Farmington, in 1815. 

Mandavill, Amicy R., Garland p. o., Pittsfield, was born in Brokenstraw township, 
in 1828. He was married in 1853, to Eunice McCray, of Garland, Warren county. 
They had a family of three children born to them — Loren, Lincoln, and Lewis. Amicy 
R. has been road commissioner, and is now acting justice of the peace. He was an 
early lumberman and farmer, and now owns three hundred acres, although he has re- 
tired from active life. He was a son of Francis and Catherine (Vosburgh) Maqdavill, 
who were'natives of Columbia county, N. Y., and settled in Warren county. They had 
a family of six children born to them, four of whom are now living — Mrs. Jane Y. An- 
drews, Mrs. Rachel Barlow, Joshua, and Amicy R. 

Mandaville, G. F., Garland p. o.. Spring Creek, was born in 1835. His wife was 
Catherine E. Stuart, ot Warren county, who was born in 1841. They have had a fam- 
ily of three children born to them — James L., Kitty, and Eda. His father, John S. Manda- 
ville, was born in New York in 1810, and settled in Warren county in 1830. His wife was 
Rebecca Keenan, of Westmoreland county, where she was born in 1800. John S. died 
in 1877, and his wife died in 1876. They had a family of Giftbrd, Gilbert D., Catherine, 
and Caroline. G. F. Mandaville is engaged in lumbering antl farming, and now owns a 
farm of 112 acres. He enlisted in the Fourteeth Pa. cavalry, and served in the late war. 

Marsh, William S., Lander p. o., Farmington, is a farmer, and was born in Farm- 
ington, July 9, 1826. He was a son of Joseph and Ruth (Sheldon) Marsh. His pa- 
ternal grandparents were John and Phebe (.\llen) Marsh, natives of New Jersey, who 
settled in what is now Farmington in iSoo, and cleared and imjiroved a farm which is 
now owned by A. P. Wright and P. W. Brown. They were married in Railway, N. J., 
in 1790, in Quaker form, their marriage certificate, containing the names of fifty-two 
witnesses, being now in the possession of William S. Marsh. They had a family of five 
children — Phebe, Joseph, Sally, Nancy, and Miriam. John I^Larsh, in 1803, taught the 
first school in Warren county, and in 1805, with his brother Hugh, who settled in Farm- 
ington in 1798, built the first school-house in the county, near the site of the present 
one in Marshtown. Joseph Marsh, only son of John, was a farmer. He was twice 
married. His first wife was Ruth, a daughter of William and Parthenia (Sherman) 
Sheldon, by whom he had a family of ten children — Parthena, Phebe S., Miriam L., 
William S., Nancy P., John A., Phebe A., Joseph L., Rachel J., and Edwin S. His 
second wife was Betsey (Kelsey) Trask, by whom he had three children — Martha J., 
Joseph A., and Betsey A. William settled on the farm which he now owns and occu- 
pies in 1850, which he cleared and improved. He was married in 1850 to Rosaville, 
a daughter of Hiram and Clarissa (Barrett) Knapp, of Erie county, N. Y. They have 
had a family of four children — W. Ed., Joseph S., Frederick S., and Carrie A. Mr. 
Marsh is a Republican, and has held the office of justice of the peace for four terms. 

One of the leading men of the town is William L. Marsh, Kinzua p. o.. Elk. Mr. 
Marsh was born in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., at Little Valley, March 29, 1826. He 
is a farmer, and was born and raised on a farm. In 1S4S he came 10 Corydon. where, 



Brief Personals. Ixi 



in 1852, he married Mary Whitcomb, by whom he had a family of ten children. About 
twenty years ago he moved to Kinzua township, about a mile north of the village, on a 
farm of about two hundred acres. Mr. Marsh is comfortably well possessed of this 
world's goods, and in the fullness of his age enjoys the fruits of his toil in early life. 
He takes no special interest in political affairs, but was a Whig with that party and fol- 
lowed it when it merged into the Republican party of later days. 

Martin, James M., Sugar Grove p. o., was born in Sugar Grove in 1840. He was a 
son of Christopher and Ann (Mcintosh) Martin. Christopher was born in County 
Tyrone, Ireland, in 1801 ; his wife was born in Scotland in 1S03, and they were mar- 
ried in 1830 at the old Faulkner House in Sugar Grove. He came from Ireland to 
Greene county, N. Y., in 1827, and went thence to Sugar Grove in 1830. Their chil- 
dren were George D., Annis C, Ann Elizabeth, and James M. The latter married 
Florence Pratt in 1872 ; she was a daughter of L. H. and Julia Pratt. They have three 
children — Lucy, Anna, and Mary. Mr. Martin was appointed postmaster in 1885 ; 
has been assessor for four terms, and an officer of Freehold Mutual Insurance Company. 
He now owns the old homestead farm of 140 acres, purchased in 1831. 

McCall, David M., Tidioute, is a dealer in furniture of all the latest designs, pianos, 
organs, and a full line of all undertaking goods. He was born in Crawford county, and 
established himself as a furniture manufacturer and dealer, and undertaker in Townville 
in 1857. He settled in Tidioute in 1876, and embarked in his present business, which 
has been a financial success. In December, 1884, he was elected president of the 
Northwestern Funeral Directors' Association of Pennsylvania, comprising Erie, Craw- 
ford and Warren counties, and was re-elected the following year, and continues to hold 
the same honorable position. He was married in 1861 to Hannah J. Noble, of Erie 
county. They have had a family of four children. One died in infancy; one, Frankie 
Morris, was born May 30, 1870, and was drowned in the Allegheny River, June 20, 
1884. Two of the children are now living — Alice J. and Mary Maud. Mrs. McCall 
died December 28, 1881. Mr. McCall was a son of Samuel and Martha (Morris) Mc- 
Cail. She was born in Utica, N. Y., in 1804, and her husband Samuel was born in 
Pennsylvania in 1795. They were married in Crawford county, and had a family of 
ten children, two of whom are now living — David M. and Nancy (who married Mr. 
McConnell). Samuel died in 1872. Three of his sons enlisted and served in the War 
of the Rebellion. Samuel, jr., and Levy L. enlisted in the Pennsylvania Bucktails of 
the One Hundred and Fiftieth Volunteers, and served to the close of the war. James 
V. enlisted from Wisconsin, and also served until he was discharged. They were all 
honorably discharged, but have all died since the war from health itnpaired through ex- 
posure. 

McCoy, Thomas, Ackley Station p. o., Pine Grove, was born in Cumberland county 
on January 19, 1816. His father's family went to Venango county in 1826. In 1833 
Thomas left home and came to Pine Grove, and found work at lumbering for Guy C. 
Irvine. This business he followed for thirty-five years. In 1836 he married Priscilla, 
a daughter of John Cheers, of Venango county. Their children were Andrew J., who 
married Cynthia Sanborn, and now lives at Louisville, Ky. ; Benjamin F., who resides 
at Kinzua; William W., who married Orpha Cheers and who have four children; 
George W., who married Florence Hale, .and who have had ten children, eight of whom 
are now living; Nancy, who married Levi Brown, and who have three children; Nel- 
son P., who married Mattie Brownell, both of whom are deceased; Sarah Jane, who 
married George Rider, both of whom are deceased ; Joseph, who married Hattie Wall- 
ing, and who have had one child; and Mary P., who married Albert Wyman, and who 
have had two children. Thomas McCoy was a successful business man and accumu- 
lated a considerable fortune, but by accommodating others his means have been re- 
duced. Recently he has divided his once extensive farm between his children. Mr. 
McCoy is a Democrat of long standing, and has always been a prominent figure in the 
political affairs of the town. He has twenty grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

McDonald, John G., Sugar Grove p. o., was born in 1857. He was a son of John 
and Agnes (McLeod) McDonald, who were born and married in Scotland, and settled 



Ixii History of Warren County. 

in Sugar Grove in 1852, where their four cliildren were born. Their names are Archi- 
bald D., Ale.xander M., John G., and Mary. John G. is a general merchant of the firm 
of McDonald Brothers, dealers in dry goods, clothing, groceries, boots and shoes and 
all fancy goods, and are wholesale dealers in and shipjaers of butter, eggs, hay, etc. 
John G. engaged in business in 1878 with his brother under the firm name of A. D. 
McDonald & Co. A. D. retired in 1884 (died in 1886). when .\le.\ander entered into 
partnership with John, the firm name being McDonald Brothers. 

McDowell, L. R., East Branch p. o., .Spring Creek, was born in Ontario county, N. 
Y., in 1823, and settled in Sugar Grove in 1842. He married Louisa Jewell in 1838, 
and they had three daughters — Anna, Tena, and Ardella; the last two are dead. L. 
R. was a son of Samuel H. and Delila (Beardsley) McDowell, of Connecticut, who set- 
tled in Warren county in 1842 ; they had eleven children, six of whom are now living. 
He was a harness-maker by trade. L. R. served in the Rebellion in the Second Dis- 
trict of Columbia Regiment. He owns a farm of 186 acres. 

McGee, Robert, Cobham, p. o., Deerfield, was born in Deerfield township in 1849. 
He was married on December 26, 1870, to Edna H. Rowland, by whom he has had 
two children — Harrison D. and Lulu. Mrs. McGee was a daughter of George \V. Row- 
land. Robert McGee had four brothers who served in the late War of the Rebellion. 
William died in Andersonville prison, where he was buried; James died at home on 
January 14, 1864; and John and Joseph were discharged with their regiment. They 
were the sons of William and Kaziah (Thompson) McGee. Kaziali was born in Deer- 
field and was sixty-eight years and four months old when she died on March 28, 1873, 
and her husband, William, was born in Mifllin ; he was eighty-one years and seven 
months when he died on March 4, 1873. They had a family of nine children born to 
them, six of whom are now living. They were early settlers on the river north of Tid- 
ioute, where William was engaged in lumbering and farming u]) to the time of his 
death. 

McGuire, jr., Thomas L., Garland ]>. o., Pittsfield, uas born in Brokenstraw town- 
ship in 1834. He was a son of Thomas and Ruth (Arthur) McGuire. Ruth was born 
in Brokenstraw, and died in 1835. Her husband. Thomas, was born in 1781, and died 
in 1865. They had a family of five children born to them — Susan (married Mr. Snow), 
Emily, Thomas L., jr., Rebecca (married W. Crook), and Elsie. Thomas, sr., was a son 
of Hugh and Patience Mc(iuire. Hugh was a native of Chester county, and settled 
here early in the year 1800, and was engaged in farming with ileneral Irvin. He had 
a government contract for many years in carrying the mails to and from Jamestown, Ti- 
tusville, and Meadville. Thomas L., jr., was married in 1857 to Eliza Jane Upton, who 
was born in Garland. They have had a family of Ibur children born to them — Lavina 
D., Lillia Ann, John Willard, and Guy Ellis. Eliza Jane was a daughter of Benjamin 
and Eleanor Upton. Thomas L.,jr., settled in Pittsfield, in 1857. on his present home- 
stead farm. 

Mcintosh, Charles, Sugar Grove, was oorn at .\shville, Chautauqua county, N. V., in 
1849. He was a son of James and Isabella (Laing) Mcintosh, who were natives of Scot- 
land. They have had a family of six children, four of whom are now living. James was 
born in 1803 ; Charles married Mary Jamieson, of Freehold township in September, 
1885 ; she was a daughter of William and .\gnes Jamieson. Charles is a farmer and 
harness-manufacturer. 

Mclntyre, .Mmyron, Pittsfield, was born in Delaware county, .\. V., in 1818. He 
was a son of Nathaniel and Miramla (Goodrich) Mclntyre. Miranda was a native of 
Delaware county, N. Y., and her husband of Scotland. They settled in Delaware county 
in 1837, where he was married. He came to Pittsfield and engaged in the lumber busi- 
ness, and ."Mmyron came with him. In 1839 Nathaniel returned to Delaware county, 
where he died the same year, aged forty-six years. His widow after his death came to 
reside with Almyron. She died in Iowa. They had a family of ten children born to 
them, five of whom are now living as follows: tieorge, Jerome, James, Almyron, and 
Harriet. One of the sons, Jarvis, enlisted, was discharged and died while on his way 
home. .Almyron was married in 1841 to Mary Houghton, who was born in Chautauqua 



Brief Personals. Ixiii 



county, N. Y. They have had a family of four daughters born to them — Sceneth A., 
married Richard Brooks, now has a family of three children ; Justina, married John Sal- 
mon, and died leaving one son — Jay; Ina, was married twice; her first husband wa^ 
Frank Jackson, who died in 1880; her present husband is Laverne Wickwire; and Ella, 
who married Fred W. Price ; they have had one daughter born to them — Florence. 
Mr. Almyron Mclntyre has held the office of justice of the peace, assessor, school di- 
rector, commissioner, and all other town and district offices. He was an early practical 
mill contractor and bridge builder, and he has built several of the large hotels and build- 
ings of the county. He had no chance for school advantages but by close application 
he acquired a thorough business knowledge. Being a close observer he is well informed 
both on State and county affairs. 

Mclntyre, N. J., Grand \'alley p. o., Kldred, was born in Warren county in 1857. 
He is a farmer and is also largely engaged in lumbering as a contractor. He was mar- 
ried in 1879 to Harriet Catlin, and to them have been born four children — Gail, Mark 
Catlin, Florence, and Nathan Roy. His father was born in Scotland, in 1829, and came 
to America in 1835, and settled in Warren county in 1839. He was married in 1854 to 
Maria J. Cooper, of Warren county. To them have been born a family of three chil- 
dren — Robert E:. N. J., and Allie. 

Mclntyre, A. G., Sugar Grove, is a general merchant of Sugar Grove borough, and 
was born in the town of Sugar Grove in 1859. He was a son of Robert and Eliza 
(Sands) Mclntyre. Mr. Mclntyre was a native of Scotland, and setded in Warren 
county in 1848. His wife was born in Ireland. They were married in Warren in 1854. 
Robert enlisted in the Seventy-second Regiment, Company B, N. Y. Volunteers, and 
was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor; he also served ten years of his early life in the 
British Army. He left a widow and two children — A. G. and Lizzie. A. G. Mclntyre 
has been town clerk and town treasurer. He became the successor of Messrs. Harris & 
Mclntyre, who succeeded C. P. Harris in the business in 1882, as extensive dealers in 
dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes, and dealers in and shippers of farm produce. 

McKean, David H., Cobham p. o., Deerfield, was born in Venango county, Novem- 
ber 3, 1830. He was a son of William and Isabella (Russell) McKean, who wete born 
in Pennsylvania and settled in Venango county; moved to Deerfield in 1856. He was 
born in Venango county in 1808, and died in 1870. His wife, Isabella, was born in 
Butler county in 1805. They had a family of nine children born to them. David H. 
McKean was married in 1850 to Martha M. Pratt, who was born in Bolesburg, Centre 
county, on April 15, 1830. They have had a family of nine children born to them — 
Helen Mar, Samuel, David Lee, Harper M., Emeline E., Flora M., Minnie I., Erwin 
W., and one son who died at an early age. David H. McKean settled in Deerfield in 
1850, and purchased his present homestead. At that time it was a dense forest, and 
erected his humble log cottage, which he has exchanged for a modern built home, by 
his persistent industry. He has for the last thirty-six years confined his labors to farm- 
ing and lumbering. David H. erected a steam saw-mill in 1883 where he manufac- 
tures extensively all classes of lumber. His mill is accessible by a plank road one and 
a quarter miles from Cobham depot, what is now known as Conley Run. His son. Har- 
per M., is now a partner in the lumber business. David H. McKean has held the office 
of justice of the peace for two terms, has also been assessor, school director, commis- 
sioner, and held other minor offices of his town. 

McKelvey, David, West Spring p. o.. Spring Creek, was born in the north of Ire- 
land, and came to America in 1869, and settled in Warren county in 1876. He married 
Margaret Murphy, who was a native also of the north of Ireland. They had a family 
of six children — -Thomas J., Amelia J., Adolphus, David, and George L. He is a farmer 
and now occupies a farm of 220 acres. 

McKinney, Arthur, Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Brokenstraw town- 
ship in 1 814, on the farm where he now resides. In 1842 he married Susan Arthur, of 
Jamestown, N. Y., who was born in 1819, and who died November 12, 1885. They 
had a family of nine children, of whom six are now living, as follows; John W., Mary, 
Calender A., Charles E., Elerv, and Grace. Calender A. married Bertha Tuttle in 



Ixiv History of Warren County. 

1884, and they have one son, and a daughter named Emily. The latter married George 
Reavely, and died in 1877, leaving a daughter — Mabel — born in 1875. The family of 
father and six children all reside at the old homestead — but one married. Arthur was 
a son of John and Rebecca (Arthur) McKinney. She was born on the Susquehanna in 
Pennsylvania in 1784, and died July 25, 1852. John was born in Ulster county, Ire- 
land, in 1770, came to Philadelphia in 1790, and labored as a farmer. In 1792 he 
carried the chain to survey Western Pennsylvania, including Warren county, with Gen- 
eral Irvine, and in 1794 located 1,000 acres west of General Irvine's tract, where he 
settled and reared his family of nine children, but three of whom now survive, viz. : 
James, Susan (now the Widow Wade), and Arthur. John and Rebecca were married 
about 1800. He died in 1841, leaving each of his seven sons and daughters a large 
farm. Arthur now owns 680 acres of the original homestead; he became an extensive 
lumberman and farmer in early life, and retired in 1880. 

McKinney, Arthur, Youngsville p. o., was born in Youngsville in 1831, and in 1855 
married Annie Mary Brown, of Titusville, who was born in 1831. They have four chil- 
dren — William S., Harriet A., Nellie B., and Fred O. ; they had one daughter, who 
died in April, 1880, aged seven years. Mrs. McKinney was a daughter of John and 
Jane (McCray) Brown, who were married in 1812. John was born in Westmoreland 
county in 1784, and died in 187 1. They had six children, four of whom are now living, 
as follows: George W., Alexander, Oliver, and Annie Mary. Mrs. Brown died March 
4, 187 1. John Brown was the last of the eleven soldiers of the War of 18 12 in town. 
Arthur McKinney was a son of John and Lorinda (Simmons) McKinney. John was 
born in Warren county in 1804, and Lorinda in Chenango county, N. Y., in 1806; 
thev were married in 1829, and had seven children, two of whom are now living — Ar- 
thur, born in 1831, and James, born in 1850. John McKinney died in March, 1879. 
He held the office of sheriff of the county for three years, and of constable three years. 
He was a leading business man. His parents were John and Rebecca (Arthur) Mc- 
Kinney, who were very early settlers in Warren county. Three of their children are 
now living — James, Arthur, ist, and Susan. Lorinda McKinney, wife of John, was a 
daughter of William and Prudence (Stewart) Simmons, of Oxford, N. Y. They settled 
in Jamestown, N. Y., in 181 1, where they died. Of seven children, Lorinda is the only 
surviving one. James, 2d, married Olive Brown ; she died leaving one child ; she was 
a sister of Mrs. Arthur McKinney. 

McKinney, James, Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Youngsville in 1850. 
He was a son of John, jr., and Lorinda (Simmons) McKinney. She was born in Ox- 
ford, Chenango county, N. Y., in 1806, and was married in 1829; they had a family of 
seven children, two ot whom survive — Arthur and James. The father, John, jr., was 
born in Brokenstraw in 1804, and died in March, 1879; he was a prominent man in 
his county — sheritf three years, constable three years, and an active business man. John, 
jr., was a son of John and Rebecca (Arthur) McKinney. John was born in County 
Tyrone, Ireland, in 1770, settled in Philadelphia about 1790, and died in February, 
1 84 1. He was first a farmer, and then carried chain for Surveyor Irvine while he sur- 
veyed Warren county and other parts of Western Pennsylvania, and in 1794 or '95 he 
took up 1,000 acres west of the Irvine tract. He married about 1800, and had a family 
of nine children, but three of whom are now living — Arthur, James, and Susan. James 
McKinney, 2d, married Olive Brown in 187 1. She died in 1882, leaving one child — 
Lurline. James married a second wife, Arlie E. Brown, in 1883. She was a daughter 
■of Heman L. and Semantha (Bly) Brown. Heman L. died in 1865, leaving the one 
daughter — Arlie — and his widow married Alexander Brown. Olive, the first wife, was 
a daughter of John and Jane (McCray) Brown. 

McKitrick, Hance, Lander p. o., Farmington, is a blacksmith, and was born in 
County Down, Ireland, December 29, 1842. He was a son of James and Isabelle 
(Stevenson) McKitrick, who innnigrated to Canada in 1843, wiiere Hance was reared 
and educated, and where he learned his trade. He came to Warren county in 1865, 
and worked as a journeyman up to 1873, when he located in Farmington and embarked 
in business for himself, a business which he has conducted up to the present time. He 



Brief Personals. Ixv 



was married in 187 1 to Ann L. Johnson, a daugliter of Peter and Christina (Jones) 
Johnson, of Farmington, and by her has had two children — Fannie E. and Agnes J. 
Mr. McKitrick is now holding the office of town commissioner, and in politics he is 
Republican. 

McMillen, Daniel J., Garland p. o., Pittsfield, was born in Conewango township in 
1835. He was a son of Joseph and Patty (Leonard) McMillen. Patty was born in 
Warren county, and Joseph, her husband, was born in Venango county. They were 
married in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., and after this event settled in Warren county. 
They had a family of five children born to them, four of whom are now living — Robert, 
Daniel J., Worth, and Leroy. Patty died in 1884, at the age of seventy-eight years. 
His last wife was Carrie McMillen. James was an expert pilot on the Allegheny and 
Ohio Rivers, and afterward became an extensive lumberman and shipper. Daniel J. 
McMillen was married in 1872 to Maggie Irvine, of Freehold. They have had two 
children born to them — Anna, and D. Lee (who was drowned at the age of nine years). 
David J. became engaged in the mercantile business in Pittsfield, and in April, 1883, 
he came to Warren county and engaged in the general mercantile business, now doing 
business under the firm name of H. F. Andrews & Co. 

McNett, Levi E., North Clarendon p. o., Mead, is a farmer, and was born in Paines- 
ville, O., June 14, 1834. He was a son of Levi and Eliza (Shepard) McNett; was 
reared in Chautauqua county, N. Y., from the age of two years, and came to Warren 
in 1854; worked some at his trade, that of cabinet-making, though he was principally 
engaged in lumbering up to 1881. He located in North Clarendon in 1S75, and em- 
barked m the clothing business in 1881, from which he retired in 1884. He was mar- 
ried in 1854 to Clara Cogswell, a daughter of Samuel H. and Mary (Arnett) Cogswell, 
of Warren. They have had a family of four children born to them — Eva (now Mrs. 
L. P. Millard), Mary (now Mrs. J. A. Barnes), Samuel, and Charlie. 

McWilliams, John L., Warren p. o., Conewango, was the youngest of the sons and 
daughters of William McWilliams, who came to Glade in 1851, from Canada. The fam- 
ily, however, were of Scottish birth, and emigrated from the mother country to the do- 
minion in 1842. These children were Janet, Elizabeth, Alexander E., Jane, Christina, and 
John L. Their father died in Glade in i860, and their mother died at the same place 
twenty-five years after. John L. McWilliams married Emma A. Zeigler, by whom he 
had two children. Mr. McWilliams is by trade a carpenter, but his time is devoted to 
oil producing, at which he has met with remarkable and deserved success. His farm of 
one hundred acres, near Glade Run, has seventeen producing wells at present, with an 
abundance of territory yet to be opened. Having commenced life with no capital Mr. 
McWilliams has by honesty and industry earned for himself a goodly com]ietence. He 
has figured somewhat in the affairs of the town, and has frequently held town offices. 
In politics he favors the Prohibitionists, but in earlier years was a Democrat. 

McWilliams, William, Warren p. o., Conewango, emigrated from Scotland about the 
year 1850, and settled in Canada, where he resided until 1855, when he settled in Glade. 
His third son, Alexander E., married Catherine Imhoof. They have had no children 
except by adoption. Mr. McWilliams is by trade a carpenter and joiner, but devotes 
most of his attention to oil producing, at which he is quite successful, owning and leas- 
ing extensively. In political life he is a strong Prohibitionist and an active worker in 
the cause. Both are members of the M. E. Church. 

Marsh, Grant, Ackley Station p. o.. Pine Grove, was born at Granville, Washington 
county, N. Y., December 8, 1796. He came to Russellburg in the tall of 1822, two 
years later than his brother John. On October 31, 1830, Grant married Catherine 
Martin, a daughter of one of the earliest pioneers of the town. The children of Grant 
and Catherine Marsh were John, born July 26, 1831, died August 30, 1866 ; Benjamin, 
born June 21, 1833 ; James, born December 25, 1835, scalded and died April 13, 1837 J 
James Grant, born February 5, 1838, and died June 3, 1879 ; Walter W., born Decem- 
ber 14, 1839. now resides on the old home farm ; Phebe Ann. born February 17, 1842, 
married Russel Marsh, of Dakota; Martin L., born February 27, 1844, now a resident 



Ixvi History of Warren County. 

of Dakota ; and Martha, born February 12, 1846, married Luther Forbush. Catherine 
Marsh, wife of Grant Marsh, was born September 13, 1808, and died December 29, 
1847. Grant Marsh died September 27, 1876. After the death of his first wife in 
1847, Grant Marsh married Corneha Loucks, by whom he had a child who died unnamed, 
Emilv, bom November 25, 1857, George W., born May 5, 1859, died from an accident 
October 18, 1883. 

Mattison, Oren D., Matthew's Run p. o.. Sugar Grove, was born in Washington 
county, N. Y., in 1833, and is a son of Christopher L. and Anna Allen Mattison. He 
was born in 1802, and died in 1867; she was born in 1805, and died in 1869. They 
were married in Washington connty, N. Y., and with a family of five children settled in 
Chautauqua county in 1837, and in 1843 settled in Sugar Grove township, where they 
died. They had a family of eleven children, but four of whom survive, as follows : 
Thomas T., Oren D., Corneha, and Sarah. Oren D. enlisted in Company G, Two 
Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, in 1864, and served to the close of the 
war. Edwin enlisted under the nine months call, and was wounded at Gettysburg. 
Chistopher was a graduated physician, but chose farming later in life. O. D. Mattison 
married, June 6, 1854, Sarah Smith, who was born in 1840. They have four children — 
Orvill J., Warren G., Melvina, and Erastus. Melvina married Perry Mead, and Warren 
G. married Ellen Covey. O. D. Mattison is a farmer; he has held the office of school 
director, and district offices. 

Mead, Benjamin F., Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Warren, on February 22, 
1844. He was a son of Benjamin and Almena (Stebbins) Mead. His paternal grand- 
father, Joseph Mead, came from Northumberland county, and setded in Brokenstraw 
township, in this county, in 1799, where he engaged in farming and lumbering; later he 
moved to Conewango, purchased Mead Island (a place which still bears his name), and 
died on the farm now owned by James Mead, on March 3, 1846. His wife was Han- 
nah Boone, a niece of the famous pioneer Kentuckian, Daniel Boone. He had a fam- 
ily of fourteen children — Eva, Benjamin, Ruth, David, John, Ruth (second), William, 
Sarah, Darius, Gooding, Boone, Elizabeth, Abigail. Benjamin Mead, sr., was married 
on March 13, 1820, to Almena Stebbins. They had a family of seven children born to 
them — Abiram, Zerina, Roxy M., Caroline, Joel E., Maria C, and Benjamin F. He 
cleared the farm which he now occupies himself, and settled on the same about 18 19. 
Benjamin F., jr., now resides with his father and carries on the homestead. He was 
married October 22, 1868, to Penuel Falconer. They have a family of four children — 
Willard, Wallace, Ralph, and Stewart. Penuel Mead was a daughter of James and 
Christina (Stuart) Falconer, of Sugar Grove township. 

Mead, Darius, Youngsville p. o., was born at Youngsville in 1824. He was a son o' 
John and Sarah Huffman Mead. John was born at Meadville in 17S6, and died in 
1870. Sarah was born at Susquehanna, and died at the age of sixty-two years. They 
were married in 1808. John settled in Brokenstraw township in 1806. They had thir- 
teen children, the survivors of whom are named as follows : Philip, Eliza, Elsa, Cham- 
bers, John C, and Sarah (twins), Darius, .^nna, Henrietta, Laura. Darius Mead mar- 
ried Kate Van Valkenburgh, of Erie, in 1885. He has held several county and town 
offices — county commissioner, .school director, road commissioner, town treasurer, etc. 
He is a general lumber manufacturer and shipper and oil producer. His father was a 
soldier in the War of 181 2, and his second wife drew his pension. She was Sarah E. 
Ireland. 

Mead, G. Fillmore, Pittsfield p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Brokenstraw township 
in 1827, and married Caroline Hotclikiss, of Crawford county in 1853. They have a 
family of six cliildren — Helen De Ette, Nighton T., Mary A., Arlie C, Carry L., and 
Gaylord E. Helen D. was a graduate of Chamberlain Institute, taught several years, 
and married J. R. Babcock. Mary A. was a graduate of Corry school ; she also taught, 
and married Willis Eddy. Nighton T. was a graduate of the Alleijheny College in 
1884, and is now reading law. .-\rlie C. was also a graduate of the Allegheny College. 
Mrs. Caroline Mead was a daughter of Rev. David and .Abigail Hotchkiss ; he was a 
Wesleyan M. E. cleryman and a missionary. G. Fillmore Mead was a son of Philip 



Brief Personals. Ixvii 



and Mary (Coover) Mead; they had seven children, five of whom are now hving, as 
follows : William A., G. Fillmore, Wilber F., Stephen L., and Ulysses. Philip was born 
in 1794 and died in 1861 ; Mary, his wife, was born in 1793 and died in 1883. G. 
Fillmore Mead enlisted in the navy in September, 1864, and served under Captain Rice 
on the Reindeer, and was later transferred to the Abeona, under acting-master Samuel 
Hall, and was discharged at the close of the war. 

Mead, John, Pittsfield p. o., was born in Brokenstraw township in 1808. He was a 
son of William and Susan (Davis) Mead. Susan was born at Northumberland, and 
William at Lancaster, and went with his parents to Franklin. William Mead was a son 
of John and Catharine (Foster) Mead, and John Mead, sr., was a son of Darius Mead, 
who was murdered by the Indians, and who left five sons — General David, John, 
Darius, Joseph, and Ansel. Joseph and Darius came to Warren county between 1798 
and 1800; General David and John remained in Meadville, and Ansel went South. 
William Mead settled in Brokenstraw in 1806 and married in 1S07 Susan Davis. They 
had a family of eight children, four of whom are now living, as follows : John, born in 
1808; Julia A., born in 1813; Drusilla, born in 1820; and Susan, born 1823. John 
Mead married in 1832 Mary Ransom, a daughter of Amasa and Abbie Ransom, of 
Brokenstraw. They had a family of nine children — Erastus, Rebecca, Harriet, Cor- 
delia, Ransom, Joseph, Susan, Lillian, and Alice, and twenty-three grandchildren and 
two great-grandchildren. Erastus enlisted in 1862 and served to the close of the war. 
John settled on his homestead farm of 150 acres in 1838. 

Mead, Nelson, Corydon p. 0., the youngest of thirteen children, sons and daughters 
of John Mead, was born in Brokenstraw February i, 1835. He lived in the vicinity of 
his native town until the year 1882, engaging in various branches of the mercantile and 
oil producing business, but with indifferent success. At that time having experienced 
all the turns of the oil business, he came to Corydon and opened a general store which 
is managed mainly by his younger sons. With his oldest child, under the firm style of 
N. Mead & Son, he purchased the timber on a tract of two thousand acres in Elk and 
Corydon townships and Cattaraugus county, N. Y. The firm operates two steam power 
mills with a producing capacity of nearly 30,000 feet of lumber daily. Charles C. 
Mead, the oldest son and partner of his father, has been station agent of the B., N. Y. 
& P. Railroad at Corydon since the road was opened. In March, i860. Nelson Mead 
united in marriage with Martha A. McDowell, of Youngsville, by whom he has had five 
children, four of whom are still living. Mr. Mead was one of the county commissioners 
in the years 187 1, 1872 and 1873. 

Mead, Wilbur F., Pittsfield p. o., Brokenstraw township, was born in Brokenstraw 
in 1830. He is a carpenter and builder, and also owns and occupies a part of the farm 
originally owned and improved by his father, Philip Mead. He is one of a family of six 
sons and one daughter, oftspring of Philip and Mary (Coover) Mead, viz.: William A., 
Benjamin M., Susan D., G. Fillmore, Wilbur F., Stephen L., and Ulysses. Benjamin 
M. qualified himself for the practice of medicine, but died at the age of twenty-six years. 
Susan D. married Chester Kingsley, of Ripley, Chautauqua county, N. Y., and died 
leaving a family of seven children ; those now living reside in Texas. Wilbur F. mar- 
ried Chloe A. Smith, daughter of Ammi and Edna L. (Morton) Smith, of Sugar Grove, 
in i860. Chloe died in 1884, having had a family of five sons and two daughters, as 
follows: Orion S., the first-born, died at the age of fourteen months; De W., Jasper L., 
Rollin K., Edna C, Marcia M., and one who died in infancy. W. F. Mead was mar- 
ried the second time in 1885 to Adeline Benoit, of Randolph, Cattaraugus county, N. 
Y. In religious faith he identifies himself with the VVesleyan Methodists. 

Mead, William A., Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw. — The family of Meads from 
whom the Meads of this county originated came from Connecticut to Wyoming county, 
and soon after, having difficulty with their land titles, came to Franklin, Venango 
county in 1789. Darius Mead, their father, was killed by the Indians in 1791. Gen- 
eral David and John Mead came to Crawford county. Darius, jr., and Joseph Mead 
came to Warren county about 1799 and settled in Brokenstraw valley. General David 
died August 23, 18 16. Joseph Mead, a brother of Darius, sold out his interest in the 



Ixviii History of Warren County. 

mills they built here and located near Warren in about 1814. William A. Mead's 
parents were Philip and Mary (Coover) Mead, both born in 1795. Their children were 
as follows : William A., Benjamin M., Susan D., G. Fillmore, Wilbur F., Stephen I,., 
and Ulysses. Benjamin M. was fitted for the practice of medicine in the Buftalo Med- 
ical College, and died in the year 1845. Susan D. married in 1841 Chester Kingsley, 
now dead, having sons and daughters now living in Texas, two of them in the practice 
of medicine in San Antonio. William A. married Margaret E. Stranahan. Their chil- 
dren are Bessy F., Gibson P., Louesa J. (who died at the age often years), and Chester 
K. Gibson is living on his father's farm and has the management of it. Chester is 
living in Des Moines, la., and has been manager of the Western Telephone Company 
of that city. 

Merkle, William, of Limestone township, Warren county, now superintendent of the 
Economy Oil Company, was born Aug. 6, 1840, in Wurtemberg, Germany. His par- 
ents were Michael and Wilhelmina (Killinger) Merkle, emigrants from Germany to this 
country in 1853, residing at Economy, Beaver county, until August, 1854, whence they 
moved into Limestone township, purchasing a piece of wood land, and began to clear 
up a farm. In 1864 they entered into the employ of the Economy Oil Company, and 
are now livmg on their lands. Michael Merkle was born in May, i8og, and VVilhelmina 
his wife in January, 1814. They have had a family of six children — Magdalena, Will- 
iam, Mena, Michael, Jane, and Anna Helena, all of whom are now living. In the 
spring of 1866 William Merkle married Louesa Lineman, of Ashland township, Clarion 
county. They have had a family of seven children born to them, viz.: Mena L., Will- 
iam H., Paulena A., Rosa L., Lydia M., Jacob H., and Albert E. In early life Will- 
iam was employed in farming and lumbering, but in 1864 he entered into the employ of 
Economy Oil Company, having been with them steadily since, and is now superintend- 
ing their business about Tidioute, where their property is located, it consisting of about 
1,500 acres of timber and f;uming lands, and has also been noted for its rich production 
of oil in former years. 

Merrihew, James W., Corydon p. o., came from Norwich, Chenango county, N. Y., 
to Corydon about the year 1841. His family consisted of a wife and four children, viz.: 
Mariette, who married William Black ; Electa Ann, who married Braison Arthur ; Ly- 
man S. and James W., the latter being the only one of the family born in Corydon. 
James W. Merrihew was a farmer and lumberman, at which he was quite successful. He 
died in 1876. Lyman S. Merrihew married Eliza Crooks, daughter of John Crooks, by 
whom he had tln-ee children — Mary E., Ellen J., and Cynthia E. The success in life 
that Lyman S. Merrihew has attained is the result of his own personal eflbrt, as he had 
no capital with which to start in life. His farm contains sixty-four acres of land. Al- 
though a Republican in politics, he is an active worker in the cause of temperance and 
IS not bound by party ties when prohibition is an issue. 

Merritt, Judge Charles C, Enterprise p. o., Southwest, was born in Hanover, Chau- 
tauqua county, N. Y., April 3, 1836. He was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Jewett) 
Merritt. The parents settled in Deerfield township in 1855, where Elizabeth died, leav- 
ing a family of seven children. Thomas had by his first wife, Polly Wright, a family of 
twelve children, making nineteen in all, fourteen of whom are now living, and all are 
now filling prominent jjositions, members of the clergy, and holding State and county 
offices. Two of the sons served in the War of the Rebellion. Thomas Merritt was a 
soldier in the War of 1812. He was born in Connecticut and was married in Fabius, 
Onondaga county, N. Y., and after marriage settled in Chautauqua county, N. Y. 
Judge C. C. Merritt enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Forty fifth Pennsyl- 
vania Regiment in August, 1862, and served to the close of the war ; he was promoted 
to sergeant and then to captain, under Colonel Hiram Brown, of Erie. He was wounded 
in two engagements and was taken prisoner and hekl for ten months at Andersonville. 
He has been justice of the peace for three terms, was elected judge in 1885, and has 
also held other prominent positions in his town. He is one of the leading men of his 
town and county. He was married in July, 1856, to Esther L. Hunter. They have 
had three ilaughters born to them — Lovisa, Lorinda, and Grace. ■ Esther L. was a 



Brief Personals. Ixix 



daughter of Robert and Lovisa (Manross) Hunter, and her grandparents were Robert 
and Betsey Hunter, who came from Ireland and settled here about 1795. 

Metzger, William H., Irvine p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in York county in 1834, 
and settled in Warren county in 1871, and with his brother, F. T. Metzger, erected the 
Revere House at Warren in 1872. They also ran in connection with this hotel the 
Irvine Hotel, until 1879, when William sold his interest to his brother and he embarked 
in the general mercantile business at Irvinton, where he now resides. He was post- 
master for six years, from 1872 to 1878, and was in the employ of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Company from 1853 to 1864 as an engineer, and is now one of the oldest en- 
gineers of that road. He was a son of John and Maria (Gardner) Metzger. John was 
born in Philadelphia in 1789, and Maria was born in Maryland in 1805. They were 
married in York county in 1 83 1. He died in 1856. Six children are now living. Will- 
iam H. Metzger was married in 187 1 to E. B. Allbright, of Westmoreland county, who 
was born in 1832. They have a family of three children — Edgar, Charles, and Bessie. 
The children of the parents now Uving are William H., Margaret, Frank T., Thomas E., 
George W., and Ella. 

Miles, Joseph, Spring Creek p. o., was born in Spring Creek in 1825. He is a farmer 
and manufacturer of shingles, and owns a farm of thirty acres. He married Cordelia 
Odell, of Dunkirk, N. Y. They have a family of six children — Lucinda, La Fayette, 
Patterson, Henry Marquis, William Ernest, Frank Laton. Joseph was a son of Solo- 
mon Miles, who was born in Massachusetts, and served in the War of the Revolution, 
and settled in Warren county in 1814, and cleared a large farm there. He died in 
1862. He married Betsey Crane, of Connecticut, who died in 1836, leaving a large 
family, four of whom are now living — Calvin, William, Joseph, and Delila. 

Miller, Robert E., Lander p. o., Farmington, is a merchant and was born in Troy, 
N. Y., July 13. 1839. He was a son of Robert and Jeanette (Todd) Miller; the former 
was a native of Ireland, and his wife of Scotland. They settled in Farmington in 1834, 
on the farm now owned by J. H. Miller, which they cleared and improved and upon 
which they resided for many years. They had a family of seven children — James, who 
was killed at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, Ga., during the late war; Jane, Mrs. 
George Cramer; Rachel, Mrs W. B. West; John, deceased; William, Robert E., and 
Joseph H. Robert E. was brought up in Farmington ; educated at the public schools 
of Meadville and Jamestown; was a successful teacher for nine years ; entered the law 
office of Johnson & Brown in Warren, as a student, in the spring of 1862, but like many 
others left his studies to enlist as second sergeant in Company F, Pennsylvania Volun- 
teers, and was honorably discharged. He has been director of the schools of his town 
for twelve years. Giaduated in the C. L. S. C. class of 1883, and has always led the 
advance in all educational enterprises in Farmington. He entered the mercantile busi- 
ness at Lander in 1865, a business which he has successfully conducted up to the pres- 
ent time. He was elected treasurer of Warren county in 1874, serving a term of three 
years, and is now serving his fourth year as justice of the peace in Farmington. He 
was married September 10, 1868 to ^lartha A., a daughter of George and Emily (Fos- 
ter) Ewers, who were among the early settlers of Farmington. They have had a family 
of four children born to them — Grant E., Emma J., Robert J., and Hugh E. 

Mix, Ashbel R., Landers p. o., Farmington, was born in what is now known as 
Farmington, March 22, 1842. He was a son of Horace and Sybil (Rowley) Mix. He 
was reared in Farmington, and was in the late War of the Rebellion, enlisting in 1861 
in Company F, Ninth New York Cavalry. He participated in the second battle of Bull 
Run, battles of the AVilderness, Gettysburg, and was through the Potomac campaign on 
the Potomac, and Sheridan's raid to Richmond, and the battles in the Shenandoah Val- 
ley. He was honorably discharged after three years service. He and his brother Hor- 
ace bought a saw-mill in 1865, on Jackson Run, which in 1868 was burnt down. They 
immediately rebuilt the mill, and he sold his interest to his brother Horace Mix, and 
after that engaged in farming until 1883, when he built a saw, planing, and grist-mill at 
Farmington Center, with Elmer Hodge, and since January i, 1885, he has been sole 
proprietor. Mr. Mix was married in 1864 to Sallie Cooper, of Farmington. They have 



Ixx History of Warren County. 

had a familv of three children bora to them — Luvern, drowned at the outlet of Chau- 
tauqua Lake, Jamestown, N. Y., September lo. 1885 ; Emmett, born August 13. 1870; 
Delbert, born in 1S83, and died of pneumonia Marcb 26, 1884. Mrs. Mix was a daugh- 
ter of Abigail and Harvey Cooper. Her mother, Mrs. Cooper, died June 23, 1886, very 
suddenly, with blood poisoning caused by the overflow of the gall, at Chautauqua, N. 
Y. She was brought to Farmington for burial June 25, 1886. She was born April 10, 
1825, and was the oldest daughter of Peter Burgett. She married Harvey Cooper in 
1842. She practiced medicine for many years and was very successful. Her name 
stands on record at the Prothonotary's office at Warren. 

Morgan, A. T., Lottsville p. o., Freehold, was born in Chenango county, N. Y., in 
1829, and settled in Warren county in 1845. He was married in 1862 to Mary Mathews, 
who died in 1867, leaving one child — Effie E., who is now teaching at Columbus In 
187 1 he again married Mrs. Ann Maria Mathews, by whom also he had one child — 
Marion. Mr. Morgan is a shoemaker by trade, but now gives his entire attention to 
farming. He has been town collector and constable for a number of years. His father, 
Sanford Morgan, married Elizabeth Newton and died in 1849. 

Morian, Thomas V. S., Enterprise, p. o., Southwest, a general merchant, lumber man- 
ufacturer, and shipper, oil dealer and producer, was born in Danville, Steuben county, 
N. Y., in 1819. He was married in 1842 to Clarinda Wood, of Pomfret, Cattaraugus 
county, N. Y. They have had a family of three sons and one daughter born to them — 
Eva, Carlos C, Herbert T., and Ell B. Thomas V. S. Morian came here in 1845 as 
a clerk in the branch store of C. Smith, and in 1847 he built his present store, and be- 
came engaged in the general mercantile trade. He retired from his lumber business in 
i860, and then became engaged in the oil business, producing and shipping the same. 
He was an expert and successful river pilot, and did a large shipping business in oil 
from Oil City to Pittsburgh. He was a son of Jacob and Lydia (Van Scoter) Morian. 
His parents died in Chautauqua county. Jacob died in 1S62, and Lydia. his wife, in 
1869. They had a family of nine children born to them, seven of whom are now liv-" 
ing. Jacob was born in Germany in March, 1782, and settled in Philadelphia, and 
then went to Steuben county, N. Y. He served in the War of 1812. He settled with 
his family in Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1830, where he died. His children now liv- 
ing are — Anthony, John, Margaret, Thomas, Lydia, and Catherine. 

Morrison, Hugh, Tidioute, p. o., Deerfield, was born in Venango county in 1819. 
He was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hunter) Morrison, who had a family of ten 
children born to them, four of whom are now living — Hugh, Robert H., Elizabeth, 
and Lsabella. His second wife was Margaret Hunter, by whom he had a family of four 
children, three of whom are now living — Nathan P., Matthew J., and Margaret M. 
The parents settled in Deerfield in 1832. His second wife, Margaret, died in 1878. 
Thomas was in the War of 181 2, and was a prominent man of his town. He was also 
an extensive farmer and lumberman. Hugh Morrison married Martha McGuire, of 
Tidioute, m 1844; she died December 17, 1851. leaving a family of three children — 
Adclia, Samuel J., and Thomas Edson. Hugh then married his second wife, Jane P. 
Holeman, of Venango county, was born in 1827, and married in 1853. He has had 
one son by his second marriage — Ashbel Wilson. Mrs. Morrison was a daughter of 
Alexander Holeman. Hugh has been school director, road commissioner, and is now 
engaged in farming. 

One of the earliest of the old pioneer families of Warren county was that of James 
Morrison, a soldier of the Revolutionary War. The family came to that part of the 
county on which Warren borough now stands, when only three log huts marked the 
place. They built a log house near the old fort, where the family stayed until 1804, 
when they moved to Kinzua. At the latter place one of the sons of James Morrison, 
Abel Morrison, who was born in Lycoming county, August 3, 1795, married Lucinda 
Richards, a daughter of James Richards, and in the fall of 1827 moved to Corydon. 
Lucinda Richards was born in Lisle, Broome county, N. Y., January 23, 1801. The 
children of this marriage were Nancy, born January 15, 1819, married first Amos 
Flatt, who died, and second, John B. Carr. who was killed during the late war; John 



Brief Personals. Ixxi 



AVesley, born July 15, 1820, died August 16, 1825; Alanson G., born February 21, 
1832, married January 24, 1846, to Ann E. Enos; Fanny, born January 15, 1824, mar- 
ried September 8, 1841, to E. R. Covell, and died December 14, 1881 ; James R., born 
April 10, 1826 ; Martha, born May 9, 1828, being the first white female child born in 
Corydon, married Jarvis L. Forbes ; Flavius Josephus, born September 23, 1832, mar- 
ried December 18, 1856, to Sarah E. Bradley; Ellen J., born January 16, 1835, mar- 
ried Henry E. Converse, April 27, 1851, and died October 11, 1871; Adeline, born 
March 15, 1837, married Robert M. Patterson; William Henry, born March 8, 1841. 
Abel Morrison was an extensive lumberman and farmer, and in every respect a self- 
made man. He died Christmas day, 1874. His widow, Lucinda, still occupies the 
old family residence with her son, William H., who is the voungest child. Lucinda 
Morrison possesses a remarkable memory. Every name and date given above was 
furnished by her entirely from memory, and a subsequent comparison with the family 
record disclosed not a single error. Indeed, so wonderfully does she retain dates and 
events of earlier days that she is a standard authority on all questions arising concerning 
them, and she has yet to be found in error. She is now in her eighty-sixth year. Of 
her children, three — Alanson G., James R., and William H. — were soldiers in the late 
war. Three of her sons-in-law, and three of her grandsons, also served in the army. 
This certainly shows that patriotism runs in the family. James R. Morrison married 
February 13, to Sarah F. Walker. 

Morrison, Rice, Corydon, was born in Lycoming county December 11, 1798. He 
carne with the family of his father, James Morrison, and settled in Warren in the year 
1801. In this family were eleven children, and all of them grew to be men and women. 
Rice was the oldest child; became to Kinzua and built a mill about the year 1817. He 
was married in 1822 to Dolly Richards. Their children were Eliza Ann, deceased ; 
Abigail, who married Windsor Knapp, both of whom are now dead; Maria L., de- 
ceased; Warren L., Helen A., Cynthia E., who married Charles Sparks. Warren L. 
and Helen reside in Corydon village with their aged mother, now in her eighty-fourth 
year. Rice Morrison died March 20, 1884, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. For 
many years he was a pilot on the Allegheny River. He was also an extensive lumber- 
man. In politics he was a radical Democrat. His wife, Dolly Richards, was born in 
Lisle, Broome county, N. Y., September 26, 1802. 

Morton, Charles, Spring Creek, was born in Poland, Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 
1844. He was a son of Stutely and Abigail (Howe) Morton. Abigail died in 1859, 
aged thirty-nine years. She left a family of twelve children, nine of whom are now 
living. Charles Morton enlisted in 1864. at Cold Spring, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., in 
the 9th N. Y. Cavalry, and settled in Warren county in 1865. He married Flora Clark, 
of Spartanburg, by whom he had one child — Philip Sheridan. He now owns a large 
saw and planing-mill. 

Morton, Dexter, Spring Creek, was born in Orangeville, Wyoming county, N. Y., in 
1829. He was a son of Samuel and Sarah (Wyman) Morton. Samuel was born in 
Massachusetts in 1786, and served in the War of 1812. He died in Spring Creek in 
1868, and his wife Sarah was born in 1791, and died in 1882, leaving a family of nine 
children, seven of whom are now living. Dexter Morton married Harriet Jobes in 1850. 
She died in 1852 leaving two children, both of whom are now dead. Mr. Morton mar- 
ried his second wife, Louisa Jackson, in 1854. She died in 187 1 leaving a family of three 
children — Elovine, Fayette, and Ehvin D. He was married the third time in 1871, to 
Mary McCray, and to them have been born two children — William and Mayola. He 
is a farmer, and owns and occupies a farm of ito acres. 

Morton, William H., West Spring Creek p. o., was born in West Spring Creek in 
1848, and married in 1880 Sarah Jcnks, who was born in Spring Creek in 1862. He 
was a son of Harrison and Eliza (Matteson) .Morton. The former was born in Niagara 
county, N. Y., in 1812, and the latter in Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1809, and died in 
1862, leaving three children — Laura A., Harriet J., and William H. He owns a farm 
of fifty acres. 

Mowris, Thomas, AA'arren p. o., Glade. Peter Mowris with his wife and six children 



Ixxii History of Warren County. 

came to Warren county in June, 1842, from Ulster county, N. Y. These children were 
William, Thomas, Benjamin, Sarah, Phebe, and John. Peter Mowris died in 1881, and 
his wife in 1886. Thomas Mowris, the second child, resides on a farm on the Cone- 
wango River in Glade, a few miles north from Warren. He married Amy Luckins, 
daughter of Isaac Luckins. They have no children. Thomas Mowris is a substantial 
farmer, having 130 acres of land well located. He has lived in Glade since 1865. Mr. 
M. has never taken an active part in politics, nor is he identified with any church society. 

Mudge, E. W., West Spring Creek p. o., was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1822. 
He. was a school teacher for a number of years, and has held the office of county audi- 
tor and ai)])raiser. He married Edna L. Morse, of Orleans county, N. Y. They have 
had one child born to them, Elmer E. E. W. Mudge was a son of Israel and Rebecca 
(Thomas) Mudge. Israel was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1794, and died in 1878. 
They had a family of seven children born to them, six of whom are now living. One 
of their sons, Henry A., was in Company I, One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment, and 
was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. 

Murphy, James, Conewango p. o., is a farmer, and was born in Wayne county, on 
May I, 1835. He was a son of Patrick and Elizabeth (Halligan) Murphy. His father 
was a native of county Kildare, Ireland, and his mother a native of county Armagh. 
They were early settlers in Wayne county, where they resided until the time of their 
deaths. James Murphy was reared in Wayne county and came to Warren county in 
1872. After coming here he worked in the woods at lumbering for some years. He 
settled in Conewango in 1882, on the farm on which^he now resides. He was married 
in 1871 to Helen Egan, and to them have been born eight children — Mary, Celia, Will- 
iam, James, Margaret, Edward, John, and Thomas. Helen Murphy w^as a daughter of 
James and Mary A. (Carroll) Egan, of Wayne county. Mr. Murphy and his wife are 
members of the Catholic Church. He is independent in politics. 

Murray, George K., Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, a general jeweler, fancy goods 
dealer, and practical watchmaker, settled in Youngsville, January, 1886, and now deals 
in a full line of plated and silver ware, and has a tine assortment of stationery and fancy 
goods, and carries a full line of fine cigars. He was married in 1885 to Mollie Wood. 
George K. Murray was a son of W. A. and Mary A. (Kleckner) Murray, of Logansville, 
Clinton county, who now reside in Milton. She was born in 1822, and her husband, 
W. A., was born in 1824. They have had a family of nine children. W. A. Murray is a 
farmer, lumberman, and is also engaged in the tanning, furniture, and distilling business. 

Murray, jr., Thomas, Columbus, is a general farmer and cooper. He was born in 
county Merritt, Ireland, in 1831, and is a son of Thomas and Ann Colwell Murray. 
Thomas, sr., died in Ireland, leaving a widow and two sons — Philip and Thomas, jr. 
His widow married Thomas Kenan ; they immigrated to America and settled in Oneida 
county, N. Y., where she died. They had a family of eight children. Thomas Murray, 
jr., settled in Warren county in 1864, and in 1867 married Emily Trussler, born in Eng- 
land, in 1832. They have two sons — William R. and Philip F. Mr. Murray purchased 
his present homestead of ninety five acres in 1876, and erected his dwelling and other 
buildings. 

Myers, M. A., West Spring Creek p. o., was born in Panama, Chautauqua county, 
N. Y., in 1 86 1, and is a son of Clark A., and Elsie Jane (Stevens) Myers, both of Oneida 
county, N. Y. Clark A., was born in 1836. They had three children — George W., M. 
A., and Lettie B. M. A. has held the office of town clerk, and keeps a large and well- 
stocked general store ; he is proprietor of a handle and shingle-mill, and deals extensively 
in lumber. 

Newman, William Davis, Fentonville (N. Y.) p. o., was born .^pril t8, 1821, in 
Niagara county, N. Y. During infancy he was adopted by a family and taken to 
Ellery, N. Y. ; thence to Frew Run, and in 1856 to Pine Grove. He married Matilda 
Stoddard, and by her had five children — Josephine, Nettie, James M., Ellen, and Jen- 
nie. Mr. Newman is strictly a self-made man, and in reasonably comfortable circum- 
stances. His farm is well located in the north part of the town. He is a Republican 
from choice, but not a member of any church society. 



13 

Brief Personals. Ixxiii 



Neyhart, Adnah, was born in Lansing, Tompkins county, N. Y., December 20, 1836, 
and was married in 1868 to Maria J. Grandin, of Tidioute. They have had two chil- 
dren born to them- -Emma Grandin and Adnah, jr. Mr. Neyhart settled in Warren 
county in 1865, and died in San Diego, Cal., in February, 1875. Mrs. Neyhart was a 
daughter of Samuel and Sarah Ann (Henry) Grandin, who were married in Pennsylvania 
in 1832. Sarah Ann was born in October, 1807, and her husband Samuel was born in 
Sussex county, N. J., in October, 1800. They were married in 1832, and settled in 
Pennsylvania ni June, 1822. They had a family of six children born to them, four of 
whom are now living — John L., William J., Elijah B., and Maria J. Stephen G., the 
oldest son, was drowned July 24, 1851, at the age of sixteen years, and Emma A. died 
August 17, 1867, at the age of eighteen years. Samuel Grandin settled in Tidioute in 
1S40, coming here from Venango county, and embarked in an extensive lumber and 
mercantile business. He was also one of the pioneers in the oil business, in all its 
various forms, and of which he made a great success. 

Nichols, C. W., Spring Creek, was born in Spring Creek in 1849. He is a manu- 
facturer of lumber and shingles, and a farmer, owns several hundred acres of timber land, 
and has done very much to advance the business interests of the town. He was mar- 
ried in 1876 to Mary A. Catlin. They have had four children born to them — Helen, 
Irene, Rue, and Bessie. His father, Calvin Nichols, was born in Genesee county, N. 
Y., in 1822, and married Irene Sanford, who was born in Batavia, Genesee county, N. 
Y., in 1827. They had a family of six children born to them — C. W., Mary, Flora, 
Orley, Etta, and Dewey. C. W.'s paternal grandfather, Samuel Nichols, was born in 
New Hampshire in 1794, and served in the War of 1812. He married S. Townsind, 
and to them were born nine children, five of whom are now livmg — Nancy, Calvin, Ira, 
Ratio, and Clarissa. 

Nobbs, William C, Lander p. o., Farmington, is a farmer, carpenter and joiner, and 
was born at the Isle of Wight, England, December 16, 1835. He was a son of William 
and Mary (Lakeman) Nobbs, who immigrated to Canada in 1842, and settled in Pine 
Grove, this county, in the same year. William Nobbs, sr., was a basket-maker by trade, 
which he followed for many years. He located in Farmington in 1861, where he re- 
sided until his death, in 1884. His children were — Mary, Phillips, Ann, Marsh, Will- 
iam C, Stephen, and Jennette. William C. Nobbs is a carpenter and joiner by trade, 
a business which he followed for many years. In 1886 he purchased the James Cooper 
farm in Farmington and engaged in farming where he now resides. He was married 
July 4, 1861, to Betsey Marsh, a daughter of Aralzeman and Rachel (Grawbarger) 
Marsh, of Elk township. They have had a family of four children born to them — Irene, 
Myrtle, Emma, and Everett. 

Offerle, Jacob, Warren p. o.. Glade, was born in Alsace, France, on February 21, 
1825. He was drafted in the French army under Louis Philippe, but did no service. 
He came to this country in September, 1846, and settled in Warren. He learned the 
trade of carriage-making, a trade which he worked at for twenty-eight years, his shop 
being on the west side of Conewango. In 1876 he built the greenhouses near his resi- 
dence, and has since then engaged in the florist business. Recently, however, he sold 
this business to Charles G. Offerle, his son, and the business is now managed by him. 
Jacob Offerle married Maria Spengler, by whom he had a familv of seven children — 
Daniel, Jacob B., Mary M., Salona A., Louisa, Charles G., and Philip H. 

Offerle, Adam, Warren p. o., was born in Alsace, France, February 20, 1842. He 
was a son of Jacob and Salome (Yaegle) Offerle, who settled in Pleasant township in 
1855. In 1865 he removed to Illinois, and died there. They had a family of three 
children — Adam, Jacob, and Adolph. Adam Offerle has been a resident of Warren 
county since 1855. He was married in 1876 to Elizabeth Zeigler, a daughter of Will- 
iam Zeigler, of Warren. They have had a family of four children born to them — Mar- 
garet S., Ada E., Ethel C, and Merton A. 

O'Gorman, Michael, Sugar Grove, was born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1830. He 
was a son of Michael and Ellen Hedderman O'Gorman, who died in Ireland. One sis- 



Ixxiv History of Warren County. 

ter — Mary — and two brothers — Michael and Dennis — came to America. Michael set- 
tled in Sugar Grove in 1856, having married, in 1855, Mary O'Hearn, who died June 
18, 1885. They adopted a child, of Swedish parentage — William — who has become a 
celebrated teacher, and who married Ida Thorp in 1878. Michael purchased his home- 
stead of seventy-six acres in 1858. His brother — Dennis — died leaving one daughter 
— Ellen — who now resides with her uncle Michael. 

Osgood, James T., Warren p. o., Sheffield, was bom in Rockingham county, N. H., 
in the year 1808. At the age of twenty-two years he came to Elk township and was 
married in 1832 to Jane Cole (a daughter of Jacob Cole), by whom he had eleven chil- 
dren, eight of whom lived to be men and women. Mr. Osgood's occupation through 
life has been that of a shoemaker, and for the last thirty-two years he has held the office 
of justice of the peace of the town of Sheffield, in which town he has resided for thirty- 
eight years. He has never amassed a fortune but has always lived comfortably. In 
political life he has always been a Whig and Republican. 

Packard, Mrs. Olive A., Spring Creek, was born in Garland, Warren county, in 
1842. She was a daughter of Elias and Margaret (McCue) Miller. Her father Elias 
Miller died in 1864, aged forty -six years. Olive B. was married in 1861 to Uri Jack- 
son, who died leaving one daughter. She married her second husband, Marshall Pack- 
ard in 1873. He is a farmer and a manufacturer of broom handles, and all kinds of 
apiarian supplies. 

Parker, Charles, Lander p. o., Farmington, is a farmer and was born in what is now 
known as Farmington, February 19, 1834. He was a son of Laten and Maria (Thomp- 
son) Parker. The former was a native of Connecticut and the latter was born in Pough- 
keepsie, Dutchess county, N. Y. They settled in Farmington in 1831 on the farm 
which is now owned by Sylvester Clark, and later on the farm which is now owned and 
occupied by S. H. Parker, which they cleared and improved and upon which they re- 
sided until the time of their deaths. They had a family of six children, who grew to 
maturity — Charles, John, Henry, Hiram, Louisa, and Almon, who was born October 
7, 1847, died November 6, 1849. Charles Parker located on the farm he now owns 
and occupies in 1855, all of which he has cleared and improved himself He has been 
married twice. His first wife was Sarah J. King, a daughter of Lorenzo and Eliza (Bly) 
King, of Farmington, by whom he had two children — Sumner H. and Ramah C. His 
second wife was Olive Clark, a daughter of John D. and Polly (Hollenbeck) Clark, of 
Farmington. 

Patchen, William F., Spring Creek, was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., in 1827. 
He is a farmer and now owns and occupies a farm of sixty-five acres. He was a son 
of Noah and Sarah (Jenney) Patchen. Noah served in the War of 1812. He was a 
carpenter and builder by trade and died in 1836. William F. Patchen married Mary 
Ann Jobs in 1851, and to them have been born six children, five of whom are now liv- 
ing — Almeda C., Amelia M. (who was accidentally shot and killed at the age of fifteen 
years), Z. D., William L., Adella May, Sadie A. 

Patchen, Francis P., Matthew's Run p. o., was born in Sugar Grove, and is a son of 
Aaron D. and Polly Pierce Patchen. Aaron was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., and 
Polly was from Busti, N. Y. They were married in 1840; setded the same year in 
Sugar Grove, and had a family of eight children — Stephen L., Francis Pulaski, Lemuel 
E., Aaron I)., Mary A., Sybil P., Clarissa F., and Polly Mildred. Aaron was a son of 
Zebulon and Polly Cohoon Patchen of Greenbush, Washington county, N. Y. Fran- 
cis P. Patciien married, in 1S70, Harriet Mattison, of Sugar Grove. She was a daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Emeline Hale Mattison — he of Kingsbury, N. Y., and she of Chau- 
tauqua county, N. Y.; they were married in 1845, and had but one daughter — Harriet. 
Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Patchen have one son — Frank Merrels. Mr. P. is a general farmer, 
and is school director. 

Patcli, Perry, Irvinton p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Brokenstraw township in 
1846. In 1874 he married Mary L. Houghton, daughter of Warren Houghton, of 
Hornellsville, N. Y. ; they have two children — Rex L. and Vinnie M. Perry was a 
son of Alonzo and Sarah Patch, wlio had three children — Levy, Perry, and Elizabeth. 



Brief Personals. Ixxv 



Alonzo died in 1877, aged sixty-one years. Mary L. had one son by her first husband 
— George W. Patch. Perry Patch embarked in the stave, heading, shingle and sawed 
lumber business in 1878, under the firm name of Patch & Walter, and in 1882 the firm 
dissolved, Perry continuing the same business alone. 

Pearce, Mrs. Eliza M., of Columbus borough, was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., 
in 1823. She was a daughter of Luther P. and Gabrielle B. (Balmat) Mather. Gab- 
rielle was born in Paris, August 22, 1791, and came to America with her parents in 
1797, and died January 15, 1881. She was best known by her second name; she went 
about among the sick, and was familiarly known as " Aunt Bridget." Luther was born 
in Bennington, Vt., and died in June, 1842. They were married at Wilna, Jefferson 
county, N. Y., in i8ri, and settled in Columbus borough in 1825, where Luther built 
a custom mill in 1826. He purchased his land and built a saw-mill in 1824, one year 
before his family settled here. They had a family of six children born to them, five of 
whom are now living — Harriet, Jedediah P., Joseph V., Eliza M., and Arvilla. The 
mill which was first built by Luther is now owned by a Mr. Francis, and was the first 
mill built in the township. Luther was a well-known and prominent man m his town 
and county. Eliza was married in 1842 to Loren Pearce, who was born in Madison 
county, N. Y., in 1815. They had one daughter born to them — Ellen — who died in 
1864, and one adopted son — Charles R. P. — who married and died, leaving one son. 
Loren Pearce died in 1880. Li early life he was a carpenter and builder, but in later 
life he became engaged in farming. 

Peck, David B., Lander p. o., Farmington, is a farmer, and was born in what is 
now Farmington, March i, 1839. He was a son of Samuel and Clarissa (Knapp) 
Peck, who setded on Thompson's Hill, Farmington township, about 1832, and in 1842 
they settled on the farm which is now owned and occupied by David B. Peck. They 
built a log house on the same, and cleared and improved it. Their children were 
George W. (who died while in the service of the Union during the late War of the Re- 
bellion), Emily (now Mrs. George Love), David B., and Comfort. David B. now re- 
sides on the old homestead. He was married in 1867 to Myra White, a daughter of 
Orange and Nancy (Robbing) White, of Farmington. They have had a family of four 
children born to them — Ina D., Clara B., Lizzie J., and Samuel G. Mr. Peck has 
served one term as county auditor, and in politics he is a Republican. 

Perry, Jason A., Enterprise p. o.. Southwest township, was born in Southwest, July 
4, 1 83 1. He was a son of Warner and Sarah (Sumner) Perry, who were natives of 
Woodstock, Conn. They were married and settled in Enterprise in 1824. They had 
a family of six children born to them, two of whom are now living — Hiram and Jason. 
AVarner was county commissioner in 1844, was justice of the peace for many years, and 
also postmaster. He was an early lumber manufacturer, and died in 1863. Warner 
Perry built and carried on the first hotel in Enterprise, in 1846. It was burned in 1870. 
Jason A. was married in 1852 to Angeline Dunham. She died in 1880, leaving a 
widower and a family of four children — Harriet, George C, Herbert R., and Clara E. 
Jason A. has held many of the offices of the town. He was assessor for eleven years, 
and has also been deputy sheriff" and constable. 

Peterson, Charles, Chandler's Valley p. o.. Sugar Grove, was born in Sweden in 
1 81 7. His father was Peter, his military name, given him by the king when he became 
a soldier being Proset. Charles married in 1842 Anna Louise Fredrickson, who was 
born in 1S20. They immigrated to America in 1852; they have a family of three chil- 
dren — Matilda, born in 1843; Christina, born in 1846; and John A., born in 1849. 
John enlisted in 1864, aged fifteen years, and served to the close of the war. Matilda 
married Jedd Darrow, and Christina married Morris Southwick. Charles worked for 
Mr. Sherman at farm work for six years, and in i86i purchased his present homestead 
of fifty acres, which he has cleared. 

Peterson, C. O., Sugar Grove p. o., Freehold, was born in Chautauqua county, N. 
Y., in 1855, and settled in Warren county in 1864. He married Minnie Buckstrand, 
who was born in Sweden. They had a family of two children born to them — Jennie 
Annette, and Amelia. Mr. Peterson is a large and prosperous farmer. His father, 



Ixxvi ' History of Warren County. 

Andrew P. Peterson, was born in Sweden, and came to America in 1852 and settled in 
Chautauqua county, N. Y. He had a family of eight children, six of whom are now 
living. 

Peterson, John, Chandler's Valley p. o., Sugar Grove, is a farmer, and was born in 
Sweden, in 1820. He was a son of Peter and Mary Peterson. John married in 1847 
Sarah Johnson, who was born in Sweden in 1819. With two children they immigrated 
to America in 1852. They were fourteen weeks on the passage, during which one of 
their children — Adolph — died and was buried at sea. They have four children living — 
Matilda, Oscar, Christina, and Janet ; Albert died, aged sixteen years. Mr. Peterson 
purchased his present farm of sixty acres in 1858. then a timber lot, but now one of the 
best farms in the town. Janet Peterson married William Hagrain ; and Matilda married 
John Gunn. 

Phillips, Lorenzo D., Lander p. o., Farmington, is a farmer, and was born in Farm- 
ington. April 22, 1831. He was a son of Levi and Phebe (Marsh) Phillips. His pater- 
nal grandfather. Squire Phillips, was a native of Vermont, and a pioneer of Pine Grove, 
and later of Farmington, where he resided until his death. He settled on the farm 
which is now owned and occupied by Alexander Houghwoht, and cleared and improved 
it. He had a family of twelve children — Sally, Elisha, Loren, Darius, Lucy, Jonathan, 
Lydia, Levi, Anna, Maria. Elijah, and Albert. His maternal grandfather was Hugh 
Marsh, a native of New Jersey, who settled in Farmington, in 1798. Levi Phillips, 
father of Lorenzo D. Phillips, began life in Pine Grove, lived on the Houghwoht farm for 
a time in Farmington, and later removed to the farm which is now occupied by the Stan- 
tons. He cleared and improved the latter and resided on it the greater part of his life- 
time. He had a family of ten children — Hiram L., Nancy, Rachel (deceased), Lorenzo 
D., Alonzo L, Pierson C., Mary Jane, Andrew, Phebe Ann, and Daniel W. Lorenzo D. 
always resided in Farmington. He was married in 1862 to Malvina Hudson, a daugh- 
ter of William and Olive (Badger) Hudson, of Pine Grove. They have had a family of 
two children born to them — Herbert L. and Milton L. He settled on the farm which 
he now owns and occupies in 1865, and erected all of the present buildings. The farm 
was originally settled by Hugh Marsh. 

Phillips, Willis B., Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Youngsville in 1858, 
and was married in September, 1883. to Minnie S. Martin, of Jamestown, N. Y. They 
have two sons — Jesse W. and Willis Glen. Willis B. Phillips embarked in the manu- 
facture of harness, and deals in all horse and carriage furniture, giving employment to 
one or two hands the year around. He turns out from handwork the best of goods, as 
his sam];les will show. His business was organized in 1869, he becoming successor to 
his brother, J. D. Phillips. He is a son of Jesse B. and Mary Ann (Turner) Phillips. 
She was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1822, and died in April, 18S5 ; her husband 
was born m Genoa, Cayuga county, N. Y., in 1809. He was a son of Buel and Eunice 
(Belknap) Phillips. Jesse and Mary Ann had a family of six children, three of 
whom are now living— James D., Alma E. (married W. P. Nutting), and Willis B. ; An- 
drew J., Erne.st H., and West S., being dead. Jesse B. Phillips settled in Brokenstraw 
in 1828, as a farmer and lumberman, which business he followed until 1865, when he 
retired, only looking after the interests of his farm. His jjarents were natives of New 
England. 

Pier, William, Dugall p. o., Pittsfield, was born in Harmony, Chautauqua county* 
N. Y., in 1855, and was married April 12, 1879, to Matilda Howard, of Pittsfield. They 
have had two children born to them— Calvin and Jerome. He was a son of Calvin and 
Eliza (Hitchcock) Pier. Eliza was born in Harmony. N. Y., and died September 17, 
1867, and her husband was born in 1821, and died' November 12, 1884. They left a 
family of four children— Ada (married Roland Brundage), Minerva (who married Henry 
Ford), Betsey (who is now Mrs. Charles Haupin), and \\"illiam. His paternal grand- 
father, Oliver Pier, was an early settler in Chautaucjua county, N. Y., and was a great 
trapijer and hunter. He killed one thousand three hundred and twenty-two deer, and 
the bounty which he received for wolves killed was five hundred dolla 
January, 1885, at the advanced age of ninetv-one years. 



I 



Brief Personals. ■ Ixxvii 



Pierce, ist, Levi, Sanford p. o., was born in Washington county, N. Y., in 1824. He 
settled in Warren county in 1837, and married Julia A. Main, of Eldred, in 1854. They 
have eight children — Bertania, Lucretia, Albert B., Ellen E., Julia A., John Jeremiah, 
Levi J., Jackson, and Luttice A. His father, John L., was born in New Hampshire in 
1790, and married Clarissa Bartholomew, who was a niece of General Huntington, of 
the Revolution; she was born in 1789, and died in 1866; he died in 1863. They had 
six children, three of whom are now living — Daniel L., Levi, and John — all residents of 
Warren county. 

Pierce, Levi, Sanford p. o., was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1830, and set- 
tled in Warren county in 1882. He married Sarah E. Wright, of Chautauqua county, 
N. Y., and they have two children — William and Mary. His father, Luther, was born 
in New Hampshire in 1800, settled in Pennsylvania in 1828, and married Ardelia Wol- 
cott, of Massachusetts. He died in 1854, and she in 187 1. They left three children — 
Levi, Polly, and Ezra. Levi served in the late war. His business is farming and lum- 
bering, he owning a farm of 100 acres. Levi's son William married Elmira Wilcox, of 
Crawford county ; they have one child — Ardelia. 

Place, Thomas J., Sheffield, was born in Tioga county, in the year 1829, and at the 
age of twenty-one years he came to Sheffield. After a residence of three years here he 
returned to Tioga, where he remained for about two years. He then came to Claren- 
don, where he lived until about eight years ago, when he moved to the northeast part of 
Sheffield. He married Laura S. Whitcomb, by whom he has had the following chil- 
dren : Alice, VVilliam, Frank, Lucy, Lettie, Thomas, J. P., Nora, Luther, Mary, Robert, 
and Lorinda. Lettie and Luther are now deceased. His farm, comprising thirty-two 
acres, was a part of the tract formerly owned by Warren Snapp. The life of Thomas 
J. Place has been spent In farming and lumbering, in which he has met with a fair meas- 
ure of success. Four good oil wells are now on the farm, and others are to be put 
down. 

Pratt, Linus H., Sugar Grove p. o., was born in Windham, Greene county, N. Y., in 
1810. He came to Sugar Grove May 7, 1831, and in 1837 married Julia Catlin, who 
Avas born in Ontario, Genesee county, N. Y., in 1814. They have had a family of five 
children — Edgar R., Lucy E., Marshall S., Florence, and one who died at an early age. 
Florence, the only one now living, married James Martin. Linus H. Pratt was a son of 
John B. and Hannah Steadman Pratt, who settled in Sugar Grove in 1833 with a fam- 
ity of four children — L. H., Lucina (Mrs. Clark), now living, and Mary and Solomon, 
deceased. Mrs. Julia Pratt was a daughter of Henry and Sally Pratt Catlin. He was 
from Conway, Mass., and she came from Kingsbury, N. Y.; they were married in On- 
tario county, N. Y., January 3, 1810, and had a family of twelve children, four of whom 
— Julia, James, Clarissa, and Henry — are now living. He was born in 1785 and died 
in 1845 ; she was born in 1790 and died in 1861. They settled in Sugar Grove in i8i6. 
Linus H. Pratt purchased his homestead and built his first log-house in 1834. Mr. and 
Mrs. Pratt will long be remembered by the rising generation for their courteous manner 
to all. 

Porter, Abraham V., Warren, was born in Reading, Steuben county, X. Y., on Oc- 
tober 28, 1810, and came to Warren county in 1831, and assisted in building the first 
stone jail in Warren. He settled in Conewango with his mother in 1832, on the farm 
he now owns and occupies, all of which he has cleared and improved himself The log- 
cabin in which he first resided is still standing. He was a son of Robert and Nellie 
(Houglitaliiig) Porter. He was married in 1836 to Margaret Snyder, who was a daugh- 
ter of William and Hannah Snyder, of Glade township. They have had a family of 
thirteen children born to them, nine of whom have grown to maturity — Maria, Sarah, 
Alice, Emma J., John W., Norman, William, Delia, and Belle. William now resides on 
the homestead and carries on the farm. He was married on October 16, 1882, to Mag- 
gie Brown, a daughter of Alexander Brown, of Glade township. They have had one 
child born to them — Clyde. 

Porter, John W., Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Conewango, on February 
14, 1843. He was a son of Abraham V. and Margaret (Snyder) Porter. His father 



Ixxviii History of Warren County. 

settled in Conewango, on the farm he now occupies, in 1832. John W. Porter has al- 
ways resided in Conewango. He was married in 1866 to Caroline Gross. They now 
have five children living — George, Wesley, Maggie, Susie, and Catherine. Mr. Porter 
settled on the farm on which he now resides in 1872, and cleared and improved it 
himself. 

Porterfield, Robert .\ustin, Tidioute p. o.. Glade, was born in Venango county, in 
1833. He was a son of R. G. and Lucy D. (Lyon) Porterfield. Lucy was born in Bos- 
ton, Mass., and her husband, R. G., was born in Pennsylvania. They were married in 
Ohio. R. G. died in Venango county at the age of seventy-seven years ; Lucy is now 
living at the advanced age of eighty-two years. They had a family of nine children born 
to them, seven of whom are now living. One of their sons, John, enlisted in the Fourth 
Regiment Cavalry, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served for four years, and was dis- 
charged at the close of the war. Robert A. Porterfield was married in 1854, to Mar- 
garet Truby. They settled in Tidioute in 1864, and have had a family of si.\ children 
born to them — Clara R., Louis C, Martin T., Willard M., Frank D., and Anna B. 
Clara R. married D. VV. Clark, jr., and Louis C. married Hattie Clark. Robert A. is a 
carpenter and builder. 

Pratt, Adam L., Sheffield. Among the early pioneers of Sheffield came Adam L. 
Pratt, a native of Hector, Schuyler county, N. Y. He first came to this town in the 
spring of 1832. in company with Richard Dunham and his family. They built a mill on 
Tionesta Creek, near Dunham's Point. Adam was thrice married; his first wife was 
Martha Stanton, who bore him one child, Martha A., now Mrs. William Slocum, who 
now resides in Michigan. After the death of his first wife he married Miranda Spencer 
by whom he had two sons — Horace R., and Deforest S., both of whom were killed in 
the late war. His third wife was Betsey Palmer, by whom he had a family of six chil- 
dren — Edward K., Clarence H., John A., Anson L., Edith A., and Joseph H. Adam 
Pratt commenced life as a poor boy, having no capital except health and strength, but 
with these powerful factors has always kept pace with the advance of years, and now 
lives comfortably, surrounded by family and friends. 

Proper, L. M., Grand Valley p. o., was born in Wyoming county in 1842, and set- 
tled in Warren county in i860. He married Mary J. Emerson, of Erie county, and to 
them were born nine children, eight of whom are now living — Alta S., Minnie A., Alice 
A., Mary A., Hattie L., Lilly B., Frederick, George (deceased), and Ray. Mr. Proper 
owns a farm of one hundred and fifty acres; he is also largely interested in oil. He has 
held the offices of road commissioner, mercantile appraiser, and is now assessor. His 
father, Zachariah Proper, was born in Wyoming county, N. Y., in 1819, and died in 
1877. His wife was Rhoda Brown, of the same county, who died in 1866, leaving a 
family of six children. 

Putnam, Perry B., Lander p. o., Farmington, is a farmer and was born in Erie 
county, N. Y., August 8, 1829. He was a son of Daniel and Betsey (Barrett) Putnam; 
his paternal grandfather was Jesse Putnam, who with two sons, Daniel and Edson, set- 
tled in what is now Farmington in 1830. Daniel settled on the farm which is now 
owned by A. Hinsdale, a part of which he cleared and improved, and afterwards re- 
moved to Pine Grove township, two miles east of where he first setded, and resided 
there until his death. His children were Angeline, Sidney, Mary (deceased). Perry B., 
Sarah (deceased), Almira, Theodore L., Manly T. (deceased), and Nancy, who grew to 
maturity. Perry B. Putnam was brought up in Farmington, and settled in Eldred 
township in 1851, and in 1865 he again returned to Farmington, and setded on the 
farm which he now occupies. He was married January i, 1859, to Margaret, a daugh- 
ter of James and Jane (White) McCray, and a granddaughter of one of the first settlers 
of Brokenstraw. Mr. Putnam has a family of four children — Mrs. Clara (now Mrs. 
Herbert White), Grant, Jennie, and Leroy. 

Quillian, Charles P., Chandler's Valley p. o., Sugar Grove, was born in Ohio in 
1851. In 1S80 he married Sylvia Durham, daughter of J. R. and Lavina Durham, born 
in Cambridge, Crawford county. They have two children. Mr. Quillian is engaged in 
creamery butter manufacture ; he superintended the erection of the Sugar Grove, or 



Brief Personals. 



Chandler's Valley creamer)' in 1885, at a cost of $1,600. His parents were Hugh and 
Elizabeth Kelley Quillian, of Ohio ; they were born and married in the Isle of Wight — 
he born in 1801 and she in 1808. They settled in this country in 1837, and have had 
a family of eight children — John, Esther, Ann, William, Mary, Eliza, Sophronia, and 
Charles P. William enlisted in Company I, First Ohio Light Artillery, and served three 
years. 

Raymond, Harry D., Columbus, was born in Sherburne, N. Y., in 1830. He was 
a son of Fitch and Electa (Brown) Raymond, who were born and married in Connect- 
icut and died in Columbus, where they settled in 1836. They had a family often chil- 
dren born to them, eight of whom are now living — Ruhama, Delia, Laura, Harry D., 
Mary, Lizzie, Lyman, and Addie. The father. Fitch, died in 1853, and the mother. 
Electa, died in 1859. Harry D. Raymond was married in 1855 to Mary E. Spencer, 
of Chenango county, N. Y., where she was born in 1826. They have had two daugh- 
ters born to them — Sallie E. and Alice. Miss Alice is a music teacher, and Sally E. 
married Frank Howard. Mary E. Spencer was a daughter of Israel and Sally (Web- 
ster) Spencer, who were born and married in Connecticut, and settled in Chenango 
county, N. Y., and in 1826 they settled in Columbus. 

Raymond, jr.. Sears H., Columbus, was born in Columbus on June ig, 1836. He 
was a son of Sears S. Raymond and Caroline (Eagles) Raymond, who were born in 
Columbus, Chenango county, N. Y., and family of two children, settled in Columbus, Pa., 
in 1820. They had a family of eleven children, nine of whom are now living. Sears S. 
died in 1873, and his wife Caroline died in 185 1. Sears S. was a county commissioner, 
a farmer and a large stock dealer. He was a son of Zacheus and Sarah Raymond, and 
had a family of six children, two of whom are now living — Harvey and Enoch. Sears 
H. Raymond, jr., was married in 1861 to Ellen Woods, of Fredonia, N. Y. They have 
had a family of three children born to them — Bertha, who married C. N. Dood ; Addie, 
who married M. A. Day. Mrs. Ellen was a daughter of Lester Woods, who settled in 
Columbus, Pa., in 1858. 

Rickerson, L. B., Spring Creek, was born in Columbus in 1841, and settled in Spring 
Creek in 1880. He is a carpenter and builder by trade, but is now engaged in the 
manufacture of carriages apd blacksmithing. He was married in 1861 to Sarah Yager, 
who was born in Erie county in 1842. They have had a family of seven children — 
five living — Frank L., Nelson E., Dora L., Cora B., and Daniel O., and Oren and Willey 
(deceased). Mr. L. B. Rickerson was ordained minister at the Christian convention in 
1876, and is now a preacher. He was a son of Oltha N. and Adelia (Brown) Rickerson. 

Rieg, Jacob J., Warren p. o.. Pleasant, is a farmer and was born in Alsace, France, 
January 28, 1834. He was a son of George and Salome (Frietch) Rieg, who settled in 
Warren in 1847, where they still reside. They had a family of five children — Jacob 
J., George, Hattie, Salome, and Aurelia. Jacob J. Rieg settled in Glade township in 
1859, clearing and improving a farm there,'upon which he resided until 1882, when he 
located in Pleasant, on the farm which he now owns and occupies. He was married in 
1859 to Elizabeth Seigrist, a daughter of Andrew and Barbara (Lenhart) Seigrist, by 
whom he has had a family of eight children — Albert, Isabel, Lorena, Helena, Andrew, 
Fred, Edwin, and Ella. 

Ridelsperger, David, Stoneham p. o.. Mead, is a farmer, lumberman, and oil pro- 
ducer, and was born in Alsace, France, December 11, 1827. He was a son of David 
and Catherine (Farney) Ridelsperger. He came to Mead township in 1841, and came 
into possession of the farm which he now owns and occupies in 1854, most of which he 
has cleared and upon which he has made all of the improvements in buildings. His 
homestead now consists of sixty-five acres, though he has several tracts of about four 
hundred acres in all ; was engaged in lumber business twenty-nine years, and since 
1880 he has been actively engaged in the oil business. He was married June 13, 1850, 
to Mary Leonhart, a daughter of Philip and Mary (Leonhart) Leonhart, who were 
natives of Warren. They had a family of seven children born to them — William D., 
Leonora, Frank G., Louis M., Belle, Henry P:, and Lena. 



Ixxx History of Warren County. 



Robinson, O. A., East Branch p. o., Eldred, was born in Lower Canada in 1834. 
He is a farmer and owns eighty acres. He married Mary A. McCray, of Pittsfield, War- 
ren county, who died on February 25, 1865, leaving a family of two chidren — Dennie 
Clyde, born December 24, 1863, and died April 25, 1865, and Joey McCray, born 
February 23, 1865, and died September i, 1865. He was married for the second time in 
1870 to Mary A. Immicke, of Spring Creek. She was born in 185 1 and died January 
19, 1884. They had a family of seven children, four of whom are now living — Roena 
H.,born May 26, 1872; Catherine M., born .'August 10, 1873 ; Patty I., August 3, 1878; 
Amanda M., September 4, 1880; and Orange B., born September 8, 1875, died 1876; 
Leona M., born June, 1877, died October, 1877; Melissa G., born .\ugust 16, 1882, 
died May 7, 1883. His father. Chase R. Robinson, was born in New Hampshire in 
1791, and died in 1865. His mother was Rowena Abell, why was born in Vermont in 
1801 and died in 1879. 

Root, Elijah, Sugar Grove, is one of the successful farmers and business men of 
Sugar Grove. He was born August g, 1838, and was a son of Lyman and Almira 
(Hodges) Root. She was born in Jefferson county, N. Y. He was born in Saratoga 
county, N. Y. They were married in Camden, Oneida county, N. Y., in 1831, and 
they settled in Sugar Grove in 1837, where Mrs. Root died in 1847, and her husband in 
1857. They had a family of four children born to them — Lyman jr., Mary, Elijah, 
and Maria. Maria died leaving one son — Elbert Simmons. Elijah married Cynthia 
Beardsley, of Orleans County, N. Y., December 15, 1869. They have had one son 
born to them — Fred Beardsley, born October 10, 1870. Cynthia was a daughter of 
Allen and Sallie (Hickey) Beardsley. Mr. Root is now a retired farmer. 

Root, Perry, Corydon, was born in Bradford August 10, 1824, and at the age of si.x 
years came to Kinzua, where he lived with the family of .\ndrew Merritt until 1848, 
when he came to Corydon. He operated and owned the saw-mill at Corydon village 
until 1859. Since this time he has devoted himself to agriculture, having a fine farm of 
two hundred acres in the north part of the town. Mr. Root married Anna Whitcomb, 
by whom he had one child — Merritt. For his second wife he married Celia Mc- 
Laughlin, who also bore him one child — Anna. Perry Root came to Warren county 
a poor boy, and by industry and energy he has placed himself above want. He is a 
consistent Democrat in political life, but takes no active part in the political affairs of 
the town. Daniel J. Root, brother of Perry, came to Corydon in 1858, and occupies a 
farm near his brother, near the New York State line. 

Roper, William, Cornplanter p. o.. Elk, and his wife, Hannah Eutetia (Turner) 
Roper, and their three children — James, Eliza, and Hannah Eutetia, all of whom were 
born in England, came to Elk in the year 1832. William died in January, 1879, Eliza 
(married first Simon Sneider, and after his death, John O. Rollins), Hannah E. (married 
Alanson Dewey), and James married Elsie Jane, a daughter of William S. Marsh, by 
whom he had a family of three children. James Roper commenced life with no capital, 
but built up a fortune by industry and economy. He helped his parents in their 
declining years. His farm consists of 180 acres nicely located on the .Allegheny. He 
also owns the Kinzua House at Kinzua. In politics Mr. Roper is a Republican, and 
takes considerable interest in town affairs. 

Rowe, Henry L., Columbus, was born in Freehold in 1826. He was marrieci in 
1848 to Maria Monroe, a daughter of O. L. and Ann L. iMonroe, who was born in 
1827. They had three children — Charles E., born 1856 ; Fred M., born in 1861, and 
Florence E., born in 1852. Henry L. Rowe was engaged in farming in early life, and 
in 1867 settled in Columbus, and engaged in the mercantile business in 1878, built a 
steam flour-mill, and in 1879 he retired from active life. He was a son of P'.dmund and 
Rachel (Hayes) Rowe, who were born and married in Greene county, N. Y. He was 
born in 1801, and his wife in 1799. They were married in 1822, and settled in Free- 
hold in 1823. Rachel died in 1869, leaving two children — Henry L. and Maria (now 
Mrs. Chadwick). Edmund Rowe was a son of William and Rebecca Rowe, who set- 
tled in Freehold in 1824. They were born and married in Dutchess county, N. Y., and 



I 



Brief Personals. 



had a famil}' of eight children born to them, five of" whom are now Hving — Orrin, Gil- 
bert, John, Sally, and Edmund. 

Rowe, John, Bear Lake p. o.^ Freehold, was a son of William Rowe, who was born 
in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1778, and was married in 1800 to Rebecca Dunham. 
They had a family of eight children born to them, five of whom are now living — Ed- 
mund, Albert, deceased; Henry, deceased; Sally, Mile, deceased; John, Orrin, and 
Gilbert. William Rowe died in 1857, and his wife, Rebecca, died in 1849. John 
, Rowe married Bedora Beals, of Warren county. He is now a retired farmer, and has 
held almost all of the important offices of the town. 

Rowland, Samuel, Warren p. o.. Glade, was born at Ellery, Chautauqua county, N. 
Y., October 25, 1817, and was one of a family of six children, sons and daughters, of 
Jacob Rowland. Samuel began life on the farm and received at that time only a com- 
mon school education, but he endeavored then to acquire such knowledge as would fit 
him for the ministry, which he entered in the year 1858 as a Congregational minister. 
In 1842 he married Sarah B. Cowan, a daughter of Robert Cowan, who bore him four 
children, viz. — John C, Mary, Lineas M., and Abbie. They also had one child by 
adoption — Irvine Cowan Rowland. Rev. Samuel Rowland first preached at Frews- 
burgh, N. Y., and has since officiated as pastor at Farmington, Spring Creek, Pittsfield, 
Garland, Fentonville, Gouldtown, Stoneham, Clarendon, Tiona, and Glade respectively. 
The latter three now being his pastoral charges. For the last two years Mr. Rowland 
has been a resident of Glade. 

Rowley, Merritt B., Sugar Grove, was born in Sugar Grove in 185 1, and was mar- 
ried in 1873 to Emma Ricker, a daughter of Stephen and Julia Ann (Hubbard) Ricker, 
and by her has had one daughter — Margaret D. Mr. Rowley was first engaged in 
farming and stock growing. In 1884 he became engaged in the market and butcher 
business at the borough. Mr. Rowley was a son of Mark and Abigail (Johnson) Row- 
ley. His parents were born in Farmington. His father was born in 1820, and died in 
1854, leaving a widow and two children, Mary and Merritt B. Mark was a son of 
Benzley Rowley. 

Rowley, Levy H., Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Massachusetts in 
1824, and was a son of Solomon and Pleadus (Henry) Rowley. She was born in Mas- 
sachusetts, and her husband, Solomon, was born in Connecticut. They settled in Brok- 
enstraw in 1S38, where he died in 1866, and his wife in 1875. They had a family of 
nine children, six of whom are now living — Fanny M., Joanna, Lucy, Sarah S., Levy 
H., and Louisa. Levy H. Rowley became a successor to the homestead farm, which 
was purchased in 1838, and became a farmer and lumberman, and has been school di- 
rector for fifteen years, and held other minor town and district offices. He was married 
in 1862 to Eliza Black, of Venango county, who was born in 1838. They have had 
three children, two now living — Willie and Bertie. Eliza was a daughter of Thomas 
and Eliza Ann Black. 

Roy, James, Warren p. o.. Glade, was born in the town of Phelps, Ontario county, 
N. Y., September 14, 1822 ; he is of Scottish descent. His grandfather, Coll Roy, came 
from Scotland in the year 1749. He setded in Phelps, Ontario county, N. Y., and was 
a blacksmith by trade. To Coll and Elizabeth, his wife, were born seven children, of 
whom Andrew, the father of the subject of this sketch, was the fourth child ; he followed 
the life of a farmer and served in the War of 1812. In the year 1809 he married Mar- 
garet Ray, by whom he had a family of five children, James being the fourth child. 
When James was seven years of age, his father died, and in 1836 he, with his 
mother, came to Elk township, Warren county. At the age of sixteen he was thrown 
upon his own resources. He prospered reasonably in all his undertakings, was exten- 
sively engaged in the manufacture of lumber, and later in life he became engaged in the 
oil business as a producer. In 185 1 he married Sophia Shattuck, a daughter of William 
and Maria Shattuck, by whom he had a family of seven children — Helen M., Margaret, 
Franc, James, jr., John, Blanche, and Josephine A. Sophia (Shattuck) Roy died in 
1867. Mr. Roy now resides in Glade, and occupies a beautiful residence on the banks 



Ixxxii History of Warren County. 

of the Conewango. Politically he has been a Republican, Democrat, and Greenbacker 
successively. He ran on the Greenback and Democratic tickets as a candidate for the 
office of county commissioner, and was elected. Mr. Roy has never been identified 
with any church society. 

Ruhlman, Daniel, Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Strasburg, Alsace, France, 
on November i, 1841. He was a son of Andrew and Saloma (Rugel) Ruhlman, who 
came to America in 1844, and settled in North East township, Erie county, where they 
lived until 1850, after which they removed to Warren county, where his father engaged 
in the brewing business, which he followed for one year. He suddenly disappeared and 
has not been heard from since. He had a family of two children — Andrew and Dan- 
iel. Daniel settled on the farm which he now occupies in 1869, all of which he has 
cleared and improved himself, owning now in all about 378 acres, fifty of which are all 
cleared and improved. He was married in 1862 to Mary A. Somers. They have had 
eleven children born to them — Cora M., Charles A., Sumner D., May B., Orange D., 
Blanche S., Ray W , Florence J., Cloyd G., Merl, and Hyett. His wife, Mary A., was 
a daughter of Wendell and Margaret (Schuler) Somers, of Conewango. 

Ruland, Michael W., Scofield p. o.. Southwest, was born in Deerfield in 1842. He 
was married in 1879 to Elizabeth Bevier, who was born in 1841. They have had a 
family of three children born to them — Nathan E., Margaret M., and one child who 
died in infancy. Elizabeth was a daughter of Elijah and Leah Bevier, who were natives 
of Ulster county, N. Y., and settled in Southwest in 1844. They had a family of four 
children born to them, but two of whom are now living — Elizabeth (born in 1841), and 
Simon J. (born in 1850). Leah was born in 1866, and her husband was born in 18 — 
and died in 1884. He was a son of Simon Bevier, who came to Southwest and settled 
with his family, and there purchased one thousand acres from the Holland Land Com- 
pany. He died in Southwest, and after his death his widow and children returned to 
Cayuga county, N. Y., and Elijah was the only child who again settled in Southwest. 
Michael W. Ruland was a son of Silas and Eliza Ruland, who settled in Warren county 
about 1820. They had a family of twelve children born to them, six of whom are now 
living — Huldah C, William P., Charles, Michael W., Byron, and Mary C. The parents 
emigrated from Long Island and settled here in 18 — , and engaged in the lumber busi- 
ness and farming. Silas was born in 1796 and died in 1878, and his wife was born in 
1809. Michael enlisted and served in the late war, after which he was honorably dsi- 
charged. 

Russell, Robert, Russell p. o.. Pine Grove, was a native of Ireland, who immigrated 
to America and settled in Pine Grove many years ago; in fact he was one of its earliest 
pioneers. He was twice married. By his first wife he had four sons and three daugh- 
ters. John Russell was a son of the first marriage. He married three times. His first 
wife was a Miss Jones. His second wife was Sarah Jane Van Duzen, by whom he had 
■seven children, viz. — David R. P. (born October 9, 1838, died September 24, 1S43), T. 
A. Emmett (born November 14, 1840), Harvey T. R. (born April 3, 1843), John (born 
August 8, 1845), Ella Isadore (born November 3, 1847), Eliza Jane, and Carl K. His 
third wife was Mary Penfield, of Chautauqua county, N. Y. John Russell kept the 
hotel at Russellburg for many years. He moved to Warren in 1861, and lived there 
until 1865, when he died. His son Harvey is the leading merchant at Russell, having 
been engaged in business there for thirteen years, all of which time he has been post- 
master at that place. Mr. Russell enlisted as private in Company K, Twelfth Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry, serving three years, and by several promotions gained the rank of first 
lieutenant. Harvey Russell married Flora J. Houghwot, of Farmington. 

Sampson, Willis G., McGraw p. o.. Triumph, was born in Auburn, O., in 1843. He 
was a son of S. H. and Mary B. Sampson. He was a graduate of Geauga Seminary, 
■0., where Garfield was educated. He enlisted in Company D. Eighty-eighth Ohio, 
and served in the late war. He settled in Pennsylvania, in the city of Titusville, in 
1865, and in 1866 he went to Pithole, where he was engaged in the production of oil, 
and also engaged in the same business in several different localities. He was married 
in 1872 to Elizabeth Patterson, of Rochester, N. Y. He settled in Triumph, operating 






Brief Personals. Ixxxiii 

in his own interest, and has held the general superintendency of Edwin E. Clapp's large 
oil interest of Triumph from 1876, a lot of 417 acres, having put down sixty-one wells, 
and is now pumping forty-seven wells with three boilers and eight hands, and producing 
eighteen hundred barrels per month. 

Samuelson, Samuel A., Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Sweden, March 18, 
1841. He was a son of Lars and Christiana (Petersen) Samuelson, who settled in 
Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1851, and in Sugar Grove in 1861, where they now re- 
side. They had a family of eight children — John P., Samuel A., Alfred, Ida, David 
and Matilda (twins), Albertine, and Sarah. Samuel A. Samuelson was in the late War 
of the Rebellion, enlisting in 1861 in Company F, Ninth New York Cavalry; served 
one year, and was discharged on account of disability; he re-enlisted in 1863 in the 
One Hundred and Fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers; was in the battles of Chancel- 
lorsville, Gettysburg, and also in other engagements ; was slightly wounded at Gettys- 
burg, and honorably discharged in 1864. He was married in 1866 to Mary S. Endin- 
ger, a daughter of Casper and Mary S. (Zimmerlin) Endinger, natives of Alsace, France, 
who settled in Conewango in 1840, and in 1857 they settled on the farm now occupied 
by Samuel A. They had a family of three children — George and Mathis (deceased), 
and Mary (wife of Samuel A.) Samuel A. has a family of three children — Albert, Ma- 
tilda, and Conway L. Samuel Samuelson settled on the Endinger farm in 1866, where 
he has since resided. 

Sanford, Joel G., Sanford p. o., Eldred, was born in Batavia, N. Y., in 1824, and 
settled in Warren county in 1838. He is engaged in lumbering and farming and now 
owns a farm of 144 acres. He now holds the othce of postmaster, and has been justice 
of the peace, assessor, commissioner, and held many other minor offices. He was mar- 
ried in 185 1 to Nancy A. Moore, of Garland, Warren county. They have had five 
children born to them — Myron S., Ida I. (deceased), Mary J., Washington A., and 
Irene E. His father, Samuel W. B. Sanford, was born in Connecticut in 1798. He 
married Esther H. Green, of Onondaga county, N. Y. They had a family of four chil- 
dren born to them — Joel G., Nancy I., Orland, and W. S. (deceased). 

Sanford, O., Sanford p. o., Eldred, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., in 1833, 
and settled in Warren county in 1838. He is a farmer, and now owns a farm of 143 
acres. He was married in 1875 to Mrs. Hannah Hayes, of Sugar Grove. They have 
had two children born to them — Oma May, and Leroy (deceased). His father, Samuel 
W. B. Sanford, was born in Connecticut in 1798, and married Esther H. Green, of 
Onondaga county, N. Y. They had a family of four children — Joel G., Nancy I., 
Orland, and W. S. (deceased). 

Schramling, Charles H., Columbus, one of the successful and prominent farmers of 
the county, was born in Oneonta, Otsego county, N. Y., in 1834. He was married in 
in 1856 to Mary King, who was born in Erie county. They have had a family of three 
children born to them — Isadore E., Charles E., and Leland M. Isadore E. married F. 
W. Knowlton in 1878. They have had one son born to them ; Charles E. married 
Fanny Manwarren in April, 1881 ; and Leland M. married Ethel Hapgood in August, 
1885. His homestead farm of two hundred acres is one of the best in the county, and 
he also owns and has large interest in lands in New York State. He was a son of Da- 
vied D. and Catharine Schramling. 

Schramling, De Loss, Columbus, was born in Otsego county, N. Y. He was a son 
of David D. and Catharine Schramling, who were natives of Oneonta, Otsego county, 
N. Y., and settled in Columbus in 1836, with a family of five children, and had eleven 
born to them, nine of whom are now living, seven sons and two daughters. De Loss 
Schramling was born in 1836. He was married in July, i860, to Phebe King, who was 
born in Erie county in 1841. They have had a family of three children born to them — 
William A., Edwin O., and Bertha A. William A. married Alice Owles. Phebe (King) 
Schramling was a daughter of William and Cynthia A. King, of Erie county. 

Schramling, Sylvester, Columbus, was born in Oneonta, Otsego county, N. Y., May 
23, 1830. He was a son of David D. and Catharine Schramling, who were born and 
married in Otsego county, N. Y., and with a family of five children settled in Columbus 



Ixxxiv History of Warren County. 

in 1836. They had a family of eleven children born to them in all, nine of whom are 
now living — Alvin, Sylvester, Hiram, Charles H., De Loss, Orrin, Frank, Mary, and 
Sarah. 'l"he mother, Catharine, died in July, 1863, aged tifty-seven years. David D. 
Schramling was born in 1805. Alvin enlisted and vi^as appointed lieutenant, raised a 
company in Ohio, and served to the close of the war David D. retired from his farm 
in 1875. Sylvester Schramling was married in 1857 to Mary Jane Smith, a daughter 
of David and Adaline (Robbins) Smith. David was born in Chenango county, N. Y., 
in 1804, and his wife Adaline in Charlton, Mass., in 1807, and married in Columbus in 
1831. They had a family of seven children, five of whom are now living — Mary Jane, 
Elvira C, Harriet E., William W., and George M. Sylvester has been town treasurer 
for six years, and held several other minor town and district offices. He is also a gen- 
eral farmer. 

Schirck, Michael, Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Alsace, France, on Decem- 
ber 27, 1823. He was a son of Jacob and Margaret (Kiselbright) Schirck, who came 
to America in 1834, and settled in Conewango on the farm which is now occupied by 
Michael Schirck. They had a family of four children — Jacob, Margaret, Michael, and 
Magdalena. Michael now occupies and owns the old homestead which he asssisted 
his father in clearing and improving, and where he has resided for fifty-two years. He 
was married twice ; his first wife was Mary Conrad (a daughter of Michael and Mary Con- 
rad, of Warren) and by whom he had seven children — Mary, Magdalena, Saloma, Isa- 
bel, Frank, Carrie, and George. His second wife was Mary T. Kopp (a daughter of 
Jacob and Elizabeth Kopp, of Erie county, N. Y.), and by whom he had two children 
— Matilda and Bertha. 

Schuler, Mathias, Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Alsace, France, on Sep- 
tember 22, 1818. He was a son of Mathias and Catherine (Hardwick) Schuler, who 
came to America in 1836, and settled in Warren in 1839, on the farm now occupied by 
Mathias, jr. They had a family of four children — Catherine, Mathias, Philip, and Mary. 
Mathias, jr. cleared the farm on which he now resides and where he has lived for forty- 
seven years. He was married in 1841 to Nancy McBradney. They have had five 
children born to them — Adam, Sarah A., Mary C, Eunice, and Lydia R. Mrs. Schuler 
was a daughter of John McBradney, who was a native of Ireland. 

Scott, August, Sugar Grove, is a merchant tailor and cloth dealer, and was born in 
Sweden August 13, 1834, and was married December 19, 1858, to Anna Carrie, by 
whom he has had a family of three children. They immigrated to America in 1871, 
and settled in Sugar Grove, and soon commenced his tailoring business, with a cash sum 
of tlie small amount of two dollars, and by constant labor and constant attention to his 
business he has made a financial success of his business, owning now a block of two 
stores, and other real estate. His wife Anna died December 16, 1884. 

Seabury, Dr. W. W., Sugar Grove p. o., physician and surgeon, was born in Sugar 
Grove in 1852. He was a graduate of Wooster University of Cleveland, O., in 1875, 
and in the same year settled in the practice of his profession in Sugar Grove borough. 
His professional services are liighly appreciated. June 10, 1S85, he married Ida Davis, 
of Erie county. Dr. Seabury was a son of Newell and Julia (Foster) Seabury. She was 
born in Pennsylvania, and he in Monroe county, N. Y., in 1826, and settled with his 
parents in Busti, Chautauqua county in 1830. 

Seaver, Dr. R. N., Columbus, a physician and surgeon, was born at Charlotte, Chau- 
tauqua county, N. Y., in 1847. He received his education at Ellington and Randolph 
Academies and Allegheny College. He read medicine with Dr. T. B. Lashells, of 
Meadville, and was graduated from the medical department of Wooster University, at 
Cleveland, O., in 1874, after which he located in Columbus, where he has since resided, 
and now enjoys a large practice as a physician and surgeon. He was married in May, 
i88i, to Nellie Bracken, of Columbus. He has been burgess of the borougli, and also 
held other offices. The doctor was one of the five originators of the Equitable Aid 
Union, which was organized March 22, 1879, and of which lie was made chief medical 
examiner, and afterwards su])reme president. The organization now consists of twenty 
thousand members, Dr. Seaver filling the responsible positions of supreme president and 



Brief Personals. Ixxxv 



supreme medical examiner. Dr. R. N. Seaver was a son of Randolph and Matilda (Fox) 
Seaver. Randolph was born in 1806, on his present homestead farm, where he has 
always resided. His wife, Matilda, died in i88i, leaving a family of seven children, 
five of whom are now living — Julia, Caroline, Corydon, Minnie, and Dr. R. N. Seaver. 
Randolph was a son of Robert Wellington Seaver, who was a soldier in the Revolution- 
iiry War. 

Seigrist, Philip, Conewango, is a farmer, and was born in Alsace, France, on No- 
vember 18, 1826. He was a son of John P. and Salome (Strubler) Seigrist, who settled 
in Warren in 1833, and in 1834 removed to Conewango and settled on the farm now 
owned and occupied by Philip, which they cleared and improved themselves. They 
had three children who came to this country — Philip, John C, and Catherine S. (now 
Mrs. J. C. Weiler). Mrs. Seigrist was a member of the Evangelist Church of Warren 
for twenty-six years, and was also one of the original members. He died on July 2, 
i860, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. At the death of his father, Philip came into 
possession of the homestead, where he has resided since 1834. He has been married 
twice; his first wife was Sophia Shomass. His second wife was Saloma Felleman, who 
was a daughter of John and Dorothea (Gosser) Felleman, who settled in Conewango in 
1841. They have had two children born to them — Elmer and Dora. Mr. Seigrist and 
his wife are members of the Evangelical Church. 

Among the pioneer families of Warren county was that of Walter Semen. They came 
from Susquehanna county probably about 1812, and setried on the west side of the Al- 
legheny River, in Elk township. There were two sets of children, Mr. Semen having 
been twice married — Phebe, Anna, and George, were children of his first marriage, and 
Susanna, Polly, Rebecca, Laura, John, Sally Ann, Phebe, Charles, Lorinda, Dimmock, 
and Melinda, were born of his second marriage. The family subsequently came to that 
part of Corydon known as Sugar Run, where many of their descendants still reside. 
William Wooster, another pioneer, married Rebecca Semen, and by him had six chil- 
dren — Mary, John, Elizabeth, Grace, Eliza, and Julia. William Wooster came to this 
county nearly sixty years ago. His age is now seventy-two years, and his wife, Re- 
becca, is sixty-two. 

Shaw, Frank P., Tidioute p. o., is the freight and ticket agent of the B., N. Y., and 
P. Railroad, and also agent of the American Express Company. He commenced as 
assistant in 1880, and in May, 1884, he was promoted to general agent of the office. 
He was educated in the Tidioute Graded School. In 1880 he married Eva A. Colt- 
man ; they have had two children — Marian L. and Archie C. Mr. Shaw commenced 
his business life in 1877 as a clerk. He is a son of Hugh S. and Maria (Akin) Shaw. 
She was born in Venango county. 

Shippee, Cyrus E., Columbus, was born in Columbus in 1847. He was a son of Peter 
and Annis (Humphrey) Shippee. Annis was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1809, 
and her husband, Peter, was born in Massachusetts, in 1799. They were married at 
Attica, N. Y., in 1826, and settled in Columbus in 1829. They had a family of five 
children born to them — William, born in 1830; Elijah H., born in 1826; Charles R., 
born in 1839; and Cyrus E., born in 1847. Elijah H. enlisted on August 28, 1864, 
Company G, Forty-ninth N. Y. Regiment, and was shot at the battle of Spottsylvania 
Court-House, on May 12, 1864. Peter Shippee, the father, died on December 16, 1875. 
Cyrus E. Shippee married Elva Humphreys, who was born in 1850, and married on Au- 
gust 17, 1873. They have had a family of two sons born to them, and also one daugh- 
ter — Ernest E., Paul G., and Lena F. Elva (Humphreys) Shippee was a daughter of 
Reuben and Rebecca Humphreys. 

Shutt. Adam, Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Conewango on May 7, 1825. 
He was a son of Adam and Mary (Stein) Shutt. His paternal grandfather was William 
Shutt, a pioneer lumberman of Brokenstraw township. He was formerly a farmer in 
Philadelphia, but sold his farm there and invested his means in the lumber business in 
Warren. He died while on a business trip to Louisville, Ky. Adam Shutt, sr., was a 
pioneer and early settler in the township of Brokenstraw. He lived for a time in Con- 
ewango, and cleared the farm now owned and occupied by J. M. Jackson, but later in 



Ixxxvi History of Warren County. 

life returned to Brokenstraw, where he resided until the time of his death, which occur- 
red at the age of forty-seven years. He had a family of nine children who grew to 
maturity — John, Elizabeth, Susan, Frederick, William, Adam, Jacob, Mary, and James. 
Adam Shutt, jr., has resided in Conewango far the past twenty-seven years, and resided 
on the farm which his son now occupies for twenty-three years, and on the one he now 
occupies for the last four years. He was married in 1853 to Sarah E. Watts. They 
have a family of three children — Kirk G., Orris J., and Etta M. Sarah E. Shutt was 
a daughter of Thomas and Susan (Barrett) Watts, of Jamestown, N. Y. 

Shutt, William G., Pittsfield, was born in Brokenstraw in 1823. He was a son of 
Adam and Mary (Stein) Shutt, who settled in Brokenstraw in 1815. Adam was born in 
Philadelphia, and was married there. He purchased a farm in Warren county, and died 
there in 1835. They had a family of nine children born to them, three of whom are 
now living — William G., Jacob D., and Adam. William G. was married in 1847 to 
Cordelia Ford. They have had a family of four children born to them — Alice, West, 
Eddie W., and Charles D. Alice was married in 1870 to A. R. Park, of Cincinnati, 
and died in 1879, leaving three children — Vivian, Ambrose, and Alice. Mr. Shutt has 
held several of the town and district offices, and was an early lumberman. He is now 
engaged in farming. Cordelia, his wife, was a daughter of Obadiah and Betsey (Hair) 
Ford. They had a family of eight children born to them, six of whom are now living — 
John C, Darius M., Margaret, Laura, Cordelia, Mansela, and William Vincent. 

Shutt, John, deceased, was born in Brokenstraw May 19, 181 6. He was a son of 
Adam and Mary (Stein) Shutt. He settled on the farm which is now occupied by his 
widow, in November, 1849, a part of which he cleared and improved, and where here- 
sided until the time of his death, which occurred on January 19, 1874. He was mar- 
ried on August 17, 1843, to Elizabeth Watts, a daughter of Thomas and Susan (Barrett) 
Watts, natives of England, who settled in Jamestown, N. Y., in 1853. They have had 
nine children born to them — Mary, Mrs. W. R. Teasdell, of Cincinnati ; Wallace, Susan, 
Mrs. A. Noble; Florence, Mrs. Slyvester Love; John, Rose, James, Leonard, and 
Roscoe. 

Siggins, 'Squire William Findley, Youngsville p. o., was born in Youngsville in 1822. 
He married, September 4, 1850, Edith D. Nelson, born in Busti, Chautauqua county, 
N. Y. "t'he have a family of three sons — Clarence. Ernest, and Frank Morris. Clar- 
ence is a graduate of the Randolph Institute; Ernest is a physician and surgeon — a 
graduate of Cincinnati Medical College in 1877 ; and F. Morris is a prescription and 
drug clerk. Mrs. Edith was a daughter of Normandus and Prudence (Bushnel) Nelson. 
They were born and married in Herkimer county, N. Y., and settled in Busti, N. Y., in 
January, 1823, where they died. 'Squire W. F. Siggins has held all of the town offices — 
school director twelve years, burgess two terms, justice of the peace two years, and other 
minor offices. He was a teacher for twenty years in early life, and taught the first 
graded school in Youngsville; he was postmaster under James K. Polk. He was en- 
gaged in the lumber business, but retired from active business in 1873. His wife, Edith, 
was also an early teacher. 'Squire William F. was a son of Hon. William and Polly 
(Wilson) Siggins. They were born in Ireland — he of Scotch and English parentage in 
1789, and came to Center county in 1793, when his parents died. Hon. William and 
Polly married in 1812. He settled in Brokenstraw township in 1807, and after his mar- 
riage resided at Pithole until 1815, when he returned to Youngsville, where they died — 
he July 15, 1875. They had thirteen children, five of whom are now living. The 
youngest son, David R. P., enlisted in the iiith Pennsylvania Regiment, and was shot 
at Atlointa, the ball passing through a pocket bible in his pocket into his heart, produc- 
ing instant death ; the bible is now in the possession of 'Squire Siggins, and shows the 
blood stains from the wound. Judge William Siggins was a leading and influential man 
— justice of the peace many years, and side judge in 1842. He died in 1875. 

Smedley, Elijah, Sheffield, was born in Otsego county, N. Y., on November 9, 1808, 
and while a young man went to Chautauc[ua county, N. Y., where he lived for some 
time, and where he was married to Catherine Pickard, by whom he has had a family of 
five children, all of whom were born in Chautauqua county, N. Y. They are Lydia M., 



Brief Personals. Ixxxvii 



and Polly, who died in infancy ; Adam P., James, who died while in the army ; and 
an infant who died unnamed. The family came to Sheffield in October, 1845, and set- 
tled near the old " Lacey Mill " in the southern part of the town. Catherine Smedley 
died in June 19, 1850, and in June, 1852, Mr. Smedley married Phebe Snapp. Elijah 
died on August 5, 1883, aged seventy-four years. He was a Republican from the for- 
mation of the party, and his son, Adam P., has followed the paternal example. Adam 
P. was married in November, 1859, to Sarah Fenton, a daughter of Orrin Fenton. They 
have had a family of three children — Millard L., Orrin F., and Catherine E. 

Smith, Albert J., Columbus, was born in Columbus in 1849. He was married in 
1884 to Lelie Walton, a daughter of Charles and Mary Walton. Albert J. Smith em- 
barked in the mercantile business at Columbus February 1, 1884, and did business 
under the firm name of Yates & Smith, who are large dealers in all staple goods, gro- 
ceries, dry goods, and farmer's supplies. Mr. Smith was a son of David O. and Emily 
(Walton) Smith. They had a family of six children born to them, four daughters and two 
sons, Albert J., and Robert. David O. Smith was a son of Elijah and Achsa Smith, 
who were natives of Chenango county, N. Y., and settled in this county about 1826. 

Smith, Chauncey, Youngsville, was born in Wethersfield, Conn., in 1809, and was 
married in 1834, to Mercy C. Mellen, of Dunkirk, N. Y. They had a family of five 
children — Sarah M., Alice S., Jennie S., Nellie W., and Mercy I. Chauncey Smith was 
the son of William Smith, who was a farmer at Wethersfield, Conn. In 1823 he came 
by stage to Dunkirk, N. Y., and went to work for his uncle, Walter J. Smith, and after 
a while became a partner. The firm later became Van Buren & Smith, Walter Smith 
retiring, and in 1839 ^^^- Smith came to Silver Creek, N. Y., where he became engaged 
in the banking business under the firm name of Oliver Lee & Co., and in 1841 he went 
to Jamestown, N. Y., there to act as teller in the bank. In 1844 he settled in Youngs- 
ville, where he became engaged in the general mercantile business from which he re- 
tired in 1 860, when he also retired from active business life, and died on December 10, 
1886. 

Smith, David O., Columbus, is a retired farmer, and was born in Chenango county, 
N. Y., in 1815. He was married in 1840 to Sally Spencer, a daughter of Israel Spen- 
cer, of Columbus; she died in 1846, leaving one son — Oscar W., who enlisted from 
Chautauqua county, N. Y., and died at Camp Fenton. David O. Smith then married 
his second wife, Emily Walton, in December, 1848. They have had a family of seven 
children — Eda, Sarah, Lillian, Arta, Albert J., and Robert. One daughter — Winnie, 
died in December, 1883, aged nineteen years. Mr. Smith settled in Warren in 1826, 
with his parents, Elijah and Achsah Smith, of Chenango county, N. Y. 

Smith, Jones, Columbus, was born in Columbus, Chenango county, N. Y., in 1823, 
and was a son of Elijah and Achsah (Jones) Smith, natives of Massachusetts, who settled 
in Chenango county, N. Y., and then with a family of four children came to Columbus, 
Warren county, in 1825, one of the pioneers of said county, where they died. Elijah 
was born in 1793, and was an extensive land holder, lumber dealer, shipper, and farmer, 
and died in 1873. His wife, Achsah, was born in 1792, and died in 1S69. They had a 
family of five children, three of whom are now living — David O., Jones, and Mrs. Lucy 
Yates. Elijah was a justice of the peace and commissioner, and one of the leading men 
of his town and county. He retired from active business life in 1845. Jones Smith was 
married in 1850, to Amy Curtis, a daughter of Captain David Curtis. She died in i860, 
leaving four children — Jennie, Fremont, Lena and Lincoln. Mr. Smith then married 
for his second wife Sarah Jane Knowlton, in 1861. She died in 1864, leaving one son, 
Glennie E. Mr. Smith has held all the town offices, justice for twenty years, assessor, 
surveyor of county, and a farmer. He married for his third wife Julia A. Ely, of Rush- 
ford, Allegany county, N. Y., June 30, 1886. 

Smith, Rev. Perry E., Corry p. o., Pittsfield, was born in Warren in 185 1. He was 
a son of Nathan B. and Margaretta (Colver) Smith. She was a native of Warren 
county, and her husband, Nathan was born in Vermont. Rev. Perry E. Smith was mar- 
ried in 1883 to Jennie E. Dykstra, of Erie county, N. Y. They have had two children 
born to them. Jennie was a daughter of Squire John G. and Catherine (Stelsman) 



Ixxxviii History of Warren County. 

Dykstra, who were natives of Holland, and settled in Erie county, N. Y., in the town of 
Lancaster, in 1849. 

Smith, Walter J., Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Warren on February 12, 
1833. He was a son of William and Polly (Mead) Smith. His father was a saddler by 
trade, and came to Warren about 1825, and worked at his trade for a time, after which 
he engaged in farming and lumbering. He is now living in Conewango. His children 
were Walter J., Wilson, Viola, Harriet, Joseph, Ellen, Dascom, D wight, and Jane. Three 
died in childhood. Walter J. was brought up in Warren and Conewango, and for many 
years was actively engaged in the lumber business. He settled on the farm on which he 
now resides in 1863. His wife was Irene Geer, a daughter of Benjamin and Narcissa 
(Stebbins) Geer, of Conewango. Walter J. Smith has had a family of five sons born to 
him — Charlie W., Benjamin O., Clyde C. Orrin L. died, aged nine years, and R. D. 
died in infancy. 

Smutz, Casper J., Russellburg p. o., Pine Grove, was born in Alsace, a province of 
France, in the year 1831. The family, consisting of his parents, brothers and sisters, 
immigrated to America and settled at Warren in 1852. The father, Jacob Smutz, died 
in 187 1. Casper made many ventures in the oil business during the early days, when 
this industry was in its youth, and at times was doing well, but as frequently was unsuc- 
cessful until at last he quit the business and bought a farm of R. K. Russell of about 
eighty acres in Pine Grove. As a farmer Mr. Smutz has been very successful, having one 
one of the best appointed farms in the town. Casper J. Smutz married Caroline Weiss, 
of Warren, in 1862, and has two daughters, viz. — Leonora and Ida Belle. Mr. Smutz is 
a respected farmer of Warren county, a firm Democrat, and numbers among his ac- 
quaintances the first men of the county. 

Smutz, John J., Sugar Grove, is a harness manufacturer and dealer in all classes of 
harnesses, robes, whips, blankets, fly-nets and dusters in Sugar Grove. He was born in 
Conewango in 1856, and spent eleven years at his trade as an apprentice and journey- 
man, and in 1883 he commenced the manufacture of goods in Sugar Grove, where his 
townsmen are invited to inspect his well made and easy-fitting goods. He was married 
July 6, 1879, to Sarah J. Austin, of Corry. Sarah w^as a daughter of John and Anna 
(Saddler) Austin. John Austin died in 1872, leaving a family of five children — James, 
Sarah, John, jr., Anna, Carrie, and Mary. J. J. Smutz was a son of Jacob and Catherine 
(Hertzel) Smutz. They were born in Elsas, France, and settled in Warren county, where 
they were married in 1853. They have had a family of six children born to them — 
Mary, John J., Salome, David, Albert, and Carrie. 

Snapp, Melchi, Tiona p. o., SheflSeld, was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., on Novem- 
ber 8, 1803. He settled in Warren county about 1830, just north of the present village 
of Sheffield. At the time of his death he was seventy-nine years of age. He was a 
thorough and successful farmer and lumberman, and by hard work acquired a good 
property. He died in October, 1882. He married Fanny Smith, and the children born 
to the union were, Phebe, who married Elijah Smedley, William married Mary O. Fair- 
field, a daughter of Walter Fairfield, and by whom he had five children — Gholson L., 
Frank H., Walter M., Otis F., Ethel Irma, Ida, married Samuel Smedley, Enos, Warren, 
Charles, deceased, John, Melchi, jr., deceased, Laura Janet, married Smith Burroughs, 
and Fauntley M. 

Somers, George H., Youngsville p. 0., Brokenstraw, a general blacksmith and mak- 
ing horseshoeing a specialty, also engaged in the manufacture and re[)air of wagons, 
carriages and sleighs, dealer in farm tools, mowers and reapers, was born in Conewango 
in 1853, and was married in 1875 to Alice Babcock. They had two children — Lettie 
and Clara. George H. Somers has held many of the village offices. He has been 
school director and commissioner. He commenced his trade in 1872, and in 1878 
purchased his present shop and factory. He was a son of Wendle and Margaret (Schu- 
ler) Somers, who were natives of Germany, who setded in Warren county, wliere 
Wendle died in 1857 at the age of forty-two years, leaving a widow and a family of 
seven children — Mary, Salome, Elizabeth, Peter, George H., John, and Lena. 

Somers, Peter W., Warren p. o., Conewango, w^as born in Conewango on November 



Brief Personals. Ixxxix 



8, 1 85 1. He was a son of Wendell and Margaret (Schuler) Somers. His paternal 
grandfather was Peter Somers, a native of Germany, who settled in Conewango about 
1832 or 1836. He reared a family of five children — Charlotte, Peter, Frank, Wendell, 
and George ; of these Wendell cleared the farm now occupied by Peter W., where he 
resided for many years. He had a family of seven children — Mary, Saloma, Eliza- 
beth, Peter W., George, John, and Lena. Peter W. Somers was married in November, 
1872, to Alwilda Babcock, a daughter of Almon and Mahala (Blexley) Babcock, of 
Conewango. They have had three children born to them — Harry, Belle, and Jenny. 
Peter W.'s maternal grandfather, John Schuler, was a native of Alsace, France, and an 
early settler in Conewango. He is now living aged ninety years. 

Speckman, George, North Warren p. o., Conewango, is a farmer, and was born in 
Baden, Germany, on April 8, 1836. He was a son of Peter and Monika (Hare) Speck- 
man, and came to America with his parents in 1851, and with them purchased the farm 
on which he now resides in Conewango in 1856, most of whicli he has cleared and im- 
proved himself His farm comprises eighty-five acres, of which about sixty acres has 
been improved. He was married on February 2, 1876, to Anna M. Earnhardt, daughter 
of Albert and Catherine (Arnt) Earnhardt, of Glade township, and by whom he has had 
a family of five children — Mary M., Anna K., Clara G., John J., and Alexander W. 
Mr. Speckman is one of the representative German farmers of Conewango. 

Spencer, Chauncey, Columbus, was born in Columbus, Chenango county, N. Y., in 
1818. He was a son of Israel and Sally (Webster) Spencer, who were born and mar- 
ried in Connecticut, and settled in Columbus, Pa., in 1826, coming there from Colum- 
bus, N. Y. Sally died in 1839, aged fifty-nine years, leaving a family of ele\-en children, 
five of whom are now living — Israel, jr., Oliver, Chauncey, Erastus, and Mary, none 
of whom have Hved out of Warren county. Israel, sr., died in 1865, aged eighty-five. 
Chauncey Spencer was married in 1842 to Emily Monroe, of Freehold. She died in 
1880, leaving one daughter — Ella, who married E. A. Allen, ex-sheriff" of Warren 
county, and have had two sons born to them — Eddie and Elton Allen. Chauncey 
was married the second time in 1882 to Fidelia Eoardman, of Needham, Wis. Mr. 
Spencer has been burgess of Columbus, school director, town commissioner and farmer. 
He was engaged in farming in Freehold from 1842 to 1880, after which he retired from 
active business life and settled in Columbus borough. 

Spencer, James (deceased), Columbus, was born in Columbus, Chenango county, N. 
Y., in 1824. He was married on May 6, 1855, to Eleanor Sample, who was born in 
1837. They had a family of two sons born to them — Leon and Elmer. James 
Spencer died on April 26, 1886. He was a general farmer, and was a son of Israel and 
Sally (Webster) Spencer, who were born and married in Connecticut, and settled in 
Columbus, Pa., in 1826. Eleanor (Sample) Spencer was a daughter of Nathaniel and 
Hannah (Wynn) Sample. Nathaniel was born in Clarion county in 1804, and his wife, 
Hannah, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., in 1815. They were married in 1835, 
and had a family of fuur children born to them, two of whom are now living — Eleanor 
and Thomas W. Sally married Charles Rickerson, and died, leaving three children. 
George died in 1881, leaving two sons. Nathaniel Sample was a son of John and 
Eleanor Sample, who settled in Columbus about 1804 or 1805. Four of their children 
are now living — William, David, Martha, and Hannah. 

Spoon, Joshua, Columbus, was born in Oswego county, N. Y., in 1834. He was 
married in 1855 to Ann Eliza Aldricli, of Livingston county, N. Y. They have had a 
family of five children born to them, three of whom are now living — Maude, James, 
and Leon. Maude married E. P. Carrier. Joshua was collector of the town in 1885 
and '86, and has also held many of the other minor offices. Joshua Spoon was a son 
of Peter and Sally (Hall) Spoon. He was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1794, 
and his wife, Sally, was born in Chenango county, N. Y.,in 1802. They both died in 
18S4. They had a family of five sons born to them — Simon, Nathan, Joshua, William, 
and James. James enlisted from Oswego county, N. Y.; was taken prisoner and died 
in Andersonville prison in 1864. Joshua settled in Warren county in 1852. Ann Eliza 



History of Warren County. 



was a daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah (Wynn) Aldrich. Sarah died in 1881, leaving 
two daughters. They settled here in 1840. 

Spoon, Simon P., Columbus p. o., was born in Oswego county in 1826. He married 
Marion Hall in September, 1856. They have a family of four children — Evered A., 
Ernest L., George A., and Kate M. Evered A. married Minnie Knowlton in 1884, 
and have one child — Ethel May. George H. married Jennie Inick in 1883, and have 
one child. Ernest married Edna Arters. Simon P. settled in Columbus in 1848, and 
engaged in farming. He vk'as a son of Peter and Sally Hall Spoon ; he was from Her- 
kimer county, N. Y., and was born in 1794 and died in 1884 ; she was from Chenango 
county, N. Y., and was born in 1802 and died in 1884. They had five sons, four of 
whom are now living — Simon P., Nathan, Joshua, and William. James enlisted from 
Oswego county, N. Y.; wSlS taken prisoner, and died in Andersonville prison in 1864. 
Mrs. Marion Spoon was a daughter of James Hall, who settled in Columbus in 1833. 
He was born in Connecticut in 1804, and was a son of Nathan and Abigail Hall, who 
settled in Madison county, N. Y., and died in Oswego county, N. Y. 

Stanford, Worthy, Busti, N. Y., p. o., Farmington, is a farmer and was born in Farming- 
ton October 4, 1845. He was a son of Horatio and Sarah E. (Mackress) Stanford, who 
were from Canastota, N. Y., and settled in what is now Farmington in 1832, on the 
farm now occupied by Worthy, which they cleared and improved and upon which they 
lived and died. They had a family of three children who grew to maturity — Achsa 
(now Mrs. Daniel McMillan), Hannah E. (now Mrs. Edwin Babcock), and Worthy. 
Worthy Stanford was reared on the homestead farm where he has always resided. He 
was married April 26, 1873, to Matilda Johnson, a daughter of Magnus and Margaret 
(Johnson), who were natives of Sweden. They have had one child born to them, 
Pearl E. 

Starrett, William P., North Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Vinal Haven, 
Me., on May 29, 1837, and was a son of Cyrus and Phebe (Philbrook) Starrett, who 
came to Warren county in 1839. His father was born in Wrentham, N. H., on Feb- 
ruary 21, 1802, and was married on March 10, 1833, to Phebe Philbrook, a daughter 
of Jonathan and Phebe (Lassell) Philbrook, of Searsmont. Jonathan Philbrook died in 
1814, after participating in the battle of Plattsburgh, N. Y. Cyrus and Phebe set- 
tled in Warren county in 1839, settling on the farm which is now owned by John Amann, 
in 1850, a part of which they cleared and improved themselves. They moved to the 
farm which is now owned and occupied by William Starrett in 1875, where Cyrus died 
on December 31, 1878, aged seventy-seven years. Their children were Calvin B., John 
H., William P., Stephen B., Ferdinand and Ida. William P. Starrett was married in 
1872 to Levancia Barber, a daughter of William and Asenoth (Post) Barber, of Fre- 
donia, Chautauqua county, N. Y. 

Stephens, Warner E., Tidioute p. o., Glade, is a general blacksmith and lumber 
wagon manufacturer, also manufactures fine hand made carriages, sleighs, etc.; was born 
in Crawford county in 1844, and settled in Tidioute in 1870 as journeyman smith, and 
in 187 1 he commenced the general smithing business, and continued the same in all of 
its various branches. He was married July 6, 1865, to Samantha Coon, who was born 
at Montara, N. Y. She died in Michigan in 1875, leaving one child — Norma. He 
married his second wife Alis Dougherty, of Tidioute, March 16, 1876. They have two 
children born to them — Neva and Raymond G. Warner E. was a son of Joshua and 
Julia A. Fowler Stephens. Joshua Stephens died in Alexandria, Ga., while in the Union 
service in 1865. They had a family of six children — Lucy, Lucien, Elias W., Warner 
E., Joshua and Mary. The mother, Julia, was born in Crawford county, Pa., and now 
resides with her daughter, Mary E. Flanegan, in Cuba, N. Y. 

Stilson, Amos C, Sugar Grove, carpenter and contract builder, was born in James- 
town, N. Y., in 1837. He was a .son of Benoni and Hannah Brown Stilson. Benoni 
was born in Connecticut in 1798, and settled in Sugar Grove in about 1820; his wife 
was born in New Ham[)shire ; tliey were married and died in Jamestown, N. Y. Amos 
C. Stilson settled in Sugar Grove borough in 187 i, as a carpenter and builder, and many 
of the best buildings therein show his artistic work. He formed a partnership with W. 



Brief Personals. 



A. Bush, and purchased the steam planing, sawing and carpenter supply factory in 1885, 
where they have machinery to do fine house buildmg work. Mr. Stilson married Adelia 
Robertson, of Crawford county, in i86o. She was born on October 15, 1839. She was 
a daughter of George and Rhoda Luce Robertson. The former was born in 1801, and 
died in 1869 ; the latter was born in 1807 and died in 1870; they were married Octo- 
ber 16, 1825, and had four children — Mary E., Martha L., John R. and Adelia. 

Stilson, jr., David, Sugar Grove, was born on Stilson Hill, Sugar Grove, in 1827, 
and is a son of David and Mary Burrough Stilson. David Stilson came from New 
Haven, Conn., and settled in Sugar Grove in 1814. He had a family of five sons and 
four daughters, two sons and two daughters now living — Harry H., David, Betsey, and 
Polly Hazeltine. David, sr., died June 6, 1852, and his w-ife died February 25, 1840. 
David, jr., married Margaret Page September 9, 1852; she was born in Pittsfield in 
1834. They have a family of four children — Thomas Perry, Alice A., Frank A., and 
Mertie. Alice A. married Charles Middleton. Thomas died in 1881, aged twenty- 
eight years. David Stilson, sr., had three brothers who settled with him — Elias, Stephen, 
David, and Benoni. 

Storum, Samuel, Warren p. o.. Glade, son of Samuel and Maru Storum, was born in 
Chautauqua county, N. Y., in the year 1827. The family came to Pine Grove about 
1830, for the purpose of clearing lands. Samuel, the son, returned to Carlton, Catta- 
raugus county, N. Y.,some years later, and in i860 came to Glade. He married Laura 
Woodward, who bore him three children, Marshall S. J., Mary and Myra M., who died 
at the age of four years. Mr. Storum has a good farm property on the Gotham road, so 
called, on which are fine buildings, erected through the energy and thrift of their propri- 
etor. In the affairs of the town Mr. Storum has never taken an active part, but in re- 
ligious life he is a strong advocate of Spiritualism. 

Strand, CO., Sugar Grove p. o., Freehold, was born in Sweden, in 1846, and was 
married in 1870 to Louisa Donaldson. To them have been born four children — Charles, 
Oscar, Emil, and Ernest. 

Strong, John O , Tidioute, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y. His parents were 
Henry and Mary Cristman Strong, who settled in Sardinia, Erie county, N. Y., in 1838. 
Henry died in 1881, aged seventy-nine years; and his wife died in 1881. They had a 
family of eleven children, nine of whom now survive. John O. Strong settled in Tidi- 
oute and engaged in the oil business as producer in 1861, and in 1866, with his brother, 
Charles B., engaged in the livery business, which they still continue. In 1873 they em- 
barked in the general hardware trade, dealing extensively in farm tools and machinery. 
In 1869 John O. married Mary Nugent, of Mercer county; they have had two daugh- 
ters — Daisy L., and Minnie E. Charles B. Strong married Sarah Whitney, of York- 
shire, Cattaraugus county, N. Y. 

Stuart, Thomas J., Sugar Grove, was born in Sugar Grove, in 1S26, and married 
Lucina Boyce in 1847. She was born in Youngsville, in 1829. They had a family of 
six children born to them ^ Mary E., Euphemia, William B., and Samuel G. (twins), 
Ernest Grant, and Emma Grade. Lucina was a daughter of Samuel G. and Elsie Davis 
Boyce. Thomas J. was a son of William and Elizabeth (Dalrymple) Stuart. She was 
born in Colerain, Mass., and William was born in Ireland, February 28, 1794, and i.is 
wife in 1792. They had a family of twelve children born to them, five of whom are now 
hving — Margaret, Esther, Ann, Thomas J., and Jane. Elizabeth died August 23, 1873, 
and William in 1833. He was a son of James and Catherine Stuart, who settled in 
Sugar Grove, in 1803. They had a family of ten children born to them — John, Thomas, 
William, Robert, James, Alexander, Rosa, Catherine, Margaret, and Jane. 

Stutts, Jeremiah N., Sugar Grove p. o., Farmington, was born at Niagara Falls, N. 
Y., January 22, 1821. He was a son of Jacob and Roxilana (Newman) Stutts. The 
former was a native of New Jersey, and his wife of Niagara county, N. Y. They settled 
in what is now Farmington, in 1830. Their children were Mary A., Catherine, Jeremiah 
N., William, Nancy, Jane, Luther, and Elvvin. Jeremiah N. Stutts was reared in Farm- 
ington from eight years of age, and worked at the blacksmith trade for twenty-five years, 
and afterwards became a buyer of cattle, hides, etc. He was married in .1843 t° Betsey 



History of Warrex County. 



Smith, a daughter of John and Harriet (Cady) Smith, of Sugar Grove. They have had 
one child — Ro.xilana, now Mrs. George Osborn. Mr. Stutts has owned the farm which 
he now owns and occupies, since 1861, akhough he has only resided on it since 1874. 
While working at the blacksmith trade he pared the feet and set two twenty-one shoes 
in four minutes, which is the fastest time on record. 

Sutter, Jacob, Warren p. o.. Glade, was born in Alsace, then a province of the 
French republic, where his early life was spent. In 1846 he came to Warren, and 
learned the tailor's trade, at which he worked for twenty-five years. He was married in 
Paris, France, to Katherine Bulger, who bore him six children — Louis, Caroline, Philip, 
Frederick, Lorena, and Mena. In 187 1 Mr. Sutter and his family came to Glade, where 
he had a small farm of si.\teen acres nicely located on the hillside, overlooking the 
borough of Warren. When the oil excitement reached Glade these lands at once be- 
came very valuable, and are now among the most productive ones in the town. This 
fortunate circumstance has placed Mr. Sutter in comfortable circumstances. Jacob Sut- 
ter was one of the founders of the Lutheran Church in Warren, in which he now takes 
a great interest. He frequently officiated at funeral obsequies in the absence of the pas- 
tor of the church. 

Sweeting, Jacob, John, Hannah, Elizabeth, Lucy, William, Samuel, and Mary G., 
Warren p. o.. Glade, were the children of Jacob Sweeting, sr., who was a native of Der- 
byshire, England, and came to this country in 1840, and who one year later settled on 
Quaker Hill, Elk township. Jacob, jr., married Louesa Sharp, who bore him a family 
of twelve children ; John married Lucinda Miller, by whom he had a family of seven 
cTiildren ; Hannah, married William Taylor ; Elizabeth, married H. B. Lonsbury ; Lucy, 
who was born during the journey from Rochester, N. Y., to Quaker Hill, married Will- 
iam Meyers; Mary G., married William Blair; William is also married and now resides 
in Glade ; Samuel is dead. William and John both served in the late war, and John 
was injured by the premature discharge of a cannon. The family have nearly all left 
Elk township, and most of them now reside in Glade. They are farmers and oil pro- 
ducers there, having fortunately taken lands many years ago on the oil belt more 
recently developed. 

Swift, Alfred W., Kinzua p. o., was born in Allegheny county, N. Y., July 7, 1833. 
He was the son of B. C. and Mary A. Swift. At the age of twenty years he left home 
and went to Olean, where he worked at the trade of a joiner. In 1854 he came to 
Kinzua, intending to stay but a short time, but was induced to remain and work at his 
trade, and also that of blacksmithing and wagon-making, at all of w'hich he was an 
adept. Here he became acquainted with and married Mary Ann. the youngest child of 
Seth (ireen, by whom he had one child — Ella V., now the wife of George L. Lawrence. 
About sixteen years ago Mr. Swift purchased the farm on which he now resides. On 
this farm was put down one of the first wells in this locality, and there are now seven 
oil producing wells in the locality, and these have netted the owner a snug sum. 

Taylor, William H., Barnes p. o., Sheffield, Energy, perseverance and industry, find 
a worthy example in the life of William H. Taylor. He was one of the six children of 
Silas S. Taylor, of Erie county, and came to Sheffield in the year 1859 ; for three months 
he worked for Andrew Donaldson in the lumber woods at thirteen dollars per month. 
After that he worked for Elmer I.,acey, and continued in his employ for about tliree 
years. He is essentially a self-made man. Circumstances never made him; he made 
circumstances. When he left Warren for Sheffield, he possessed just fifty cents. He 
now' owns a good farm on which stands substantial buildings which were built by him. 
His stock of every kind and the products of his farm are of the best quality obtainable. 
He was married in June, 1864, to Helen Sherwood, a daughter of James Sherwood, and 
by whom he had these children — Amos A., William H., jr., Dennis, George, Cassius, 
Jane, and Rudolph. After the death of his first wife he married Mary N. Rice, who 
bore him one child — Phebe A. 

Thacher, W. M., Youngsville, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., in 1840. His par- 
ents were Alvin (Pike) and Jane (Salisbury) Thacher. Alvin was born in 1813, and died 
April 12, 1881 ; his wife was born in 1820. They settled in Youngsville in 1872, and 



Brief Personals. 



had two sons — W. M. and William. The latter enlisted in Company C, Sixteenth Penn- 
sylvania Cavalry, and lost an arm at Malvern Hill. W. M. married, in 1S63, Jennie 
Henton, of Harbor Creek, Erie comity. She died August 24, 18S5, leaving three chil- 
dren — Ada, Minnie, and Ally P. W. M. has held the offices of school director, commis- 
sioner, and councilman ; by occupation he is a farmer. 

Thomas, John, Grand Valley p. o., Eldred, is a farmer, and now owns a farm of one 
hundred and fifteen acres; he is also largely interested in lumbering. He was a son of 
Lifus and Esther (Thompson) Thomas, of Ireland, who had a family of five children, 
four of whom are now living — Mary C, Joseph Emanuel, W. D., and Joseph. Joseph 
married Martha Deemer, of Westmoreland county, in 1871. They have had one child 
born to them — Ora Viance. 

Thomas, Elisha, North Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Schenectady county, 
N. Y., on April 10, 1831. He was a son of William and Jane (McConnell) Thomas, 
who settled in Warren county in 1833, on the farm which is now occupied by Elisha, 
which they cleared and improved themselves. They had a family of ten children — Will- 
am J., John, Joseph C, Elizabeth M., Elisha, Margaret J., Sarah M., A. McCready, Mary 
T., and Henry S. Mr. Thomas originally purchased 400 acres, which has since been di- 
vided into several tracts. The homestead tract now consists of 187 acres. The paternal 
grandparents of Elisha Thomas were John and Elizabeth (Hufif) Thomas. His mater- 
nal grandparents were William and Elizabeth (Hannah) McConnell, who with a sister 
Nancy and a brother James McConnell, were early settlers in Conewango. The sister 
died at the age of one hundred and one years, and the brother at the age of seventy- 
eight. Elisha succeeded to the homestead where he has resided since two years of age. 
He was married in 1874 to Emma L. Marsh, of Randolph, N. Y. They have two chil- 
dren — D. May (who died in infancy), and Grace E. 

Thomas, Samuel, Sugar Grove, one of the pioneer farmers of the town, was born in 
Livingston county, N. Y., in 1828, and settled in Sugar Grove in 1837. His parents 
were Thomas and Sophia (Whipple) Thomas, who were born and married in Connecti- 
cut, and settled in Livingston county, N. Y., in 1825, and in Sugar Grove in 1837. 
They had but one son — Samuel. Thomas died in 1868, aged seventy-two years, and 
Sophia died in 1866, aged sixty-nine years. Samuel now owns the farm purchased at 
the time of settlement — then a timber tract. Samuel married in 1852 Emeline Smith, 
born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1832. They had four children — Charles, Alice, 
Earl, and Jennie, who died, aged twenty-three. Sophia Thomas was a daughter of Asa 
Smith, who settled in Sugar Grove in 1830. 

Among the earliest families that settled in'^Corydon was that of Philip Tome. Mr. 
Tome was born in Dauphin county ; he married Mary Yonce, and for a time lived on 
Pine Creek. They came to Corydon about the year 1827. In the family were ten 
children, as follows : Jane (who married William Case), Benjamin, Elizabeth (who mar- 
ried Rice Hamblin), George W., Philip, jr., Rebecca (who became the wife of Belvin 
Forbes), Hiram, William, John (who was the first white male child born in Corydon), 
and Savory (who married Clark White). George W. Tome was born March 20, 1818, 
and married February 24, 1840, to Ann Wright, daughter of William Wright. They 
had but one child — Rebecca — who is now the wife of Benjamin Crooks. On the farm 
of George W. Tome is an old mound of earth, concerning which the oldest Indians can 
give no account. Many relics have been taken from this vicinity, but the mound has 
never been thoroughly examined. Hiram Tome was born in Cattafaugus county, N. 
Y., May 23, 1824. In 1852 he married Eliza Dalrymple, by whom he had five children 
— Clara, Ella, Effie, Linnie, and Glennie. Hiram Tome is one of the most respected 
men of the town of Corydon. His residence stands on the main street of the village, 
overlooking the Allegheny River, and commands a fine view of the high mountain 
ranges on the opposite side. From the rear of the dwelling can plainly be seen Corn- 
planter's Peak. Benjamin Tome married Cynthia Gibbs, by whom he had eight chil- 
dren — Esther, Juliette, Sarah, Nancy J., Luella, Henry, George L., and O. J. George 
L. Tome is a farmer and blacksmith, giving most of his attention to the former pursuit. 
His farm comprises 28|- acres, nicely located about one-fourth mile north of the village 



History of Warren County. 



of Corydon. Mr. Tome married Ida Wilcox, daughter of S. R. Wilcox, by whom he 
has four children. The Tome family, aside from being one of the earliest pioneers of 
Corydon, enjoys the distinction of having been one of the most prolific of the town, and 
have grown up their children to become respected, industrious, law-abiding citizens. 
Phillip Tome, the pioneer, some years ago wrote a book entitled " Thirty Years a 
Hunter," containing a sketch of his family life, and filled with interesting anecdotes of 
the pioneer days. 

Thompson, Robert, Irvinton p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Warren county, August 
i6, 1816, and was married in 1843 to Hannah Thompson, who was born in Warren 
county in 1823. Robert died in March, 1877, leaving a widow and four children — 
James A., John N., General Canby, and Harry D. Mr. Thompson was an extensive 
lumber manufacturer and shipper, and was also largely engaged in farming, and was a 
prominent man of his town and county. He was a son of Robert and Rachel (Irvine) 
Thompson. Hannah was a daughter of John and Hannah (Houfif) Thompson, who 
were early settlers in the county, and died, leaving a family of seven children, but two 
of whom are now living — ^Esther Morrison (widow) and Hannah. 

Tompsett, Charles, Tidioute p. o.. Triumph, was born in Kent, England, in 1847, 
and emigrated to America in 1865 and settled in Triumph as an agent and laborer in 
oil production. He was married October 15, 1868, to Ellen Griffin, who was born in 
Birmingham, England. They have had a familv of two children born to them — Will- 
iam C. (born August 17, i86g), and Albert E. (born August 26, 187 1). Charles Tomp- 
sett has been assessor for three years, was collector for three terms, and constable for 
six terms. He purchased a tract of twenty acres and put down eight wells in 1885, 
which he is now pumping with one engine, obtaining over twenty barrels per day, by 
his own labor combined with that of his son, using the gas as fuel for his engine and 
house, that he has on his premises. He also has a lot of sixty acres, which is now de- 
veloped. He was a son of Richard and Sarah (Beeching) Tompsett, who had a family 
of six children born to them. Sarah died in England, also one child. The father and 
his five children settled near Jamestown, N. Y. Four of the children are now living — 
George, Richard, Charles, and Sarah. 

Thompson, David S., Tidioute, was born in Pine Grove in 1840, and settled in 
Tidioute in 1865 and began the production of oil, which business he followed up to 
1874, when he embarked in the general merchandise business, from which he also re- 
tired in 1884. He was married in 1865 to Charlotte P. Kinnear, of Tidioute. She 
was a daughter of James and Jeanette Kinnear. They have had two daughters and one 
son — only one daughter now living. Mr. Thompson is one of the leading men of his 
town, and was a son of V. R. and Laura (Burgett) Thompson, who were married in 
Warren county. Laura died in 1874, leaving a family of four daughters and three sons. 
V. R. Thompson was born in 1808, and settled in Warren county in 1810, with his 
father, Caleb Thompson, who was a soldier in the War of 181 2. 

Thompson, E. W., Grand Valley p. o., Eldred, one of the representative men of 
Grand Valley, was for twenty years keeping a general store, now conducted by his sons 
under the firm name of Thompson Brothers. He was born in Rensselaer county, N. 
Y., in 1827, and his father settled in Warren county in 1837. He married Adeline 
Brown, of Warren county, September 11, 1851, and to them have been born nine chil- 
dren, eight of vvhom are now living — Rosalia M., Lydia R. (deceased), Olive R., Almon 
T., Anson R., Anice R., Archie L., Wilfred E., and Nina I. His father, Samuel, was 
born in New York State in 1775, was married three times, and had a family of sixteen 
children born to him, nine of whom are now living. He died in Warren county in 
in 1857. E. W. Thompson now owns and occupies a farm of 270 acres. 

Thompson, Edwin W., Russell p. o., Pine Grove, was born in Farmington October 
2, 1835. He is a son of William Thompson, a native of Long Island, N. Y., who set- 
tled in Farmington in 1831, and was one of its pioneers. At the age of twenty-one 
years Edwin came to Pine Grove, and built a water-power saw-mill in the heavily tim- 
bered districts of the town. In 1862 he built the first " circular saw-mill " of the town, 
and ran it until 1867, when it was sold to Thomas Briggs. In September, 1884, Mr. 



Brief Personals. 



Thompson purchased the mill site at Russell's, of D. M. Martin and Joseph Briggs, and 
erected thereon one of the most complete and available saw and planing-mills of War- 
ren county, at an expense of over $6,000. In 1862 Mr. Thompson married Harriet 
Jones, by whom he had four children, only two of whom are now living. Edwin Thomp- 
son is one of the most enterprising business men of Pine Grove. He believes that 
everything worth doing at all should be done well. In political affairs he is independ- 
ent, but inclines toward the Republican party. His religious views are as independent 
as his politics ; he is a Free-thinker. 

Thompson, jr., Joseph Dale, Tidioute p. o.. Triumph, was born in Deerfield in 1834. 
His parents were Joseph D. and Rosalie (Crippen) Thompson, who were married in 
1831. He was born in Deerfield in 1812, and died in 1882 ; she was born in Broken- 
straw, and died, leaving a family of six children. Mr. Thompson then married his sec- 
ond wife, Mary Crippen, by whom he had three children. He was a son of John 
Thompson, who immigrated from Ireland and settled in Tidioute — one of the first set- 
tlers — where he kept a tavern many years, and died, leaving five children — one son, 
Joseph D., and four daughters, Polly, Rachael, Hannah, and Esther. Joseph D., jr., 
married Helen Huey, born in Eldred and married in 1858. They have had six chil- 
dren — Loretta Victoria, Orres Laverette and Oscar Lavant (twins), Florence May, Eva 
Jane, and Gertrude Elizabeth. Mr. Thompson has been treasurer for three years, school 
director thirteen years, and road commissioner for ten years. He purchased his present 
homestead of 130 acres in 1855 — then a wilderness; he now has a grain and grass pro- 
ducing farm second to none in his township. 

Thompson, Samuel, Warren p.o.,Farmington,is a farmer and was born on Long Island, 
N. Y., May 4, 1816. He was a son of William and Sally (Palmater) Thompson, both of 
whom were natives of New York, and settled in Farmington in 1831, locatingon the farm 
which is now owned and occupied by their son, Samuel Thompson, which they cleared 
and improved, and upon which they resided until the time of their deaths. They had 
a family of ten children — William, Maria, John, Daniel, Samuel, James, Betsey, Harriet, 
Sally, and George. Samuel purchased the homestead in 1850, and has resided there 
since 1852. He was married in 1841 to Angeline Putnam, a daughter of Daniel and 
Betsey (Barrett) Putnam, of Pine Grove. They have had a family of five children — 
Walter, Alfred, Orrin, Lovisa, and Elmer. 

Truman, Lillie, West Spring Creek p. o.. Spring Creek, was born in Ohio on October 
29, 1852, and settled in Warren county, Pa., in 1876. He married Mary C. Wright, 
who was born in Spring Creek March 11^, 1855, by whom he had a family of four chil- 
dren — Roy L., born October 27, 1879; Earl D., born February 9, 1881 ; Ethel P., 
born August 11, 1882; and Wilmer G., born May 8, 1885. His jiarents were James 
and Claurdean (Havens) Truman. His father was a cooper by trade. 

Trushel, Philip and Mary, Warren p. o., Conewango, natives of Alsace, France, 
came to Warren in the year 1839. In this family were six children — Mary, Philip J., 
Jacob, Eva, George, and Caroline. Philip, the father, died in 1869, and his wife, Mary, 
in 1873. Philip J., the oldest son, when a boy, worked for Alonzo Summerton in the 
store. He went to Butler and Venango counties, where he drove stage, and afterwards 
followed the river, in rafting season, for fourteen years. In 1861 he went into the mer- 
cantile business in Warren county, where he has since resided. Mr. Trushel married 
Margaret E. Zagel, by whom he has had six children — Matilda, Albert, Frank, Edie, 
who died in 1872 ; Alice, and Clara. Philip Trushel is a conscientious Christian man ; a 
prominent member and officer of the Evangelical Association society. In political life 
he has generally supported the Republican nominees, but for the last six years has been 
a prohibitionist, and is now one of the leaders in the cause. He is the leading mer- 
chant of Glade, his place of residence and business. 

Tuneberg, Magnus, Chandler's Valley p. o.. Sugar Grove, a general blacksmith and 
manufacturer of wagons, carriages, buggies, sleds, etc., was born in Sweden in 1835, 
and married Christina Neilson in 1866, and immigrated to and settled in Sugar Grove 
in 1869, and in Chandler's Valley in 187 1, where he engaged at his trade, which he still 



History of Warren County. 



continues ; he has here erected a dwelling, shop, and factory. Thev have one daugh- 
ter — Hilda, born in 187 1. 

Twining, Mrs. Jane, Lander p. o., Farmington, was born in Phelps, N. Y., March 
16, 1813. She was a daughter of Hugh and Martha (Burgess) Brown, natives of Ire- 
land, who immigrated to the United States in 1 798, and located in Maryland ; later 
they removed to Wayne county, N. Y., and in 1832 located in Warren, this county, and 
in 1835 they settled in Farmington, where they resided until their deaths. Hugh Brown 
married twice. His first wife was Margaret Brown, by whom he had a family of four 
children, who grew to maturity — Thomas, John, William and Sally. His second wife was 
Martha Burgess, by whom he had eleven children, who grew to maturity — Francis, 
Hugh, Margaret, Sally, Joseph, Margaret, Jane, Mary A., Susan, Benjamin and Fanny. 
Mrs. Jane Twining married twice. Her first husband was Arthur Morgan, of Fayette, 
N. Y., whom she married December 4, 1828, and with whom she came to Warren 
county in 1832, and by whom she had a family of seven children — William, Charles, 
Ellis, George, Edwin, Eunice, and John .\. Mr. Morgan died in 1854. Mrs. Twining 
was married in 1879 to Thomas Twining, of Farmington, who settled in this place in 
1859. 

Tucker, George, West Spring Creek p. o., Spring Creek, was born in Massachusetts 
in 1814, and settled in Spring Creek in 1856. He is a farmer and owns a t'arm of two 
hundred acres. He was married in 1845 to Catherine Brown, of Spring Creek. To 
them have been born eight children, five of whom are now living — Catherine M., Sarah 
E., George H., Miriam M., William B., Rosa A., Dora E., and Mary E. Mr. Tucker 
is a millwright by trade, and has held the office of town commissioner and school director. 
His father, Seth Tucker, was born in Norton, Mass.; died May 19, 1853, aged eighty- 
nine. His grandfather, Robert Tucker, born April 20, 1727, died May 20, 1805, aged 
seventy-eight years. 

Van Guilder, S. D., Grand Valley p. o., Eldred, was born in New York in 1815, and 
settled in Warren county in 1858. He married Emeline Nichols, of Crawford county, 
by whom he had a family of eight children — Sarah E., George E., Sophia A., Henri- 
etta, David, Dean, Cassius, and Charles. Mr. Van Guilder was in early life engaged in 
lumbering, but now devotes the greater part of his time to farming, owning a fi^rm of 
one hundred and twenty-five acres. His son, George E., served in the late war, in the 
Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Frederick Van Guilder, his father, married Sarah Van- 
Guilder, by whom he had a family of four children, of whom the onlv one now living 
is S. D. 

Van Eps, John F., Bear Lake ]). o., Freehold, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., July 
3, 1830, and settled in Warren county in 1838. He married Harriet Stainbrook, who died 
in 1863 leaving four children. He was again married September 19, 1864, to Mary 
Tyrrel (widow of David O. Tyrrel, who was a soldier in the civil war and died in Libby^ 
prison). To them have been born four children. Mr. V'an E|js is nt)w a retired 
farmer. 

Vanmon, Erik, Ackley Station p. o., Pine Grove, was born in Umea, Sweden, in 
1846. He came to America in 1869, and until 1871 resided at Jamestown, N. Y., 
when he came to Pine Grove. Prior to this time he was a farm laboror. Mr. Vanmon 
purchased a tract of land in the northeast part of the town, a heavily timbered tract, 
upon which his start in the town was made. By remarkable perseverance, industry, and 
energy he has cleared and stumped a considerable portion of the land and purchased 
•more, so that he now has a farm of eighty acres, fifty-five of which are cleared and are 
in a good state of cultivation as any in the townshi]). He has in course of erection a 
new dwelling which compares favorably with a majority of those in the town. Erik 
Vanmon began here with only $150. and his possessions are worth nearly twenty times 
that amount. In 1872 he married Augusta Lawson. They have had no children. 
Mr. Vanmon adheres to the jirinciples of the Republican party, and takes an active part 
in ])olitical affiiirs. 

Van Orsdale, Augustus, Ackley Station p. o., Pine Grove, was born in Orange 



Brief Personals. 



county, N. Y., in 1813. He went while quite young to Lisle, Broome county, N. Y., 
where he married Eunice Graham. In 1844 he went to Crawford county, and there 
engaged in the manufacture of lumber for five years. From there he moved to Steuben 
county, N. Y. In 1870 he came to Pine Grove and settled in that part of the town 
known as Cable Hollow. In early life Mr. Van Orsdale was apprenticed to learn the 
tanning and shoemaker's trade with John Burghardt, of Upper Lisle, Broome county, 
N. Y., where he remained until about thirty years old. The new mill on Rice Run, on 
the old Brownell tract, originally built by Mr. Sloan, is now owned by Charles A. and 
John T. Van Orsdale, sons of Augustus Van Orsdale, and is managed by Charles A. 
John T. is a graduate of West Point, and is now lieutenant of Seventh Infantry U. S. 
Army, stationed at Fort Laramie, Wyoming Territory. The brothers own a tract of 
about 285 acres of good timber land on which the new circular saw-mill is now located. 

Van Sickel, P. N., of Tidioute, was born in New Jersey, and settled in Tidioute, from 
New York city, in 1873. He became engaged in the production of oil in 1864, in 
various sections, but his principal interests are in Warren and McKean counties, and 
became superintendent of " New York and Allegheny " now " McKean and Allegheny 
Oil Company" in 1875, and still remains in that position. Mr. Van Sickel married for 
his first wife, Ann Eliza Runyon, of Plainfield, N. J., and by her has one son, living in 
New York city. In i868 he married Hattie Williams, of Erie city. They have one 
child — Blanche, residing with her parents. 

Venness, George, Sugar Grove, is a leading farmer of Sugar Grove, and was born 
on his present farm in 1833. He married Prudence Andrews, of Busti, Chautauqua 
county, N. Y., who was born in 1839. They were married in i860, and had two chil- 
dren born to them — Clyo L. and Kate Belle. Prudence was a daughter of Deloss 
and Hannah Andrews. Deloss died in 1879, and his wife, Hannah, in 1845. They 
left four children — Hendrick, Prudence, Alice, and Eris. George was a son of John 
and Harriet (Davis) Venness. He was bom in 1800, and his wife, Harriet, was born in 
1802 Thev were married in 1822. They were natives of Sussex, England, and with 
a family of five children left England April 14, and landed in New York May 17, 1828. 
Two of their children died on the voyage. They settled in Utica, N. Y., and in 1830 
they settled in Sugar Grove. They had a family of eleven children, six of whom are 
now living — George, John, Harriet, Sarah, Caroline, and Mary. Harriet, his wife, 
died in 1869. 

Vermilyea, George W., of Columbus, was born in Seneca county, N. Y., in 1823. 
He was a son of Edward and Mary (Wentworth) Vermilyea. She was born in Dutchess 
county, N. Y., and her husband, Edward, was born in Chenango county, N. Y.. in 
1794. They were married in Seneca county, N. Y., and had a family of thirteen chil- 
dren born to them, of whom three sons and five daughters are now living. They settled 
in Columbus in 1827. Mary died in 1851. George W. Vermilyea was married in 1848 
to Lovina White, who was born in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., in 1829. They have 
had a family of four children born to them — Mark E., Edith M., Rachie, and George 
Orton. Lovina was a daughter of Mark S. White. George W. Vermilyea has held the 
offices of assessor and constable. He has been a machinist, and manufacturer of 
wooden ware. 

Virgil, Sylvester R., Sugar Grove, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., in 1828, and 
was a son of John and Betsey Elizabeth (Rich) Virgil. He was a native of Maine and 
his wife, Betsey Elizabeth, was born in Connecticut. They were married and settled in 
Fort Plain, Montgomery county, N. Y. He was a contractor on the Erie Canal, and 
built several locks on the canal in 1822, '23, and '24, and later he settled in Orangeville, 
Wyommg county, N. Y., where they died, leaving a family of six children, four of 
whom are now living, one son and three daughters. Sylvester married Mary A. Kelso, 
of Chautauqua county, N. Y. She was born at Otsego county, N. Y., and married 
April 14, 1853. They have had two daughters bom to them — Ella Louise and Julia 
Elizabeth. Ella L. married A. Dustin. Sylvester R. settled in Farmington, as a farmer, 
in 1867, and in early life was a carriage-smith. In 187 1 he purchased his homestead 
in Sugar Grove. 



History of Warren County. 



Waite, H. B., Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, is a civil engineer ; he was born in 
Nunda, Livingston county, N. Y., in 1826, and setted in Warren county as a teacher in 
1849; he taught several years, and embarked in the general mercantile trade in 1857, 
which he continued until 1868, when he sold out on account of impaired health, and 
took up engineering. During the war he was active in the employ of the government 
in the purchase of stock. He married Susan Mead in 1830. They have had two 
children — Garello and Emma L. — the latter married Julius Bourquin. Mrs. Waite was 
a daughter of William and Susanna Mead ; he was born in Westmoreland in 1784, and 
she in New Jersey in 1784; they were married in Brokenstraw in 1807, and had a 
family of six daughters and two sons. 

Wales, John M., Enterprise p. o.. Southwest, was born in Southwest, Warren county, 
in 1862. He is a son of John Wales, who was born in Windham county. Conn., in 
1807, and who settled in Southwest with his parents in 1825. His parents were Dorcas 
and Polly (Kees) Wales, who were born and married in Connecticut, and had a family 
of five children, of whom John is now the only surviving one. The others were Hiram, 
Sarah, Delosia, and Delusia. Dorcas died in 1850 at the age of seventy-one years, and 
Polly died in 1844. John Wales, sr., married Lucy Whitney in 1836. She died in 1850, 
leaving a family of five children — Maro died in 1S60; Delocia, Elizabeth, George, and 
Lucy. Mr. Wales then married Harriet M. Mayhew, who was born in Addison county, 
Vt., in 1827. She was married in 1850, and by her he has had a family of four chil- 
dren, one of whom died in infancy — Hattie, born in 1859; John M., born in 1862 ; 
Fred, born in 1865. Hattie married Fred Johnson, and died in 1882, leaving one son — 
Theodore. John M. and his brother Fred are the managers of a part of the homestead 
(185 acres) formerly 300 acres. They are now engaged in producing oil on their lands. 

Walker, Cecil E., Bear Lake p. o., was a son of William Walker, who was born in 
Chenango county, N. Y., in i82i,and settled in Warren county in 1837. He married 
Mary Ann De Long, of Clienango county, N. Y., and to them were born two children 
— Cecil E., and Leon E. He was a large dealer in lumber, and was the first to take 
lumber and shingles to St. Louis. Cecil E. married E. Curtis, of Columbus. They 
have had one child born to them — Roy. Mr. Walker is a dealer in short-horn cattle, 
and is engaged in farming. 

Walker, Mrs. Lavina, West Spring Creek p. o., Spring Creek, wife of Silas Walker, 
who was born in 1823, and settled in Warren county. He died, leaving a family of six 
children, four of whom are now living — Mary Jane. Silas Adelbert, Emilv Ann, Charles 
H., Franklin De F., and Martha R. 

Walling, Oliver Smith, Germany p. o.. Elk, was born in Orange county, N. Y., March 
3, 1842. At Rochester, N. Y., he was united in marriage with Mary Ann Holman, by 
whom he had a family of seven children — ^Sylvester L., John Z., Lyman H., Melissa, 
Franklin P., Harriet M., and Amy E. They came to Quaker Hill about 1850, where 
the family have since resided. The farm, comprising one hundred acres, is one of the 
best in the township, and since the death of the father in November, i86i, has been con- 
ducted by his widow and her sons. Mr. Walling died in Oregon, where he had gone in 
the hope of regaining his health. During his life in Elk, Mr. Walling stood highly re- 
spected among his fellow-townsmen. His wife has held the office of ])ostmistress of the 
town for sixteen years, and the establishment of the office in this place was largely due 
to the efforts of her husband. They commenced married life with less than $100 in 
money, but by industry and economy he acquired a comfortable home and farm. 

Wallace, B. F., Eagle, was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., and settled in Warren 
■county in 1849. He married Mary Green, of Onondaga county, N. Y.,and by her had 
a family of seven children — William A., John F., Permelia L., Ezra V., Morgan S., 
Bertlia, and Floyd He is a carpenter and farmer and owns a farm of fifty-two acres. 
He has been postmaster for twenty years, and also held the office of assessor, school 
director and town clerk. His father, William, was born in Washington county, N. Y., 
in 1798, and married Permelia Eddy, of Oneida county, N. Y. They had a family of 
three children born to them — Corydon S., Benjamin F., and Ichabod. 



Brief Personals. 



Walter, David, Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Alsace, France, and came to 
Warren on May 15, 1852, and in September, 1854, removed to Glade. In his family vvere 
four children, as follows : Mary, Elizabeth, Emeline, and David, jr. David Walter died 
February 26, 187 1, Anna Marie, mother, died February 26, 1876. David, jr. married 
Maria Ursula, who came to Warren with her uncle's family when she was but thirteen 
years of age. Her parents now reside in Alsace, France. The children of David and 
Maria Walter are Albert David, born March 9, 1865, Louisa, born April i8, 1867, 
George B., born January 24, 1870, Frederick M., born October 29, 1871, Otto S., born 
December 28, 1873, William P., born August 9, 1876, Martin L., born July 17, 1878, 
and John, born November 29, i88i. David Walter is a prominent man in the affairs of 
Glade. He commenced life poor, but has worked his way up to a comfortable and en- 
viable position in the town. He is a staunch Democrat, and a member of the Lutheran 
Church. 

Walter, Henry, Irvinton p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Meadtown in 1857, and en- 
gaged in the manufacture of lumber in 1878 — firm of Walter & Patch ; they purchased 
the stave and shingle-mill at Irvinton. The partnership was dissolved in 1882, when Mr. 
Walter erected his present mill, and continued the stave, heading and shingle business. 
In 1884 his brother Frederick became his partner in the business. Mr. Walter was a 
son of Jacob and Burlena Walter who were born and married in Germany. They settled 
in Warren county in 1848, and had a family of ten children, seven of whom are now 
living — Frederick, Lewis, Henry, Samuel, Jacob, Kate, and Mary. Henry married 
Bertha Wiederhold, of Youngsville, in 1881, and they have two children — Alice P., and 
Guy V. Mrs. Walter was a daughter of George and Barbara Wiederhold. The Messrs. 
Walter employ on an average of five hands in their business. 

Walton, Aaron, of Columbus, was born in Columbus, Chenango county, N. Y., May 
20, 1800. He was married in 1824 to Elizabeth Hanna, who was born in Oneida 
county, N. ¥., in 1798, and died in 1868. They had a family of nine children born to 
them — George, Benjamin F., Robert H., and John D., Hiram A., Emily, Mary E., Sa- 
rah J., Artimissa. Emily married David O. Smith, and Artimissa married A. J. Day- 
mon. Mr. Aaron Walton has held the office of county commissioner for three years, 
and has also held many of the town and district offices. He was engaged in farming 
and stock raising at an early age, a branch of business of which he has made a financial 
success. He was a son of Aaron, sr., and Artimissa (Fields) Walton. Artimissa was born 
in Connecticut, and .Aaron, sr., was a native of Massachusetts. They were married and 
settled in Chenango county, N. Y., and with a family of ten children settled in Colum- 
bus, in 1824. Those of the family now living are Aaron, John, Levy, and Mary. 

Walton, Charles H., Columbus, was born in Columbus in 1829. He was married 
in 1857 to Mary Parker, of Columbus. She died in 1867, leaving a family of four chil- 
dren, three of whom are now living — Laura, Dallas, and Lelia. He then married for 
his second wife Mrs. Johanna (Hesling) Morgan, in 1868. She had one son by her first 
husband, Arthur Morgan. Laura married Clifford Jarrett ; Lelia married .\lbert J. 
Smith, a merchant of Columbus. Charles H. Walton retired from farming in 1880. He 
was a son of John and Harriet (Spencer) Walton, natives of Chenango county, N. Y., 
who were married in 1828. Harriet Walton, died in 1870, leaving a family of four sons 
aud four daughters. The father, John Walton, was born in 1806. His sons are Charles 
H., Darius S., Sjiencer A., and Frank B. His daughters are Laura A., Lucinda M., 
Louisa J., and Lucretia E. 

Walton, Levi, Columbus, was born in Columbus, Chenango county, N. Y., in 1818, 
and is a son of Aaron and Artamissa Field Walton. They were born and married in 
Connecticut, and settled in Chenango county, N. Y., in 1824, and emigrated to and set- 
tled in Columbus, with a family of ten children, four of whom are now living — Aaron, jr., 
born in 1800; John, born in 1806; Levi, born in 1818; and Mary. Aaron, sr., was a 
successful farmer, and died at the age of eighty-two. Levi married in 1841 Cynthia A. 
West, of Chenango county, N. Y.; she was born in 1818. They have a family of three 
children — Clarence L., Amelia M., and Lawrence. Amelia M., married H. C. Allen, 
of Otsego county, N. Y., in 1870, and Lawrence married Mary E. Ripley, of Chautau- 



History of Warren County. 



qua county, N. Y., m 1879. Mr. Walton retired from active business in 1883. Cynthia 
was a daughter of Charles West and Eunice Randal, who settled in Warren county in 
1865. 

Walton, Spencer A., Columbus p. o., was born in Columbus in 1841, and in 1864 
married Louisa Hammon, who was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1842. They 
haye one son, Cassius H., born in 1866. Louisa was a daughter of David and Louisa 
(Tooley) Hammon ; the latter was from Rutland, Vt., and the former from Massachu- 
setts. Spencer A. was a son of John and Harriet (Spencer) Walton, who were married 
in 1828. He was born in 1806, and settled in Columbus from Chenango county, N. 
Y., with his parents, Aaron and Artimissa (Field) Walton. They were born in Connect- 
icut and married there, and settled in Chenango county, N. Y., and came to Warren 
county with a family of ten children in 1824, 

Ward, George U., Matthew's Run p. o.. Sugar Grove, was born in Sugar Grove in 
i860, and chose a farmer's life. In 1882 he married Maggie Waters, who was born in 
i860. They have two children — James and Pearl. George U. is a son of James and Ann 
(Gray) Ward. They were born in Nottinghamshire, England, and were married in Su- 
gar Grove, in 1859 ; they had a family of four children — George U., Martha, Grant, and 
Kate. James died in 1868. He was a son of John and Catharine (Unwin) Ward, of 
Nottinghamshire. John was born in 1804, and Catharine in 1821, and they were mar- 
ried in 1837 ; they had but one son — James. Catharine died in 1880. James and John 
settled in Sugar Grove in 185 1, purchasing the homestead now occupied by George U. 

Waterhouse, Russell, Pittsfield, was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., in 1821. He 
was a son of William A. and Hannah (Davis) Waterhouse. William A. was born in Ston- 
ington. Conn., Hannah was born in Rhode Island, and was a descendant of the Roger 
Willams colony; she was raised in the same neighborhood and went to school with 
Commodore Perry, and was a cousin of the hero of Lake Erie. They settled in Pitts- 
field in 1840, where William A. died in 1842. Hannah died in Dakota, aged ninety-five 
years. Russell Waterhouse settled in Pittsfield, in 1840, and was married in 1848 to 
Laura Ford, who was born in 1825. They have had a family of six children born to 
them — Hyatt M., is a graduate of Scudder's Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, 
and is now a professor at Minneapolis, Minn.; John A., was also a graduate of the same 
college; Maud, graduated from the same in 1886; Elgia N., Thomas W., and Effie. 
Thomas W. is now a bookkeeper, and the other two daughters are students at Fredonia. 
Laura Ford was a daughter of Obadiah and Elizabeth H. Ford. Obadiah was born in 
Maryland. They had a family of nine children born to them, seven of whom are now 
living — John C, Darius, Margaret Cordelia, Laura, Mansell, and Vincent. Darius and 
Mansell enlisted and served for four years in the late war, and were honorably dis- 
charged. Their father Obadiah served in the War of 181 2. 

Watts, jr., Thomas, Sugar Grove, was born in Wilkshire, England, in 1829. He 
was a son of Thomas and Susan (Barrett) Watts; they were married in England and 
with a family of four daughters and three sons in 1835 settled in Sugar Grove. The 
parents are both dead, the father died in 1841, the mother in 1854. Five of the 
children are now living — Mrs. Elizabeth Shutt, Mrs. Sarah Shutt, Mrs. Ellen Mead, John 
Watts, and Thomas Watts, jr. Thomas Watts, jr., married Lucretia Armitage, of Spring 
Creek in 1863. She was born in 1845 and died in Sugar Grove in 1873, leaving a fam- 
ily of three children — Nellie, May, and Jennie. Nellie married James Armitage in 
1884, and died April 12, 1886, leaving an infant daughter, Nellie. May is a graduate 
and holds a teacher's certificate. Mr. Watts is a farmer, and was in early life a lumber- 
man, and purchased his homestead farm in 1862. 

Watt, Moses, Garland p. o., Pittsfield, a resident of Garland was born in Spring 
Creek township in 1828. He was a son of Alexander and Elizabeth (.\ndrews) Watt. 
Alexander was born in Lancaster county, and his wife, Elizabeth, was born in Pittsfield. 
Alexander settled with his father, John Watt, in Spring Creek in 1797. John had a fam- 
ily of four children. Alexander and Elizabeth had a family of nine children born to 
to them, four of whom are now living — Mrs. Hannah Mallery, Mrs. Melissa Snyder, Mrs. 
Sarah Spencer, and Moses Watt. Alexander A. Watt died in 1866 at the advanced age 



Brief Personals. 



of eighty-five years. His son Moses was married in 1866 to Eveline Bright, who was 
born in Crawford county in 1844. They have had two children born to them — Frank 
M. and Robert, who are now living ; Winifred and a daughter, Sarah Etta, are dead. 
Sarah died in 1885 aged seventeen years. Eveline Bright was a daughter of Henry and 
Mary Ann (Butler) Bright. Moses Watt in early life was a lumberman and farmer, and 
in 1884 settled in Garland, coming there from Spring Brook, and there erected his pres- 
ent fine residence. He embarked in the general hardware business in 1884. 

Walz, Squire Frederick, Tidioute p. o.. Glade, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, 
in 1827. He was a son of John and Siblyla Walz, who emigrated to America in 1833, 
where they died leaving a family of six children, four of whom are now living — John, 
Johanna, Rose, and Frederick. Squire Frederick is a man of two hundred and seventy-five 
pounds weight. He enlisted in Company D, First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, 
in 1846, and served during the war with Mexico. They left Pittsburgh in December, 
1846, under Colonel Wynkoop, and returned from Mexico in August, 1848; in that ser- 
vice he was under Generals Winfield Scott and Wool. Mr. Walz was commissioned to 
raise a company for the Fourth Pennsylvania Reserves, whichhe did, and placed them in 
command of Colonel March. He was married in 1859 to Mrs. Mary Magdalene Glass- 
ing. They settled in Tidioute in 1S64, and in 1865 settled in Limestone on the Econ- 
omist Society plot. From 1859 to 1873 he was engaged in the grocery business in 
Limestone. In 1873 he was appointed by the Bridge Company at Tidioute, as toll 
collector and agent. He has held the office of justice of the peace for several years, 
and in 1883, he received a unanimous vote from the people of the borough for the 
office of justice, which position he is filling with credit. 

Way, Timothy, Russellburg p. o., was born in Scipio, Cayuga county, N. Y., Octo- 
ber 18, 1801, and died in Pine Grove January 31, 1879. Nancy Borthvvick, his wife, 
was born in Scipio January 20, 1802. Tney were married in 1826, and came to Pine 
Grove in 1830, settled in Russellberg, and in 1851 located on the beautiful farm in the 
north part ol the town, where Judson W. Way now resides. The children of this mar- 
riage were Willard J., born June 30, 1828; William N., March 6, 1830; Judson W., 
February 15, 1853; Orrin J., July 12, 1835 ; Mary Jane, March 27, 1839; Nancy 
Jenet, September 5, 1841 ; Rebecca Ann, March 29, 1847. Judson W. Way married 
Isaura L., daughter of Ezra H. Gregory, of Farmington, on May 9, 1866. They have 
two children, Charles A. and Ralph C. Timothy Way, during his life, was a farmer 
and one of the most respected citizens of Pine Grove. Some of his business ventures 
were unsuccessful, but he eventuallv regained his fortune and at the time of his death 
was in comfortable circumstances. He was a prominent anti-slavery Democrat, and 
supported Mr. Lincoln as a candidate for the presidency. He was a member of the 
society of the Baptist Church. 

Weiler, George, Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Alsace, France, on February 
3, 1824. He is a farmer and settled on the farm he now occupies in 1850, a part of 
which he cleared and improved. He was a son of George and Barbara (Rockenbach) 
Weiler, who came to America in 1832, and settled in Pleasant township, where they re- 
sided for five years, after which they removed to Conewango and settled on the farm 
now owned by Jacob C. Seigrist, where they lived until the time of their deaths. They 
had a family of five children — Saloma (Mrs. John Arnold), George, John, Magdalena 
(Mrs. Christian Kaberlin), Mary (Mrs. Henry Boss). George Weiler, jr., was married 
on October 7, 1852, to Magdalena Kiel (a daughter of Michael and Susan (Hoscher) 
Kiel, who were natives of Germany and came to this country and settled in Conewango 
in 1839). They have had a family of seven children born to them — Lewis, Susan (Mrs. 
C M. Marston), Clara (Mrs. John Sly), Bessie, Nettie, John, and Robert. 

Weld, Robert and Clarissa (Howe), were born in Vermont, she in Brattleboro in 
1795, and he in Windham in 1784. He died in 1875, and she died in 1885. They 
had a family of seven children, five of whom are now living — Susan, Sarah, Squire, 
William W., and Mary. Theodore died in 186 1 in his fifty-fourth year, and Clarissa 
died in 1883 aged forty years. The parents settled in Sugar Grove in 1831. 

Weld, William W., is a successful farmer of Sugar Grove, and was born at Bath, 



History of Warren County. 



Steuben countv', N. V., February 23, 1S29, and settled in Sugar Grove in 1831. He 
married Ciiristina Falconer, of Sugar Grove, by whom he has had three sons — Robert 
J., Fred F., and Guy T. (who died February 27, 1883). WiUiam enlisted in Company B, 
Ninth New York Cavalry in 1861, and was promoted to second and then to first lieu- 
tenant, and was discharged in 1863 by reason of disability, and in 1864 he enlisted in 
Company G, 211th Pennsylvaina Regiment, served to the close of the war and was dis- 
charged. He was wounded in 1862, for which he now draws a pension. He purchased 
the farm in 1848, which consists of forty-eight acres, and now owns a homestead of no, 
where he erected his dwelling complete in appointments in 1885. He was a son of 
Robert and Clarisa (Howe) Weld. She was a native of Brattleboro, and was born in 1795 
and her husband was born in Windham county, Vt., in 1784, and died June i, 1875. 
They had a family of ten children born to them, five of whom are now living — Susan, 
Sarah, Squire William W., Mary, and Theodore N. (died leaving a widow and two 
children), and Clarissa married E. M. Dupray, and died leaving three children. Sarah 
M. married W. P. Cummings. 

\\eiler, John C, Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Alsace, France, on Novem- 
ber, 18, 1827. He is a farmer, owning about 450 acres. He purchased in 1868 two hun- 
dred and forty acres where he now resides, and has since added to it until now his farm 
cdmprises in all about 450 acres. He is one of the self-made men of Conewango, 
coming to this place when but four years old, and has accumulated his large property 
by his own exertions. He was a son of George and Barbara (Rockenbach) Weiler, who 
came to this country in 1832. John C. was married on June 6, 1851, to Saloma 
Seigrist, a daughter of Philip and Saloma (Strubler) Seigrist, who were among the early 
settlers of Conewango. They have had a family of six children born to them — Mary 
(now Mrs. Anthony Mintzer), Elias P. (deceased), Theodosia (now Mrs. Michael Kaf- 
.ferlin), Elias H., Gilbert G., and Chloe. 

Wellman, Dr. Warren D., Sugar Grove p. o., was born in Chautauqua county, N. 
Y., in 1855. He was a graduate of the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute in the class 
of 1881 and settled in Sugar Grove, in his profession, that of surgeon and doctor. His 
brother, Elmer E. Wellman, settled in Sugar Grove in 1881, when they as partners 
formed the firm of Wellman Brothers, now engaged in the general drug and prescrip- 
tion business, and added a full stock of groceries and fancy goods, with stationery. 
They are the sons of W. D. and Laura L. (Martin) Wellman, of Harmony, Chautauqua 
county, N. Y. Their mother, Laura L., died in 1866, leaving a family of four children 
—Dr. W. D., Julia E., Elmer E., and Arthur M. 

Welsh, Lawrence, Chandler's Valley p. 0., Sugar Grove, was born in Tijiperary, 
Ireland, in 1826, and was a son of Patrick. He settled in Morristown, N. J., in 1848, 
when he married Joanna Hogan, born in Waterford, Ireland, in 1829, and married in 
1849. They have a family of two children — Kate and Mary Elizabeth. Kate married 
Leonard H. Homer, and has three children. Mr. Welsh settled in Sugar Grove in 
1880, purchasing the old John Chandler farm of no acres. He has been for twenty- 
five years employed as section boss on the railroad, and agent of several roads, east and 
west. 

Wentworth, William Wallace, Pittsfield, was born in Litchfield, Herkimer county, N. 
Y., in 1827, and with his parents, I.,oren and Servilla (Crosby) Wentworth, settled in 
Chautauqua county in 1828. Their children now living are William W., Eugene, 
Jasper, and De Ette. William W. Wentworth was married in 1848, to Sarah Olivia 
Sharp, who was born in Grove, Allegheny county, N. Y.. in 1829. They have had a 
family of ten children, four of whom are now living — William W. jr., Marion W., Sarah 
Servilla Pierce, and i'^li B. S. William W., sr., enlisted in Company I., Fourteenth Penn- 
sylvania Cavalry in 1862, and was discharged at the close of the war in 1865. He was 
wounded in the shoulder and the knee. His wife, Olivia, was a daughter of Eli B. and 
Sarah (Barker) Sharp. Sarah was born in Maine, and Eli, her husband, was born in 
Cayuga county, N. Y. They settled in Pittsfield in 1836. Marion M. Wentworth 
married George W. Wing, and her sister, Sarah S., married Henry Pierce. They had 
one child born to them — Francis May. 



Brief Personals. 



Wentz, Philip, Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Alsace, France, on March 18, 
1840. He was son of Philip and Wilhelmina (Messner) Wentz, who settled in Cone- 
wango, Warren county, in 1841, on the farm which is now occupied by Philip, most of 
which they cleared and improved themselves. They had a family of two children — 
Saloma (Mrs. Matthias Schuler), and Philip, who suceeded to the homestead where he 
now resides. He was married on February 20, 1S66, to Mahala Denney, by whom he 
has had one child — Eddie W. Mahala was a daughter of Ransom and Philena Denny, 
of Steuben county, N. Y. 

Wenzel, Henry, deceased, Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Leniburg, Bavaria, 
Germany, on November 15, 1824. He was a son of Henry and Libbie Wenzel. He 
came to America in 1854, and settled in New York city, where he remained until 1864, 
when he came to Conewango, where he cleared and improved the farm which is now 
owned and occupied by his widow, and where he resided until his death, which occur- 
red on February 5, 1886. He was married in 1849 to Saloma Kestner, a daughter of 
Michael and Ann M. (Bishop) Kestner, of Leniburg, Germany. Their children were 
Henry, Christian, William, Philopena, Amelia, Michael, Libbie, and Louis. Mr. Wen- 
zel was a member of the Lutheran Church, and his family also belong to that denomi- 
nation. 

Whaley, E. B., East Branch p. o.. Spring Creek, was born in Wyoming county, N. 
Y., in 1828, and settled in Warren county in 1847. ^^ '^ ^ farmer and owns 120 acres. 
He enlisted in 1862 in the Second District Columbia Regiment. He was ordained a 
minister in the Free Baptist Church, and now preaches at Sparta Church, being the old- 
est worker in this denomination in Spring Creek. He married Clarissa Nichols, of Sar- 
dinia, N. Y., who was born in 1835. They had a family of three children born to 
them — Charles A., Bettie, and Mattie. His father, Daniel Whaley, was born in Ver- 
mont in 1802, and died in 1879; he married Hannah Bean, of Genesee, N. Y., who 
was born in 1803, and died in 1844. They had a family of ten children, seven of whom 
are now living. 

Wheeler, Hon. Nelson P., of Tidioute, Pa., was born in Portville, Cattaraugus 
county, N. Y., in 1841. He was a son of William F. and Flora (Atkins) Wheeler, of 
Cleveland. Mrs. Wheeler died in 1850, leaving a family of three children — N. P., 
William E., and Augusta, now Mrs. E. A. Skinner, of VVestfield, N. Y. Nelson P. 
Wheeler was married in 1877 to Rachel A. Smith, a daughter of Captain Alexander 
Smith, in Cincinnati. They have a family of four children — Rachel F., Isabel S., Mary 
Atkins, and Nelson P., jr. In 1836 his father, William F. Wheeler, purchased interests 
in large tracts of land in Venango, now Forest county. Nelson P. came to that part of 
Venango county, which is now Forest county, in 1865 ; was county commissioner from 
1868 to 1871, and was a member of Assembly in 1878-79. He is an extensive lumber 
manufacturer and shipper from Hickory and Tionesta, their improved band saw-mill and 
log railroad into the woods greatly facilitating the trade. He is also interested in lum- 
bering establishments in northern Michigan, and has lately been prominent in locating 
and erecting a tannery at Hickory. He removed with his family to Tidioute in 1885, 
and was elected school director the same year. 

Wheelock, Edwin R., Sugar Grove, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., in the town 
of Sheldon August 24, 1827. He was a son of Abner and Lydia (Tillotson) Wheelock. 
Lydia was born in Genesee county, N. Y., Jannary 19, 1801, and her husband, Abner, 
was born in Charleston, Mass., October 9, 1796, and died on May 22, 1886. His wife, 
Lydia, died in July, 1871. They settled in Wayne township, Erie county, in 1830, 
where they resided until 1S59, when they removed to Sugar Grove, where they resided 
up to the time of their deaths. They had a family of four sons — Charles A., George 
G., Edwin R., and Mathew G. Edwin R. was married on September 20, 1853, to 
Betsey Ann Allen, of Freehold township. They have had two sons born to them — 
Frank D. and George R. Edwin R. Wheelock settled in Warren county in 1842, and 
engaged in the manufacture and shipping of lumber, and in 1847 he, with his brother 
George, purchased the Mead Mill, in Mead township, where they resided until 1849, 
when they sold the mill to Joseph Hall and Charles Fisher, and purchased the David 



History of Warren County. 



Allen mill in Freehold township, where he resided until 1870, when he removed to Sugar 
Grove, and built his present residence, which he now occupies. In 1875 ^^ became en- 
gaged in the hardware business, under the firm name of Smith & Wheelock, and in 1879 
the present firm of Wheelock & Son (Edwin R. and Frank D.), was formed. They 
deal in all classes of hardware, farmers' supplies, mowers, reapers, carriages, and ploughs. 
Mr. Wheelock is also engaged in the lumber business. 

White, L. K., Garland p. o., Spring Creek, was born in Warren county in 1841. He 
was a son of Samuel and Louisa (Miles) White. Samuel was born in 1787, and died in 
1852. His wife was born in 1797, and died in 1878. They had a family of eleven 
children born to them, six of whom are now living. L. K. White married Mary E. 
Elder, of Butler county. She was born in 1844. They had a family of eight children 
born to them— S. L.,'Effie B., H. E., W. R., Anna M., Lelia E., Clifiord, Arliel, de- 
ceased. They now own and occnpy a farm of thirty-five acres. 

White, Herbert, Lander p. 0., Farmington, is a farmer, and was born in Farming- 
ton May 24, 1851. He was a son of Orange and Nancy (Robbins) White, who came 
from Oneida county, N. Y., and settled in Sugar Grove, now Farmington, in February, 
1837, on the farm now owned by Harry Mahan, most of which they cleared and im- 
proved themselves. They had a family of nine children — Jay, Ebenezer, Otis, Myra E., 
Orange, jr., Emma, Herbert, Belle, and Harry D. Herbert White was reared in Farm- 
ington, and was married March 9, 1882, to Clara M. Putnam, a daughter of Perry P. 
and Margaret (McCray) Putnam, of Farmington. They have had two children born to 
them — Maggie and Irwin S. 

White, Lucius, Columbus, was born in Columbus in 1834. He was a son of Mark 
S. and Rachel (Walker) White, who were natives of Addison county, Vt., who settled in 
Columbus in 1832. They had a family of five children, four of whom are now living — 
Lovina, Lucius, Lyman, and Lura. Mark S.White died in 1879, aged eighty-four years, 
and his wife, Rachel, died in 1862. Mark S. was a son of Peter White, who was a Rev- 
olutionary soldier. Mark S. was a lumberman and farmer, and was a justice of the 
peace for some twenty or twenty-five years. He was appointed postmaster under the 
administration of President Taylor. Lucius White has served as justice of the peace 
from his early manhood up to the present time. He was appointed pension clerk at 
Washington under President Arthur. He owns and occupies the old homestead, which 
was purchased by his parents in 1836. Lucius White was married in 1885, to Mrs. Ada 
L. Doud, who was a daughter of Mr. William Lowry. She had a family of three chil- 
dren by her first husband — Jesse, William, and Sarah Doud. 

Whitehead, James F., McGraw p. o., Triumph, was born on Prince Edward Island, 
in 1845. He was a son of William and Rebecca Whitehead. James emigrated to Buf- 
falo, N. Y., in 1864, was employed as a journeyman and ship carpenter. In 1867 he 
came to Venango, and in 1872 he settled in Triumph, and engaged in the production of 
oil in his own interest as well as that of others. He became superintendent for J. M. 
Clap]), in his oil interest in 1880. He was married in 1875, to Marcia Thompson, a 
daughter of Squire J. W. and Nancy (McMillin) Thompson. J. W. was born in Sara- 
toga county, N. Y., and his wife, Nancy, was born in Hamilton county, O. James F. 
Whitehead purchased his homestead farm of 225 acres in 1883. 

Whitman, William, Kinzua p. o.. Elk, was born in New York city in the year 1819. 
An orphan child, he was taken from a charitable institution, and brought by a family 
named Sears to Kinzua in 1827. He was an industrious lad, and worked around the 
town, and saved his earnings. He married Margaret Morrison, by whom he had a fam- 
ily of eight children — Lafiiyette, Alvira, Ellen, Roberta, John, William, Ellen (second), 
the first having died when quite young, and Gardner. William, the father, died Septem- 
ber 16, 1883. His farm comprised seventy-eight acres nicely located on Kinzua Run. 
He was at one time connected with the M. E. Church, and was a class leader, but with- 
drew some years before his death. 

Whitcomb, Paul, Cornplanter p. o.. Elk, was a native of New Hampshire, and served 
in the War of 181 2. He married Matilda Page in Vermont, and settled in Howard, 
Steuben county, N. Y., and with his wife, Charles K., Matilda, and other children, came 



Brief Personals. 



to Warren county something over fifty years ago, where Paul died in 1866, and his wife 
in 1878. Charles K. Whitcomb was united in marriage with Laura Seaman, by whom 
he had a family of four children, all of whom are now living. He began life for him- 
self with no capital, and by industry and energy has amassed a comfortable fortune, the 
result of his own personal effort. Among his fellow men his judgment is respected. 
About thirty years ago Mr. Whitney moved to Corydon, on a good and well cultivated 
farm of seventy acres. He was formerly a member of the M. E. Church, but withdrew 
some years ago, but is a true friend and supporter of the Christian church. 

Whitney, Ira A., Pittsfield p. o., was born in Youngsville in 1842, a son of Nathan 
and Susan Davis Whitney. She was a daughter of Abraham and Ruth Mead Davis, 
and was born in 1809. Nathan was born in Massachusetts in 1803; they were born in 
Youngsville, and had a family of seven children, four of whom are now living — Ira A., 
Lucy, M. D., and Dr. William D. Nathan was a son of Ira Whitney, settled in Youngs- 
ville in 1824, and died in 1862. Ira A. embarked in the mercantile trade in Pittsfield 
in 1873, dealing extensively in all classes of merchandise, grain, seeds, feed, flour, lum- 
ber, shingles, clothing, boots and shoes, and does a general barter business to accom- 
modate his farming trade. He was appointed postmaster November, 18S5. He married 
Sabrina Mead, daughter of John and Eveline Mead, in 1879; they have three children 
— Ella, Mary, Lucy P., and Fred. 

Wickwire, Morton D., of Columbus, was bom in Hamilton, Madison county, N. Y., 
in 1829. He was a son of Giles and Lois (Carrier) Wickwire, who were born in Con- 
necticut and settled in Columbus in 1839, where they died, he in 1873, and his wife, 
Lois, in 1877. They had a family of five children born to them — Morton, Monroe, 
Dimmis, Myron, and Milo. Morton D. Wickwire was married in 1855, to Sarah Dut- 
ton, of Warren county. They have had three children born to them — Dennis S., Lura 
L., and Lelia I. Mr. Morton has been town commissioner, school director, and col- 
lector, and was also engaged in farming. His son, Dennis, married Mary B. Scholton, 
of Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1881. They have one child — Earl M. Mrs. Sarah 
Wickwire was a daughter of Solomon and Rebecca (Rice) Dutton, who settled here in 
1829. They had a family of four children — two sons and two daughters. 

Wiederhold, George, Youngsville p. o., Brokenstraw, was born in Prussian Germany, 
Grossbartloff, County Heiligenstadt, R. B. Erfurt, Province Sachsen, January 11, 1826, 
and came to America in 185 1 and settled at Galena, 111., and in 1857 came to Buffalo, 
N. Y., where he was married in i860 to Barbara Smith, who was born in Bavaria, Ger- 
many, in 1842. They have had a family of seven children — Bertha, Maggie, George, 
Emma and Alma (twins), Leo, and Louis. George enlisted in Company D, One Hun- 
dred and Eleventh Regiment Pennsylvania Yolunteers, in 1864, and served to the close 
of the war, when he returned to his trade, that of cabinet-making and undertaking, and 
in 1859 settled in Youngsville and engaged in the general furniture and undertaking 
business. The undertaking business is a specialty, and he has on hand a variety of 
fine selections. 

Wickhizer, John H., Warren p. o., Conewango, was born in Monroe county in the 
year 1843, and came to Warren in 1869. He enlisted at Wilkesbarre in June. 1861, in 
Company F, Seventh Pennsylvania Reserves, was captured at Charles City Cross Roads, 
in the seven days fight in 1S62, and served in the Confederate prisons at Libby and 
Belle Isle, where he was exchanged, and afterwards discharged for disability. He then 
re-enlisted in the 8th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and served to the close of the war. In 
187 1 Mr. Wickhizer married Mary M., a daughter of Philip Trushel, by whom he has 
had two children. He is a contracting carpenter and joiner of Warren, and now resides 
in Glade. He is also a respected member of the Evangelical Church. 

Wilcox, Daniel F., Russell p. o., Farmington, is a farmer, and was born in Cone- 
wango township January 18, 1839. He is a son of Thomas and Sophronia (Spencer) 
Wilcox. His paternal grandparents were Thomas and Lydia (Dibble) Wilcox, who set- 
tled in Conewango township about 1820. They had a family of twelve children — Mary 
A., Thomas, jr., Prudence, Phebe, Tabor, Lovisa, Angeline, Susan, Rockwell, Lodema, 



History of Warren County. 



John, and Henry. The maternal grandfather of Daniel F. ^Vilcox was Abner Spencer, 
who was also among the first settlers of Conewango. Thomas Wilcox, jr., cleared and 
improved a farm in Conewango which is now owned by Daniel F. He had a family 
of five children born to him — Daniel F., Uretta, now Mrs. G. H. Pierson ; Salina J., 
now Mrs. W. Filer; George, Caroline, now Mrs. Daniel Grunder ; and Mathesia, de- 
ceased. Daniel F. Wilcox was reared in Conewango, where he resided until 1874, he 
then removed to Farmington, to the farm which he now owns and occupies. He was 
married March 26, 1874, to Rose Kiker, a daughter of Conrad and Sophia (Gross) 
Kiker. They have had two children born to them — George C, and Frank C. 

Williams, John W., of Columbus, was born in Westfield, Chautauqua county, N. Y., 
in 1817. He was a son of Alvin and Sylvia (Curtis) Williams, who were natives of 
Massachusetts, and settled in Chautauqua county, N. Y., where they died. John W. 
Williams settled in Crawford county, in the tanning business, in 1868, and in 1869 he 
settled in Columbus, and erected his present fine factory, and also purchased a large 
lumber tract. He has done an extensive business and now tans some fifteen hundred 
hides per week, giving employment to about fifteen hands. Mr. Williams retired from 
business in January, 1886. His son, Frank Williams, continues the business. John W. 
Williams was married in 1844 to Emma Wheeler. They have had a family of three 
children bornto them — Earl, Frank, Ida, who married C. A. Blakeslee. Mr. Williams 
first embarked in the mercantile business in 1837, and in the tanning business in 1857. 

Wilson, George T., Garland p. o., Pittsfield, a practical miller, was born in Cato, 
Cayuga county, N. Y., in 181 5, and settled in Pine Grove in 1832 with his parents, 
Joel and Sally (Ladow) Wilson. Sally was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., and Joel, 
her husband, was born in Vermont. They were married in Cayuga county, N. Y., in 
1813, and had a family of thirteen children born to them, five of whom are now living 
— George T., Sarah, Polly, Cecilia, and Lyman D. Joel died in 1866. Sally, his wife, 
died in 1871. One of their sons, Lyman D., enlisted and served in the late war. 
George T. was married in 1842 to Betsey Miller, who was born in Canandaigua, N. Y. 
She died in Ohio in 1863, leaving two daughters, of whom only one in now living — 
Sarah Jane. Mr. Wilson was again married, in 1864, to Mrs. Augusta Pike, the widow 
of James Pike, and by her has had one child — Jeanette. George T. ^^'ilson settled in 
Garland in 1877, and in 18S5 he became the partner of G. W. Brockway in the general 
milling, grain, and flour trade. They now occupy the mill which was built by Mr. An- 
drews. 

Wollaston, James E., Stoneham p. o., Mead, is a carpenter, and was born in what is 
now Forrest county June 15, 1849. He was a son of James and Rachel (Tuthill) 
Wollaston. He was reared in Warren county, where he learned his trade, which occupa- 
tion he has followed since 1876. He located in Mead township in 1880, and was mar- 
ried December 13, 1880, to Mary J. McKee, born April 27, 1853,3 daughter of Samuel 
and Martha McKee, of Titusville. They have had a family of three children born to 
them — James E., born January 16, 1882; Mary J., born Alarch 19,1883; Samuel L., 
born April 6, 1885. 

Woodburn, William J., Brokenstraw, N. Y., p. o.. Freehold, was born in Philadel- 
phia in 1823, and settled in Warren county in 1833. He married Joicey Way, of New 
York, and- by her had a family of four children — Ella (Eggleston, deceased), ^Lary 
(Finch, deceased), Kate (Wood), and Earl H. His father, James Woodburn, was born 
in Ireland, and was a weaver by trade. He married Mary Porter, by whom he had a 
family of seven children, six of whom are now living; 

Wright, Aaron P., Lander p. o., Farmington, was born in St. Lawrence count)-. N. 
Y., March 14, 1818. He was a son of Aaron and Cornelia (Rose) Wright. He settled 
in Pine Grove township in 1839, and engaged in lumbering, and in 1846 located in 
Farmington on the farm on which he now resides. He was married in 1845 to Mary 
J. Newman, a daughter of Jeremiah C. and Nancy (Marsh) Newman, and a grand- 
daughter of John Marsh, a native of New Jersey, who settled in what is now Farm- 
ington in 1800. By his marriage Mr. Wright has had a family of seven children — Ida, 
Nancy C, Inez, Marion A., Louisa, Belle (deceased), and Mittie. 



Brief Personals. 



Wright, David, Sugar Grove p. o., was a son of Adam and Gertrude (Hunter) 
Wright, who were married in England, and settled in Sugar Grove. They had a family- 
eleven children born to them, only one of whom is now living — David. Adam Wright 
was a cotton spinner in his early life, and his children followed the same occupation un- 
til settlement. David was born in Preston, Lancashire, England, May 7, 1818. He 
married Anna Read in 1841. She was bom in Fabius, Onondaga county, N. Y., Nov. 
15, 1822. They have had a family of ten children born to them — George B., Harriet 
E., Sarah A., David H., Ephraim M., Lois E., Mary A., Martha E., Belle, and Henry. 
Anna was a daughter of Zacheus B. and Sally C. (Dean) Read, who settled in Clymer, 
N. Y., where Zacheus died, leaving a widow and eight children. 

Wright, George B., Sugar Grove p. o., a farmer and lumber manufacturer; was born 
in Sugar Grove in 1843, and married Matilda Gifford, of North East, in 1868; she was 
born in 1843. They have had four children — Betsey E., Nettie A., Guy Allen, and 
Georgiana A. Matilda was a daughter of Ebenezer and Betsey Gifford ; they came 
from Saratoga county, N. Y., and settled in Warren county in 1835. Betsey was born 
in 1800, and died in 1868 in North East, leaving five children. George B. was a son of 
David and Anna (Read) Wright ; they have had a family of ten children. She was born 
in Fabius, Onondaga county, N. Y.; he was born in Manchester, England, and came to 
America with his parents and settled in Massachusetts as a cotton-spinner, and in 1835 
settled in Sugar Grove as farmers, where they died. They had a family of eleven chil- 
dren, all now dead but David. 

Wright, Mrs. Laura, Freehold p. o., formerly Laura Pierce, of New York, and widow 
of Edward Wright, was born in 1837, and married in 1866, and died in 1877, leaving a 
family of two children — Albert and CHfton. 

Wright, Oliver O., Columbus, was born in Columbus in 1848. He was a son of 
Jacob and Clarissa (Davis) Wright. Jacob was born in 1803, and his wife Clarissa was 
born in Rush, Genesee county, in 1813. They were married in 1832, and that same 
year settled in Columbus. They had a family often children, seven of whom are now 
living, five sons and two daughters. Jacob, the father, died July i, 1882. Clarissa was 
a daughter of James and Mary (Jewett) Davis. James was born in England, and his 
wife, Mary, was born in Connecticut. Oliver O. Wright, was married in 1872 to Mary 
Jane Williamson, of Ohio. They have had a family of three children born to them — 
Clarissa G., Jacob W., and William C. 

Wright, Stephen B., Bear Lake p. o.. Freehold, was born in Chenango county, N. 
Y., 1818, and settled in Warren county in 1834. He was married in 1839 to Caroline 
Lopus, by whom he had a family often children, seven of whom are now living. Mr. 
Wright is a carpenter by trade. His father, Joseph Wright, married Sally Brooks, and 
to them were born seven children, three of whom are now Uving. Mrs. Wright's father, 
Isaac Lopus, was born in 1792, and served in the War of 1812, and now draws a 
pension. The list of the names of the children of Ste|)hen B. Wright is as follows : 
Chester O. Wright, born in the year 1843, was married in the year 1864 to Rosa J. 
Walker. Mary E. Wright, born in the year 1845, was married in the year 1864 to 
Rev. Lucius Markham. Julia L.Wright, born in the year 1849, was married in the year 
187 I to Harrison D. Hotchkiss, and died in the year 1874. Rosella R. Wright, born in 
the year 1852, was married in the year 1870 to Rev. James W. Wilson. Sarah J. Wright, 
born in the year 1852, was married in the year 1871 to Oscar H. Wilson. Joseph B. 
Wright, born in the year 1854, and died in the year 1857. Laura F. Wright, born in 
the year 1856, was married in the year 1878 to George N. Dorn. Clara A. Wright, 
born in the year 185S, was married in the 1878 to Thomas R. Hinckley. Cyrus N. 
Wright, born in the year i860, and died in the year 1861. Ephraim L.Wright, born in 
the year 1865, and lives at home, is now twenty-one years old. 

Yagle, George, Warren p. o.. Pleasant, is a farmer, and was born in Alsace, France, 
May 28, 1840. He was a son of George and Barbara (Offerlee) Yagle, who settled in 
Pleasant township in 1847. He was reared in Pleasant township from the age of six 
years, and was married April 24, 1866, to Mary Riwa, a daughter of John and Emelien 
(Schuler) Riwa, who were natives of Alsace, France, who settled in Warren in 1846. 



History of Warren County. 



His father was a cooper by trade, a business which he followed for many years. He is 
still residing in Warren. He had a family of four children who grew to maturity — 
Emeline (now Mrs. Mathis Gutzler), ^ "^n, Elizabeth ( ,.- Mrs. Adam Shaffer), and 
Mary. By his marriage Mr. Yagle has a family > f seven children — George, Mary, 

Louis, Fred and Frank (twins), John, anu Cha.'ie. Mr. Yagle settled on the farm 
which he now occupies in i&'j2, all of which he has cleared and improved himself. 
He and his wife and their family are members of the Lutheran Church of Warren. 

Yagle, William, Warren p. o.. Pleasant, is a farmer, and was born in Pleasant town- 
ship July 13, 1849. He was a son of George and Barbara (Offerle) Yagle, who were 
natives of Alsace, France, who came to Warren county about 1847, and settled in Pleas- 
ant township, on the farm which is now owned by John Peterson, where the father re- 
sided until the time of his death. They had two children who grew to maturity, George 
and William. William was reared in Pleasant township, where he has always resided. 
He was married in 187 i, to Mary Schirck, a daughter of Jabob and Catherine (Schuler) 
Schirck, and by her has had a family of two children — Hattie B., and Carrie L. 

Young, W. J., Garland p. o., Eldred, was born in Eldred in 1849. He is a farmer, 
and owns a farm of fifty acres. He married Effie Brown, who died March 10, 1883, 
leaving one child, Effie E. He married his second wife, Ida M. Klinger, in 1885. His 
father, Jacob Young, was born in Ohio, December 4, 1802, and married Margaret Mc- 
McCrea, of Titusville, October 22, 1S29, and died November 16, 1873. He had a fam- 
ily of ten children, seven of whom are now living. The father and five of his sons served 
in the war of the rebellion, and one of his sons, Robert, was killed at the battle of 
Gettysburg. 

Yates, George, a general merchant, of Columbus, Warren county, and at present a 
member of the firm of Yates & Smith, was born in Columbus borough, on Jantiary 17, 
1853, and was a son of Judge G. V. N. and Lucy A. (Smith) Yates. Lucy was a daugh- 
ter of Elijah Smith, of Chenango county, N. Y. They were married at Columbus, and 
Judge G. V. N. died February 14, 1876, leaving a widows and six children — Lelia M., 
George, Emma A., W. V. N., Mary B., and Minnie E. Mr. Yates was a manufacturer 
and dealer in harness, and was elected sheriff of the county in 1855. He also served as 
judge of the county for one term, and was president of the First National Bank of Corry. 
George Yates became engaged in the mercantile business in 1872, in Butler county, and 
in 1875 came to Columbus, where he became engaged in the drug business, sold his in- 
terest in the same and went to Jamestown, N. Y., and in 1878 he returned to Columbus, 
where be became engaged in the general mercantile business, and is now a member of 
firm of Yates & Smith. Li 18S1 he married Jennie S. Purcel, of Schoolcraft, Mich., and 
have two children — G. V. N. Yates and Lucy J. Yates. He was elected treasurer of 
Warren county, November 3, 1886. 

Dawson, William R., was born in Allegheny township, Venango county, in 1844, 
and in 1866 located in Tidioute; since that time has been engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness; in January, 1866, was appointed postmaster by the president. 



INDEX 



ACADEMY lands leased, 124. 
Act of Legislature providing for laying 
out towns, 123. 
Actual settlement law of April 3, 1792, 122. 
Adlum, John, his letter to Governor Mifflin, 

117. 
Agricultural Societies, history of, 269. 
" Show," the first, 269. 
Fair, first annual, 272. 
Premiums, names of those to whom 

awarded, 270. 
implements, 275. 
Alden, Timothy, founded Allegheny College, 

138. 
Allegheny steamboat, built by Archibald Tan- 
ner and David Dick, 149. 
Allen, 0. C, biography of, 683. 
Animals, kinds found, 16. 
Answer to Cornplanter's speech to Supreme 

Executive Council, 104. 
Assessor in 1806, 131. 
Assessor in 1808, 136. 

Attorneys, names and place of residence of, 
314. 

BARNES, E., biography of, 635, 
Bartholomew, Benjamin, brief sketch 
of, 318. 
" Battle of the Fallen Timber," 120. 
Beaty, David, biography of, 609. 
Bench and Bar, chapter on, 311. 
Benedict, Willis B., biography of, 629. 
Bill introduced for independent organization 

of Warren township, 141. 
Biography of Allen, 0. C, 683. 

Barnes, E., 635. 

Beatv, David, 609. 

Benedict, Willis B., 629. 

Blodget, A. C, M. D., 634. 

Brown, R., 647 

Gurrie, Joshua T., 627. 

Curwen, John, M. D., 605. 

Davis, Alpheus J., 628. 

Dinsmoor, Charles, 650. 

Dunham, M. B., 644. 

Eldred, N. B., 639. 

Graham, Samuel M., 685. 



Biography "of Gray,"Robert M., 664. 

Grandin, Samuel, 638. 

Grossenburg, Samuel, 663. • 

Hall, Orris, "649. 

Hall, Chapin, 659. 

Harmon, Hosea, 666. 

Hertzel, Andrew, 652. 

Hunter, 0. H., 646. 

Irvine, Doctor William A., 671. 

Jackson, William M., 672. 

Jamieson, Hugh A., 660. 

Johnson, S. P., 6S6. 

McKinney, Peter, 626. 

McGraw, Michael, 643. 

Marsh, William S., 632. 

Miles, Robert, 636. 

Merritt, Hon. Charles C, 624. 

Nesraith, B., 681. 

Orr, Richard S., 678. 

Roger.s, Alson, 633. 

Roy, James, 637. 

Rouse, Hon. Henry R., 679. 

Sanford, J. G., 676. 

Scofield, Glenni W., 616. 

Sechriest, J. C, 688. 

Shortt, W. H., 690. 

Stone, Charles W., 613. 

Struthers, Thomas, 599. 

Tanner, Archibald, 621. 

Thompson, Robert, 689. 

Watson, Lewis Findlay, 606. 

Walton, John, 673. 

Wetmore, C. C, 658. 

Wetmore, Hon. Lansing, 656. 

Wetmore, Hon. L. D., 610. 

White, Jay, 655. 

Whitman, John, 669. 
Block-house erected at Warren 1795, 131. 
Blodget, A. C, M.D., biography of, 634. 
"Blue Throat," an Indian, died at an extreme 

old age, 149. 
Boroughs, date of the incorporation of, 269. 
Boundary line, a new one established, 156. 
Boundaries, original of Warren county, 126. 
Braddock's disastrous campaign, 68. 
Brant, his letter to Governor Simcoe, 116. 
Brokenstraw township, history of, 401. 



t:x 



Index. 



Brokenstraw township, Andrews, Robert, 
pioneer settler of, 402. 
boundaries of, 401. 
derivation of name of, 401. 
early business in, 411. 
eccl'e.siastical, 418. 
Irvine borough of, 416. 
MoKinney, John, first resident settlei 

of, 402. 
municipal history of, 412. 
Rouse Hospital, 412. 
schools of, 417. iiQon 

settlers arriving between 1806 and 1820, 

list of tax-payers in 1810, 140. 
erection of, 127. . ,. . • * .,f 

it becomes the first election district ot 

Crawford, 127. 
the sole township of Warren couuty, 
127. 
Brown, R., biogri-aphy of, 64 (. 
Burying the leaden plate with inscription en- 
graved thereon, 02 



CABLE, James, brief sketch of, 321. 
Celeron and party arrived on the site ot 
the town of Warren, 61. 
Chambers, James, late colonel, 90. 
Chapman, John, started in 1797, 153 
Cherry Grove township, history ot, obd. 
boundary of, 584. 
eariv settlers in, 584. 
Garfield, village in, 585. 
Church, Judge Gaylor.l, fourth judge, 312 
Civil List, cliapter on, 294. 

County officers, list of, 29o. 
National Government, oflicers ot, IJi 
State Government, officers of, 295 
Township officers, list of, 299. 
Clark, Perrv D., brief sketch of.;521. 
Columbus township, history of, 48.5. 
early settlers, 483. 
hotels of, 489. 

schools and churches of, 491. 
the Equitable Aid Union of America, 

490. 
the tannery, 490. 
Commissioners' report to Supreme Executive 

Companies incorporated from 1836 to 1840, 

15.5. 
Conewango township, history of, 394. 
boundaries of, 394. 
early pioneers of, 395. 
first settlers of, 394. 
first township election of, 395. 
land owners in, 397. . , ooo 

list ot taxable inhabitants in 1822, 

395. 
North Warren Asylum, 399. 
North Warren, 398. 
origin of name, 394. 
surface of, 398. 
list ot tax-payers in 1810, 139. 



" Conewango Emigrant," first newspaper pub- 
lished in Warren, 149. 
Conewango and Brokenstraw creeks declared 

public navigable streams, 124. 
Cooper, Charles L., brief sketch of, .323. 
Cornplanter becomes conspicuous, »1. 

attempt of whites to steal from his 

party, 106. , , n 1 

ch<>ice" of lands promised by General 

Assembly, 106. ,...-, 

Day's sketch of this great chieftain s 

life, 107. 
death in 1836, 154. 
his arrival at Philadelphia, 9i. 
speech to Supreme Executive Council, 

98 
his meeting with President Washington, 

105. „. , ■ , 

his friendship for George ^^ ashington, 

109. 
his settlement on new lands, 107. 
monument to his memory, 166. 
new village, name of, 107. 
petition to State for protection, 9(. 
sold a large tract of land, 99. 
started for Philadelphia, 97. 
Thomas Jilifllin's letter to, 97. 
Cornplai.ter's remarkable little speech at Fort 

Franklin, 122. 
Cornplanter, death of, l.i4. 
Cornplanter's lands declared exempt from tax- 
ation in 1822, 146. 
Cornplanter's lands taxed without authoritj, 

147. . „, 

Cornplanter's reservation, ill. 
Cornplanter turns against the Americans, 

no. 

Corydon township, history of, oo9. 
boundary of, 559. _ 
early settlers of, 559. 
ecclesiastical, 56.5. 
educational, 565. . 

the village of Corydon and its business, 
563. 
County buildings, etc., 253 
Court-house, first one established 182o, 149. 
Court-house, new one built, 2o0. 
Court-house, the new one linished and dedi- 
cated, 257. 
Court, first term ot, 143. R„h,.,-t 

Court of Appeals held in the house of Robcit 

Anch-ews in 1808, 136. 
Cott "fAppeals Ordered to be heU at the 

house of Daniel JacU.son in 180(, 161. 
Court-house, the first, 255. 
Crawford county organized, I2b. 
Crawford county, temporary attachment of 

Warren county to, 126. 
Currie, Joshua T., biography ot. 62, . 
Curtis, Hon. Carlton B., ordered to recruit a 

regiment of soldiers, 16p. 
Cuskakushing, an old Indian t""'". '^^ 
Curtis, Cariton B., brief sketch of, .11 -. 
Curwen, John, M. D., biography of, OOo. 



Index. 



D 



kALRYMPLE, Made C, the first sheriff, 
143. 
Davis, Alpheus J., biography of, 628. 
Death of Cornplanter in 1836, 154. 
■ Deerfield township, history of, 453. 

borough of Deerfield, organization of, 

461. 
first school held in, 455. 
Grandin, Samuel. 463, 638. 
hotels of, 465. 

list of Methodist ministers in, 456. 
mercantile interests of, 464. 
physicians, past and present, of, 466. 
post-office of, 466. 

prominent men of, short sketches of, 
457. 
Defeat of General St. Clair's army November, 

1791, 115. 
Depredations by savages, 115. 
Devil's Hole massacre, 73. 
Dickson, put to trial, 145. 
Dinsmoor, Charles, biography of, 650. 
Drake. Colonel E. L., prominent in oil regions, 

289. 
Dunham, M. B., biography of, 644. 
Duukle, John W., brief sketch of, 322. 
Dunn, Jeremiah, hung himself, 149. 
Dwellings, utihzing the rooms of for public 
purposes, 253. 

EIGHTY -THIRD Regiment, history of, 
195. 
Eldred, N. B., biography of, 639. 
Eldred, .Judge N. B., third judge, 312. 
Eldred township, history of, 545. 

boundary of, 545. 

early setJers of, 545. 

first hotel in Grand Valley, 549. 

Grand Valley, village in, 548. 

industries, early ones in, 547. 

schools and churches in, 549. 
Elk township, history of, 498. 

boundary of, 498. 

coal bed in, 499. 

first roads in, 500. 

first settlers of, 501. 

Indians of, partial history of, 510. 

township officers, 500. 
English dominion, 72. 

neglect and ill-treatment of red men by, 
72. 

uprising of Indians against, 72. 

last attack of Senecas upon, 73. 
Era of formation, 125. 
European discoveries, etc., 21. 
Excitement in first court, 143. 



ARMINGTON township, history of, 586. 
boundary of, 586. 
bu.siness interests in, 589. 
churches and schools in, 591. 
early settlements in, 586. 
post-oflice in, 591. 
schools and churches in, 591. 



F 



Fifty-eigVith Regiment, history of, 192. 

Forests, character of, 15. 

Fort Du Quesne, when built, etc., 65. 

Fort Niagara, origin of, 57. 

Fort Stanwix, treaty of, 85. 

Forty-second Regiment, Bucktail Rifles, history 

of, 179. 
Frazine, George N., brief sketch of, 322. 
Freehold township, history of, 523. 

Bear Lake, village in, 529. 

present business interests in, 530. 

lioundary of, 523. 

Irvine, James, first permanent settler 
in, 524. 

Lottsville, town in, 528. 

Wrightsville, village in, 527. 

Wright, Joshua, brief mention of, 526. 
French, first white men to explore around 

Lake Erie, 22. 
French progress, 35. 
French dominion, 56. 
French Creek, 86. 
French, final defeat of, 70. 

English took formal possession of their 
lands 1760, 71. 

English and French War closed 1763, 
72. 

GRAY, Robert M., biography of, 664. 
Galbraith, Hon. John, fifth judge, 312. 
Grossenburg, Samuel, biography of, 663. 
Grandin, Samuel, biography of, 638. 
Glade township, history of, 550. 

Ijoundary of, 550. 

Cobhara, George A., mention of, 557. 

early settlements in, 550. 

early mills, etc., in, 557. 

hotels in, 558. 

post-office, 558. 

schools and churches in, 558. 
Graham, Samuel M., biography of, 685. 

HACKNEY, Colonel Joseph, his biU to 
Legislature in 1819, 141. 
Hall, Orris, biography of, 649. 
Hall, Chapin, biography of, 659. 
Hall, Josiah, brief sketch of, 318. 
Hard times following War of 1812-15, 138. 
Harmon, Hosea, biography of, 666. 
Hatchets, description of, 26. 
Hazeltine, Abner, brief sketch of, 317. 
Hertzel, Andrew, biography of, 652. 
Higgins, George H., brief sketch of, 322. 
Hinckley, Watson D., brief sketch of, 322. 
Hook murder trial, 147. 
Hunter, 0. H., biography of, 646. 

INCREASE remarkable from 1806 to 1816, 
141. 
Independent company militia of 1862, 252. 
Independent Company C. (infantry), 250. 
Indians, early tribes, 17. 
Information derived from the docket, 146. 
Inn-keepers, names of, 150. 



Index. 



Iroquois title to Warren county, 58. 
Iroquois, history of, 28. 
Irvine, Dr. William A., biography of, G71. 
Irvine, William, agent, his note of distances 

around Conewango, 89. 
Irvine, General, explores new purchases, 86. 

JACKSON, William M., biography of, 672. 
Jackson, Daniel, and Giles White licens- 
ed to keep the first public houses, 132. 

Jail breakers, reminiscences concerning, 254. 

Jail, the first, 253. 

Jail, the second, 255, 

Jamieson, Hugh A., biography of, 660. 

Jeflfers, J. Ensign, his letter to the people, 98. 

Jemison, Mary, the white woman hving among 
Indians, 75. 

Johnson, S. P., biography of, 686. 

Joncaire and his trappers, 59. 

Judges, late, names of, 313. 

KAHQUAHS and Bries exterminated, 23. 
Kier, Samuel M., mention of, 287. 
Kinnear, J. W., brief sketch of, 323. 
Kinzua township, history of, 475. 

boundary of, 475. 

early settlements, 475. 

ecclesiastical, 482. 

educational. 482. 

first settler in, 476. 

postmasters of, 482. 

present business interests, 480. 

village of, 479. 
" Know Nothings," 158. 

Knox, General, arrived at Cornplanters' " up- 
per town," 111. 

LANDS, extraordinary rich in vicinity of 
Conewango River, 1 12. 
Largest regiment of Warren county men, 196. 
Le Boeuf (now Waterford), why so called, 64. 
Le Griftbn (the Grillin), when built, etc., 36. 
Limestone township, history of, 493. 

biographical sketches of prominent set- 
tlers of, 496. 
early settlers of, 495. 
Harmony Society, sketch of, 49.5. 
Limestone organized in 1829, 149. 
Lindsey, Wilton M., brief sketch of, 321. 
Lytic & Merrick, oil well of, 257. 

McKiNNKY, Peter, biography of, 626. 
McGr.-iw, Michael, biography of, 643. 
Mad Anthony, 121. 
Marsh, William S., biography of, 632. 
Marsh, Hugh, the assessor in 1806, 131. 
Massacre, Devil's Hole, 73. 
Mead tovi'nship, history of, 576. 

boundary of, 576. 

churches and schools in, 582. 

Clarendon borough in, 579. 

Clarendon village in, 582. 

schools and churches in, 582. 

settlement and early condition of, 577. 



Meeting at Warren of the surviving soldiers 
of the War of 1812-15, 137. 

Meeting of loyal citizens at Warren April 19, 
1861, 163. 

Merchants, names of those engaged in busi- 
ness in 1830, 150. 

Merchants in 1850, 157. 

Merrill, Gilman, brief sketch of, 317. 

Merritt, Hon. Charles C, biography of, 624. 

Milllin, Thomas, his letter to the Indian chiefs, 
97. 

Miles, Robert, biography of, 636. 

Miles, John N., brief sketch of, 318. 

Minerals, 16. 

Monument erected iu memory of Cornplanter, 
166. 

Moore, Hon. Jesse, the first judge, 311. 

Muse, Homer J., brief sketch of, 321. 

NATURAL gas lately discovered in Warren 
county, 169. 
Neill, Samuel T., brief sketch of, 320. 
Nesmith. Benjamin, biography of, 681. 
New Englanders and New Yorkers in Warren 

county, 152. 
Noyes, C. H., brief sketch of, 320. 
Nursery started by Chapman, 154. 

O'BAIL, Charles, son of Cornplanter, 142. 
Oil Creek, 87. 

origin of name of, 88. 

Oil fever struck Warren and Glade in 1876, 
167. 

Oil furor, the last one at Kinzua, 168. 

Oil fields at Tidioute, opening of, 161. 

Oil market of the worl j caused to halt, 168. 

Oil production since 1859, table of, 294. 

Oil well, " Drake well," the first, 288. 
"Williams well," 291. 

One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment, history 
of, 196. 

One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment, his- 
tory of, 214. 

One Hundred and Forty- lifth Regiment, his- 
tory of, 219. 

One Hundred and Fifty-first Regiment, history 
of, 227. 

One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment, his- 
tory of, 232. 

One Hundred and Eighty-second Regiment, 
history of, 238. 

One Hundred and Ninety-third Regiment, his- 
tory of, 245. 

Orr, Richard S., biography of, 678. 

PARMLEE, James 0., brief sketch of, 320. 
Pearson, John J., brief sketch of, 319. 
Penn, William, 39. 
Penn, William, in Pennsylvania, 49. 
Personals, brief, 691. 
Petroleum, chapter on, 285. 
Pigeons, immense numbers found, 113. 
Pine Grove, township of, 443. 

assessment of in 1806, 445. 



Index. 



Pine Grove, boundary of, 443. 

early settlements in, 443. 

ecclesiastical, 4.52. 

first elementary school in, 448. 

present business in, 450. 

taxable inhabitants in 1822, list of, 449. 

villap-e of Pme Grove, now Eussellburg, 
445. 
Pine Grove and Columbus townships settled, 

131. 
" Pittsburgh and Warren Packet," 305. 
Pittsfleld township, history of, 566. 

boundary of, 566. 

churches and schools in, 575. 

early settlements of, 566. 

Garland village, 572. 

early settlers in, 573. 
post-office of, 574. 

schools and churches in, 575. 

Torpedo, small village, 574. 

village of Pittsfleld, 570. 
post-office of, 572. 
Pleasant township, history of, 532. 

boundary of, 5.S2. 

derivation of name of, 532. 

early settlers of, 533. 
Poor-house, erection of, 258. 
Population of Warren county in 1880, 169. 
Portmau, John, note on his life, 130. 
Press, the history of, 276. 

"Allegheny Mail," 282. 

" Clarendon Record," 283. 

"Democratic Advocate," 281. 

"Evening Paragraph," 284. 

First printer in Warren, 277. 

"People's Monitor," 282. 

"Sugar Grove News," 284. 

" The Bear Lake Record," 284, 

•' The Conewango Emigrant," first 
number of, 277. 

"The Union," 281. 

"The Voice of the People," 280. 

" The Warren Gazette," editors and 
publishers of, 279. 

Tidioute publications, 283. 

" Warren Ledger," 281. 

"Warren Bulletin," 281. 

" Warren Mirror," 283. 

" Warren Standard," 281. 

"Youngsville Express," 283. 
Proctor, Col., and Cornplanter en route to 

Byfialo, 112. 
Purviance, Samuel A., brief sketch of, 317. 
Putnam, Israel, distinguished American pa- 
triot, 74. 

RAFTMEN'S Guards, 164. 
Railroads, brief mention of, 309. 
Red Jacket, the orator, 112. 
Reminiscences of attorneys, by Hon. S. P. 

Johnson, 317. 
Rice, William E., brief sketch of, 323. 
River navigation, etc., 302. 
Rogers, Alson, biography of, 633. 



Rouse, Hon. Henry R., bequeath of, estate of, 

257. 
Rouse, Hon. Henry R., serious injury of, death 
of, 257. 

monument in memory of, 258. 
biography of, 679. 
Roy, James, biography of, 637. 

SALE of lots in towns of Warren, Erie, 
Frankhn, etc., 123. 
Sanford, Joel G., biography of, 676. 
School-house used as a court-room, 253. 
School-houses in 1857, 160. 
Schools and academies, grounds laid out for 

them, 124. 
Scofield, Glenni W., biography of, 616. 
Scotch-Irish, 150. 

Sechriest, John C, biography of, 688. 
Seneca Indians, forlorn condition of, 83. 

willing to cede their lands, 83. 
Settlers, names of the very first in the county, 

131. 
Sheffield township, history of, 511. 

boundary of, 511. 

early settlers of, 511. 

mercantile history of, 521. 

municipal history of, 519. 

post-office in, 521. 

schools and churches of, 522. 
Shippen, Henry, second judge, 311. 
Shortt, W. H., biography of, 690. 
Signatures to Cornplaiitev's speech to the Su- 
preme Executive Council, 104. 
Soil, its products, 16. 
Soldiers' Aid Society, 167. 
Southwest township, history of, 537. 

boundary of, 537. 

early settlers of, 537. 

first school in, 544. 

present business, 543. 

Southwest in 1847, 542. 
Spring Creek township, history of, 467. 

boundary of, 467. 

early settlements of, 467. 

first store in, 473. 

physicians, past and present of, 474. 

postmaster, first one in, 473. 

schools and churches of, 475. 
Struthers, Thomas, biography of, 599. 
Steamboats, names of, 306. 
Stone, Chas. W., biography of, 613. 
Sugar Grove, township of, 420. 

Agricultural Society, 436. 

boundary of, 420. 

Brookmire, James G., mention of, 431. 

Brown, David, mention of, 421. 

Chandler's Valley, village in, 437. 

Early and present mills of, 432. 

Ecclesiastical, 439. 

G. A. R. Post of, 437. 

mercantile business of, 433. 

Miles, Robert, first permanent settler 
of, 421. 

physicians of, 435. 



Index. 



Sugar G-rove, post-offioe of, 437. 

prominent settlers of, 424. 

schools of, 438. 

soil of, 420. 

Sugar Grove Savings Bank, 436. 

" Sugar Grove News," 435. 
Sunbury and Erie Railroad built, 161. 

TANNER, Archibald, biography of, 621. 
Tanner, Archibald, appointed county 
treasurer, 142. 
Taxable inhabitants of Warren county in 1806, 

127. 
Taxable inhabitants, those added to list of 

1806, 132. 
Tax-paying inhabitants in 1816, 139. 
Tax-rolls for 1808, 133. 
Tax, the amount levied on taxable property in 

1806, 131. 
Telegraph line, the first one, 157. 
" Tenachshegouchtongee, or the burnt house,'' 

111. 
Thirty-ninth Regiment, Tenth Reserve, his- 
tory of, 169. 
Thompson, Robert, biography of, 689. 
Thompson, Caleb C, brief sketch of, 320. 
Thompson, .James, brief sketch of, 319. 
"Tidioute Rifles," 164. 
Tidioute oil fields opened, 161. 
Townships, organizations of, 259. 

Brokenstraw, organization of, 259. 
Cherry Grove, organization of, 267. 
Conewango, organization of, 250. 
Corydon, organization of, 266. 
Eldred, organization of, 265. 
Elk, organization of, 264. 
Farmington, organization of, 268. 
Freehold, organization of, 264. 
Glade, organization of, 266. 
Limestone, organization of, 26.'i. 
Moad, organization of, 266. 
Pittsfield, organization of, 267. 
Pleasant, organization of, 264. 

change of boundary line of, 265. 
Sheffield, organization of, 264. 

cliange of boundary line of, 265. 
Southwest, organization of, 265. 
Township lines, change of, 265, 267, 

208. 
Triumph, organization of, 268. 
Watson, organization of, 268. 
Townships, the two original ones divided, 146. 
Treaty between Senecas and the United 

State-s 137. 
Treaty of Nov. 11, 1794, 122. 
Trip of the steaml)oat Allegheny to Clean, 

N. Y., 149. 
Triumph township, liistory of, 593. 
boundary of, 593. 
early settlers in, 593. 
fire in, 594. 

Gillam, A. M., his poem, .595. 
school-houses in, 594. 
Troublesome times on the border, 110. 



Two Hundred and Eleventh Regiment, his- 
tory of, 246. 

WAGON ROADS. 308. 
Walton, John, biography of, 673. 
Warren borough, history of, 324. 

assessment-roll of, in 1885, 346. 

auction sale of lots of, 326. 

banks of, 355. 

building of hewn timber, the first in, 

327. 
cemeteries, etc., of, 368. 
census of in 1870, 345. 
failure of " Lumbermen's Bank," 340. 
fire department of, 352. 
first borough election of, 338. 
first bridge across the Allegheny built, 

340. 
first merchant in, 333. 
first tax-payer of, 330. 
great flood in 1865, 344. 
hotels, taverns, etc., of, 363. 
Jackson, Daniel, early pioneer of, 328. 
large fire in, 343. 
laying out of, 325. 
library association building, cost of, 

etc., 346. 
location of, 324. 
"Lumberman's Bank," organization of, 

339. 
manufacturing interests of, 358. 
merchants of, 361. 

McQuay, Daniel, first inhabitant of, 327. 
municipal history of, 348. 
names of some residents of, 335. 
names of taxable inhabitants of in 1833. 

33S. 
other merchants of, 336. 
physicians of, 362. 

prices of groceries, etc., about 1830, 336. 
religious societies of, 370. 
schools of, 353. 
secret associations of, 365. 
town hall of, 346. 
traveling facilities from, 341. 
Warren county, population of, 169. 

period from organization of county 

until 1830, 14L 
period during and since the late war, 

161. 
period from 1783 to 1790, 83. 
period from 1700 to 1791, 96. 
period from 1791 to 1800, 110. 
Warren county men in Ulth regiment, 204. 
field and stalT, 204. 
company B., 204. 
privates, 205. 
company D., 209. 
privates, 210. 
" Warren Guards," organization of, 163. 
Warren county annexed to 'V^enango in 1805, 

127. 
Warren county, formation of, 125. 
Warren county boundaries, 14. 



Index. 



Warren County, named after, 14. 

organization, date of, 1.3. 
Warren county, English authority over, 82. 
Washington, Geo., messenger to LeBoeuf, 64. 
Wa.shington fell sick, 67. 
Watson, L. F., biography of, 606. 
Watson township, history of, 597. 

churches, none in, .598. 

religious services held in, 598. 

schools in, 598. 

sketches, brief, 598. 
Wetmore, C. C, biography of. 658. 
Wetmore, Hon. L., biography of, 652. 
Wetmore, Hon. L. D., biography of, 610. 
Whig party disappeared, 158. 



White, Jay, biography of, 655. 

White, Giles, and Daniel Jackson, licensed to 

keep the first public houses, 130. 
Whitman, Jno., biography of, 669. 
Wiggins, James W., brief sketch of, 323. 
Wilson, Hugh, assessor in 1808, 136. 

"Y^ATES, W. V. N., brief sketch of, 323. 
X Youngsville, borough of, 412. 
lawyers of, 416. 
merchants in, 414. 
mills in, 414. 
physicians of, 415. 
post-office of, 416. 
the Youngsville savings bank, 415. 



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